Exercising after eating...

precious71701
precious71701 Posts: 105
edited September 27 in Fitness and Exercise
How many minutes should you wait to exercise after you eat...and I know wait time would probably be related to the amount of food consumed...Thanks for your suggestions in advance...

Replies

  • taso42_DELETED
    taso42_DELETED Posts: 3,394 Member
    For me, if it's a full meal, I'd wait 1-2 hours. If it's something like a banana, then about 15 minutes. I think whenever you feel ready should be fine.
  • purroxide
    purroxide Posts: 27
    I know this doesn't answer the exact question you asked, but wherever possible you should always eat after exercising. In the 30 minutes after exercise, your body needs the protein to build new muscle.
  • SassyStef
    SassyStef Posts: 413
    if it is just a quick snack, like protein shake or something then I do 15 min and if it a whole meal I wait at least an hour lol or more. I go by how my tummy feels
  • amymeenieminymo
    amymeenieminymo Posts: 2,394 Member
    I think everyone is different, if I eat anything more than a granola bar or a banana, I feel like crap while working out and often get side cramps. I can generally work out 10-15 minutes after eating something like that, anything more and I need to wait at least 2 hours, sometimes more depending on what/how much I ate.

    Also I think it depends on what you're doing to work out....if I am biking or walking I could probably work out sooner after eating, but jogging or running I need to wait longer.
  • WifeMomDVM
    WifeMomDVM Posts: 1,025 Member
    As a kid, the lifeguard at the pool always said wait 30 minutes after eating before swimming.... this rule has stuck in my head through the years....
  • MrsCurtisinTX
    MrsCurtisinTX Posts: 88 Member
    I usually wait about 30 minutes.
  • Egger29
    Egger29 Posts: 14,741 Member
    Hey there,

    Remember the old saying "Don't go swimming for an hour after eating?" Well, there is truth to it.

    After a meal, your primary blood flowis demanded by your stomach, so that it can distribute the digested nutrients through your body. During exercise howevre, blood flow is directed to the skin and extremeties to dissipate heat and pick up by-products from the muscles.

    So, what do you think happens when you have 80% of your blood flow directed at digestion and you suddenly put in a request for the demand to go to the muscles as well? You got it...Cramping!

    That being said, the "one hour" part is pretty much an old wives tale. As others have said...it depends on the side of the meal you're eating. IF you just scarfed down 2 plates at the open buffet...I wouldn't recommend hitting the gym shortly after....but if you had a power bar and glass of OJ....shouldn't be a problem.
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