food before early am workout?

I work out early, at 5am three days a week for 30-60 minutes, weights, HIIT, etc, and I don't eat anything before I start. In summer, I run at dawn to beat the heat, also on an empty stomach and have no problems.

If you're getting an early start, maybe try it without any food beforehand and see how you do. If you feel your workout suffers or you feel yucky, then opt for a half a banana, a slice of toast with peanut butter (my go-to pre-run snack when I run later in the cooler months), maybe some coffee. Kinda have to try different things and see what works for you.

I work out at 6:15 and I work out fasted. I have a protein shake when I'm done. I couldn't imagine trying to eat that early. Ugh.

At that time I would also eat after my workout. I need at least an hour after eating to digest before a workout, typically, or it doesn't go well.

I wouldn't eat much right before a workout, but I would lean toward a banana or a couple of Fig Newtons, something fairly high in carbs, but only about 30 grams of carbs.

pippin44 wrote: »

Just went back to work, and my 9am workout time is gone.
In order to commit to a consistent work out time, it seems like I will have to go at 6am so I am back to get the kids ready for school, out the door, and to my workstation by 9am.
So my question is, what do I eat before I work out? Clearly I want something that is 'fast' and light given the time. I try to stay around 1200 calories per day...
I appreciate suggestions.

Except for Tuesdays, I work out at 4 a.m. and I just have a little something--a bit of cottage cheese, an egg, a piece of turkey sausage, a few bites of yogurt.

I workout from 5:45 to 6:45 every morning fasted. However, because I run and then weight lift, sometimes being really hungry makes me feel weak or dizzy. On days when I wake up and feel like this may happen I eat one or two handfuls of Special K Protein cereal before leaving for the gym. I don't like to eat before working out as it can make me feel sick, but the handful of cereal is dense and minimal enough that it doesn't bother me.

I run or bike before work in the AM. I prefer to do it on an empty stomach otherwise I have issues. I eat breakfast at my desk.

I have a fridge in my office though where I can store things like almond milk, yogurt and the like with out having to worry about others to steal it. Lucky I guess.

I struggle with this too; I typically am an afternoon/evening worker-outter, but on days when I do have to get a workout or run in before work to accommodate my evening plans, I struggle with this. I seem to be fine when lifting just on an empty stomach with maybe a cup of coffee/pre-workout drink on my way to the gym, but for runs I notice my distance and speed suffer if I have no recent energy to pull from. I am usually a fan of half an english muffin and a 15grams of peanut butter... it gives me enough of a boost without being so much that I need to wait a hour for it to digest (I obviously don't want to have to get up even earlier to leave time for digestion). You could also try energy chews or gu for fast energy, but I am personally not a fan when I can avoid them. In general I think anything small with some carbs will do for energy.

Love the oatmeal in the morning. Goes down easy and doesn't slosh around.

pippin44 wrote: »

Just went back to work, and my 9am workout time is gone.
In order to commit to a consistent work out time, it seems like I will have to go at 6am so I am back to get the kids ready for school, out the door, and to my workstation by 9am.
So my question is, what do I eat before I work out? Clearly I want something that is 'fast' and light given the time. I try to stay around 1200 calories per day...
I appreciate suggestions.

My workouts are early, too. My experience indicates that, regardless of what people tell me, it's OK to work out on an empty stomach. However, I don't. I make a cup of coffee, drink a couple of glasses of water, and then take the coffee and a plain banana with me and consume them on my way to the Y. Suits me pretty well; maybe it'll work for you, too.

If I'm getting up early to workout (about 5:30) I don't bother eating before. I do chug some water first though. I am someone who has to eat breakfast, but I can get through a 30 minute cardio workout first thing with no issues.

My breakfast is kind of in two parts. I usually just have a piece of fruit, or a cereal bar or something before a morning workout, then I have a protein bar, or some yogurt or something after, when I get to work.

Seriously, if you are not living an extremely sedentary lifestyle or are below 4 foot you need way more than 1200 calories a day. I have been there, thinking that minimum is best, but I have realized the hard way that eating more is just essential. It gives you more energy to exercise and just makes you feel so much better (you aren't starving). I don't want to force my view on you but I am concerned for any woman eating so little per day. It just isn't healthy! Every woman who is active and working out should be eating a minimum of 2000 calories a day. I am and am still losing weight (5'2- 105).

As far as food goes, I would recommend a banana or some light piece of fruit as you probably won't be able to stomach much at that time. Trek bars are great as well.