Exercise on an empty stomach?

SenseAtional
SenseAtional Posts: 134
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I've read that exercising on an empty stomach is a good idea because your body doesn't have any fuel, so it burns fat as fuel. I've also read that exercising on an empty stomach helps you sustain longer, more intense workouts. So which is it? Which one works better - eating before a workout or exercising on an empty stomach? And when I say eat before a workout, I don't mean a huge meal, I'm thinking something along the lines of a serving of oatmeal or some fruit and yogurt.

Replies

  • craek
    craek Posts: 201 Member
    I don't like to eat before had because it makes my stomach upset...but that is just me!
  • GooBeGone
    GooBeGone Posts: 439 Member
    i think it depends on the person as well as what u're doin for exercise & how long u're exercising. for me if i'm doin it for 30min then i can exercise on an empty stomache. anythin longer i hafta eat.
  • Frappuzzino
    Frappuzzino Posts: 342 Member
    From what I know, it's bad to exercise on an empty stomach. Exercising lowers your blood sugar level (fuel), so if you don't have any to begin with it's not good for the body. Just like trying to run a car when the gas meter is on E. :)
  • TiDinzeo
    TiDinzeo Posts: 309
    If I remember right, for cardio, work out on an empty stomach and eat soon after, but for weights, make sure you have some protein first so that you have something to build up your muscles with.
  • Ash10Dent
    Ash10Dent Posts: 75
    I can't exercise if I'm hungry. My blood sugar drops and then I feel like I'm going to pass out. What I do instead is just eat some fruit like an apple or a pear (I did this yesterday). That's just me though. Ever since I was little if I went without food when doing anything I get really dizzy.
  • bakersduzin
    bakersduzin Posts: 60 Member
    I've heard that exercising with empty/close to empty stomach is good as well (I don't remember where I heard this). I personally don't like exercising with a REALLY empty stomach (like hunger pangs hungry), so usually I like to eat a little bit of fruit or triscuits or something - just enough to get me through the workout without getting distracted with being hungry. I find that when I have just a little bit in my stomach, I can usually push harder....but it also might just come down to personal preference.
  • wolfchild59
    wolfchild59 Posts: 2,608 Member
    I hate working out with no fuel in my at system at all. It actually makes me queasy and I feel really drained. But I can't eat immediately before either. So on weekends, when I exercise earlier, I wake up, eat something small for breakfast then wait about an hour before starting my workout. On weeknights, when I workout after work, since I've been eating through the day, I make sure I stop eating around 4:30 so I have two hours of full digestion of whatever I've eaten during the day before starting my workout. And that seems to work well for me.

    Also, no matter what you eat or don't, stay hydrated. Weeknight workouts are always easier for me and I assume it's because I typically have 16-18 cups of water in me before I get started. My earlier weekend workouts I tend to get side stitches and I go through my entire bottle of water while I workout, and I typically only have 2-4 cups in me before those.
  • nebcornhsk
    nebcornhsk Posts: 2
    It is good to workout several hours after eating, because it gives the body time to digest the food and get the nutrients into the blood stream. It is not a good idea to eat anything within an hour of your workout because the digestive process requires a lot of blood and usually last about an hour. Working out during the digestive process will leave you feeling tired during your workout and prevent you from getting the intense workout that you may desire. It is also a good idea to eat about 5 times during the day to keep you metabolism burning at a higher rate and help burn additional calories. My personal times for meals are 8, 10, 12, 3, and 7 or 8.
  • buhller
    buhller Posts: 28 Member
    In my experience, I tend to be able to work out longer and harder if I eat a little bit before I work out. Today before I went to the gym, I had a banana and a glass of soy milk about 45 mins before my workout, and I felt great...and burned 885 calories, which made my light breakfast worth it.

    Without eating before a workout, your metabolism isn't as revved up for the day as it could be. You're going to eat the calories over the course of the day anyway, if it's going to make your workout feel better, a few of those calories might as well be before you go.
  • pghfan
    pghfan Posts: 119
    I usually go after work (around 4:00pm) and early Saturday morning. If I don't eat a piece of fruit or something within an hour of going on weekday afternoons I have zero stamina. This morning I grabbed a special K bar and ate it on the way to the gym and felt great through my whole workout. Maybe the sugar/carb combination but it sure did seem to work for me.
  • nebcornhsk
    nebcornhsk Posts: 2
    Pghfan - I Like the Steeler Nation picture - Lifting early in the morning can be tricky and sounds like you found something that works for you by eating the special K bar. After a good night sleep you have to eat something because your system has burned all the food from the previous day and is lacking nutrients to get through a good workout. The trick is not to eat alot and find something that can provide some fuel without draining you by the digestive process. A little fruit in the afternoon probably doesnt hurt because it is light. Usually carbohydrates are good for a pre-workout food source, and proteins are good for your post workout food source. If you have to eat before a workout keep it small. Caffine and Creatine help too, but would not suggest either if you have health issues of any kind.
  • ImperfektAngel
    ImperfektAngel Posts: 811 Member
    you need energy from carbs for a good workout, if you are not eating where is your energy coming from?
  • _HeathBar_
    _HeathBar_ Posts: 902 Member
    I hate exercising on an empty stomach, it's so distracting. I try to eat a snack 1-2 hours before I work out
  • milehighcritic
    milehighcritic Posts: 199
    I always eat about 30 minutes before a workout. A cliff bar or piece of fruit something quick. I have tried not eating but feel like I am going pass out when running the treadmill.
  • chloeobe
    chloeobe Posts: 72
    DONT DO IT!! I passed out yesterday because i exercised on an empty stomach!
  • phinners
    phinners Posts: 524 Member
    I usually exercise on an empty stomach, for no other reason than I work out in the mornings berfore I am hungry.
  • Jennyzfit
    Jennyzfit Posts: 175 Member
    You should definatley eat before you work out. you need fuel for your muscles! Break fast mean your breaking the fast from not eating. So you need the energy. Do yourself a favour and eat breakfast at least 1/2 hour before you work out and that will give you extra boost of energy! Hope this helps.
    :flowerforyou:
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