Breakfast and Morning Workout

srs1881
srs1881 Posts: 14
edited September 23 in Fitness and Exercise
Hello,

I am going to be doing mostly cardio on an elliptical trainer in the mornings. My question is whether to eat before or after?

This morning I am eating an apple before and will eat some more when I come back.

Thanks,

S.
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Replies

  • bka8
    bka8 Posts: 92
    I usually feel awful the rest of the day if I try to get a good sweat in before eating. I can do like a sit up routine and stretching on an empty stomach just fine, but if I'm going for cardio, I find I need to eat something (bread, an energy bar,etc).
  • lclarius
    lclarius Posts: 34 Member
    I always have trouble eating when i first get up and before a work out but i know it is better to have something in your system when you work out. I will usually have a banana, breakfast bar or a slice a toast with peanut butter. I think your head is in the right place with in apple. Since you are doing mostly cardio i would eat something with a decent amount of carbohydrates and little bit of protein...(im no nutritionist though)
  • arwamya
    arwamya Posts: 304
    Yes you should have breakfast before working out. the gap between dinner the night before and breakfast is already huge almost 9 hours so my advice is eat an hour before working out since it'd jumpstart your metabolism and you wouldn't feel low on energy during workouts and i speak from experience :) Good luck !
  • michelleLynette
    michelleLynette Posts: 289 Member
    If it's before 8am Im fine working out on a empty stomach. I drink a lot of water. If it's after 8am I have my usual breakfast of oatmeal and blueberries! I hope you find out what works for you!
  • ajbeans
    ajbeans Posts: 2,857 Member
    I would eat first, but that's me. I typically go to bed slightly hungry, so if I wake up and try to get too active before eating I get shaky and sick. But some people are just the opposite, and get sick if they eat before working out. Try and see what works for you.
  • newnicole
    newnicole Posts: 44
    hey!
    heres what i do..
    i worked out this morning at 7 which means that i was waking up around 630 wayyy too early for me to actually eat anything
    BUT... i did have a spoonful of peanut butter and a nectarine.. a light fruit that isn't going to weigh you down and some protein to give you that boost of energy..
    now im sitting down with my toast and peanut butter and enjoying a more relaxed breakfast plus now im not going to have to worry about adding even more food (calories) since i'm going to hungry sooner if that makes sense? it'll just be like my normal breakfast.
    hope this helps!
  • melbhall
    melbhall Posts: 519
    I'm pregnant and feel like if I don't eat immediately I feel sick. Today I had a Luna bar and waited 30 minutes then hopped on my treadmill. Do whatever makes you feel best, but I would imagine you would need a little something before working out!
  • backinthenines
    backinthenines Posts: 1,083 Member
    On the mornings I do cardio it's always fasted cardio. I can't face food at 6am and it would not give me enough time to digest before a 6:30am spin class for instance.

    I know the whole subject of a.m. cardio being superior or not, fasted cardio etc are controversial with plenty of opnion for it and plenty of opinion saying it doesn't matter...

    http://www.tomvenuto.com/articles/morning_fat_burn.shtml

    ... but it works for me.
  • Wolffeathers
    Wolffeathers Posts: 38
    Various articles I've read say you should eat before hand, and after (something with Carbs and Protein). Also, remember, breakfast should be your BIGGEST meal of the day, as it gives you the calories to get through the day.
  • rockabyesarojane
    rockabyesarojane Posts: 471
    i find that if i have just a little something to eat then go pick out my outfit for work and put on my workout gear i get a LOT more out of my workout with the energy boost from eating. just because i can get through on an empty stomach doesnt mean that i feel good doing it or that i'm working out as effectively. I'd say it's a really good idea to eat first.
  • backinthenines
    backinthenines Posts: 1,083 Member
    Perhaps it depends what you call 'morning'. When I'm talking about morning I mean getting up at 5:30am... not 9am...

    I don't wake up starving, I still have plenty of energy from the day before, and when I finish training at 7:30am then there is is still PLENTY of time for breakfast.
  • srs1881
    srs1881 Posts: 14
    Thank you for all the comments. It sounds like in aggregate a little protein and some carbs both before and after is the general trend of opinion. I will start there and see what works for me.

    Thanks Again,

    S.
  • Mike523
    Mike523 Posts: 393 Member
    I have been splitting my breakfast in half - a cup of plain FF yogurt with some fruit (blueberries or strawberries or nectarine, etc.) when I wake up at 6:00. Then I start my workout around 6:30 and I seem to have plenty of energy. Then after I finish, I eat an egg with some egg whites added in, and usually some beans or some cereal (Kashi Go-Lean) or whatever I'm on the mood for. Plus coffee and a small glass of V8.
  • adhillman01
    adhillman01 Posts: 206
    I had a Biochemistry professor tell me to ALWAYS eat before a morning workout giving the food a little time to digest. His rationale was that you are coming off of a 12 hour fast because you usually haven't eaten since dinner the night before. Most of your glycogen has been used up, so your body has to break down fat or muscle to provide energy. Unless you are in a starvation mode your brain primarily uses glucose as it's energy source. Your body cannot produce glucose from breaking down fat, it has to break down muscle to do that. So you may be breaking down muscle to feed your brain, which is counterproductive. Once again, this was a guy with the PhD, so I trust him.
  • prettybrownround
    prettybrownround Posts: 362 Member
    bump
  • backinthenines
    backinthenines Posts: 1,083 Member
    That's the whole point!!!!!!
    Because your body has used up the carbs it's forced to use the fat for fuel.

    http://www.bodybuildingforyou.com/articles-submit/adrian-bryant/2-ways-fat-loss.htm

    And I know my composition well enough to know I am not losing muscle. My BF has dropped massively since I've incorporated 3 very early morning sessions before breakfast. Believe it or not - it makes no odds to me. I know for me it works.
  • michelleLynette
    michelleLynette Posts: 289 Member
    Maybe eat a yogurt or something light. I personally can't eat before early morning workouts.
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    I have read arguments for both eating first and not eating first. I do what works best for me.

    On my weight days, I am out of bed at 4:45am and working out by 5am, and I don't eat anything. On my run days in summer, I run at dawn to beat the heat, and as long is it's only around 3 or 4 miles, I go without eating and do just fine.

    My exception is this time of year, when I'm not running first thing in the morning - I will have a light snack or breakfast depending on how much time I've got between eating and running.
  • Lula16
    Lula16 Posts: 628 Member
    On days when I do cardio first thing in the morning, I do not eat before my workout. I drink plenty of water before and during. After my workout, I will make my green juice (kale, cucumber, celery, spinach, green apple, and flaxseed). If I workout in the evening, then I will eat healthy dinner (nothing heavy) mostly good protein (grilled chicken, grilled tilapia) and some steamed veggies. I wait about an hour to hour and half before I start working out.
  • Serendipityunt
    Serendipityunt Posts: 120 Member
    I've heard it's best to eat something small before working out, but I get up to workout at 6:30, and the last thing I want is to eat. When I have tried to eat before working out, I feel like I want to throw it up, whether I'm lifting weights, running or just on the elliptical. I feel better, and my stomach feels calmer, if I wait to eat after I'm done, but I make sure to eat immediately after. So maybe just try both ways, and go with the one that feels better to you.
  • dobenjam
    dobenjam Posts: 232 Member
    There is no one right answer here. Everyone does what is best for them. I personally prefer to do cardio in the morning before I eat. Most recommend if you are going to eat before cardio, to do it at least an hour before and most don't have that kind of time available in the morning.

    I'll also mention it depends on what your goal is. To burn fat it is more effective to go on an empty stomach and eat about 30 min after your workout. To improve your time/distance for a race then having the energy from a meal is best.

    Some can't work out on an empty stomach, some can't work out after eating. What works best for you is right, just keep it up!
  • aelunyu
    aelunyu Posts: 486 Member
    Food commonly takes 4-5 hours to fully digest (most of them at least). That means it doesn't matter when you eat (before or after). If you eat before you're only using a bit of the digested food towards your workout, not all of it, and the rest will help in your recovery after. If you eat after, pretty much same thing.

    I prefer not to eat at all before or after (i work out at around 6am). My first meal is usually 1pm everyday and I hate breakfast. That's just when I get naturally hungry.

    Prioritize total calorie intake over a day over when and how often you eat. Unless you're one of those people that swear they get hypoglycemic and cant get through a workout on an empty stomach...then have a snack before so you're mentally not handicapping yourself.
  • UnoDrea3732
    UnoDrea3732 Posts: 342 Member
    Hi! I like to do my cardio first thing in the morning and I typically eat right afterwards. It may be a myth but I have always heard to eat after your cardio due to the fact that you're still burning calories from the workout. It has worked for me.
  • ChristyRunStarr
    ChristyRunStarr Posts: 1,600 Member
    Try it different ways-I usually eat a protein bar (or half) before I work out then will have breakfast after I get to work. If I don't have a little something and I push myself, I tend to either get sick or faint since I do more now than I used to.
  • moment_to_arise
    moment_to_arise Posts: 207 Member
    i usually have half an english muffin with some jelly on it before i work out, then afterwards i have a green protein smoothie to replenish...
  • AnneC77
    AnneC77 Posts: 284
    Everyone is different. I say personally listen to your body. I usually find that working out before I eat works better for me. Like I said though everyone is different.
  • shinkalork
    shinkalork Posts: 815 Member
    I workout mostly in the morning...I've been doing it for a long time now.

    For me.... If I have to do Cardio...It's not THAT important to eat before.... or a little will be fine.
    If I need to do weights etc.... I need to eat an hour or 45 min before.....carbs and protein to give me a boost not to crash.

    It's my opinion here....
  • Xhell_on_heelsX
    Xhell_on_heelsX Posts: 299
    I had a Biochemistry professor tell me to ALWAYS eat before a morning workout giving the food a little time to digest. His rationale was that you are coming off of a 12 hour fast because you usually haven't eaten since dinner the night before. Most of your glycogen has been used up, so your body has to break down fat or muscle to provide energy. Unless you are in a starvation mode your brain primarily uses glucose as it's energy source. Your body cannot produce glucose from breaking down fat, it has to break down muscle to do that. So you may be breaking down muscle to feed your brain, which is counterproductive. Once again, this was a guy with the PhD, so I trust him.


    ^^ Absolutely agree..I am a nursing student so this all makes perfect sense = ] I also find that if I don't eat and then do a vigorous workout..like my 30 day shred..I feel like puking lol so even if you get a little something on your stomach, it's better than nothing.
  • nml2011
    nml2011 Posts: 156 Member
    I had a Biochemistry professor tell me to ALWAYS eat before a morning workout giving the food a little time to digest. His rationale was that you are coming off of a 12 hour fast because you usually haven't eaten since dinner the night before. Most of your glycogen has been used up, so your body has to break down fat or muscle to provide energy. Unless you are in a starvation mode your brain primarily uses glucose as it's energy source. Your body cannot produce glucose from breaking down fat, it has to break down muscle to do that. So you may be breaking down muscle to feed your brain, which is counterproductive. Once again, this was a guy with the PhD, so I trust him.

    You should probably stop listening to him! I don't think a single thing of what you said is remotely correct!

    Your body won't canabalise muscle after a mere 12 hours;

    The body actually prefers using fat for it's energy source;

    The brain can run just fine (maybe even optimally) on a blend of ketones and minimal glucose;

    It doesn't have to break down muscle for anything especially not for the brain!!

    Please at least check some of what you are saying before posting.
  • numsquat
    numsquat Posts: 133
    Plenty of studies show unless you are doing some very strenuous/long time cardio (like running a half marathon or longer) there is no NEED to eat beforehand if you have a good diet. Those that posted about digestive time and fat breaking down before muscle for energy are correct based on research. So whether to eat or not is more based on how it makes you feel versus any benefit/non-benefit factors. I know people before running that eat nothing to eating more than I ever would at a regular meal and everything in between. Personally I don't eat before most workouts (LSD's over 10 miles are the exception) but have 8-12oz of an electrolyte drink. I do get nauseated eating anything within 2 hours of running (and I will eat something small 2 hours before a longer LSD) but I can handle eating during a run fine. Everyone's a little different, just find what works for you.
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