Fasted cardio. Yay or nay?

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  • gramarye
    gramarye Posts: 586 Member
    I actually hvae mixed feelings. On one hand, I don't like to run too close to eating because it makes my stomach feel upset. I also prefer waking up and getting my run done with early in the morning (in theory). However, doing so on an empty stomach leaves me with less energy; my runs always suffer. In fact, my best runs have been a couple of hours after lunch.

    So, I suspect this is one of those things where your mileage may vary. Try it for a week or two. If it doesn't work for you, try something else. The best plan is one you can stick to, regardless of if it's "better."
  • justjumpit278
    justjumpit278 Posts: 96 Member
    I have to eat before I workout otherwise I get really light headed and dizzy. I don't eat a lot, just enough to fuel me through the workout. I go to the gym early in the morning before work but I'll eat something before I leave the house. Usually an egg over whole grain toast, peanut butter on whole grain toast, greek yogurt, multigrain Cheerios, etc.
  • rybo
    rybo Posts: 5,424 Member
    ironhajee wrote: »
    A very interesting topic indeed they say breakkyy is the most important meal of the day.
    I want to say that you'd have to live under a rock if you still believe this, but you are on the interwebs, so... maybe you just like to believe old wives tales.
  • blpasquarella
    blpasquarella Posts: 57 Member
    I've been wondering a lot about this as well. From what I've gathered via Google searches and bodybuilding.com, it does seem that fasted cardio has some benefits if one is already pretty muscular and trying to lean out a bit.
    However, with more than 5% or so of body fat to lose, it seems any sort of calorie deficit will work similarly.
    I say it's your preference at this point. Personally, I prefer to work out 2-3 hours after my first meal of the day. (I'm lucky to have a schedule that allows this!) Seems to fuel my cardio more when I've consumed something!
    Keep us updated if you give it a try!
  • snowflake930
    snowflake930 Posts: 2,188 Member
    It is personal preference.
    I go to the gym very early and do cardio for 65 minutes. For the past week, now that the snow is mostly gone, I also go for a walk when I get to work for about 40 minutes.
    I eat breakfast after. Just water while I am at the gym.
    Some people have a banana or other piece of fruit, and a protein bar.
    Whatever works for you.
  • hopeandtheabsurd
    hopeandtheabsurd Posts: 265 Member
    When I was doing low carb, I couldn't do fasted cardio, I had to eat something beforehand and after as well. With more carbs in my diet now, it doesn't bother me. I would just go by how you are feeling, if you are already getting lightheaded it may not be a sustainable approach for you if it turns into nausea, etc.
  • skylardevenney
    skylardevenney Posts: 49 Member
    blpasquarella wrote: »
    I've been wondering a lot about this as well. From what I've gathered via Google searches and bodybuilding.com, it does seem that fasted cardio has some benefits if one is already pretty muscular and trying to lean out a bit.
    However, with more than 5% or so of body fat to lose, it seems any sort of calorie deficit will work similarly.
    I say it's your preference at this point. Personally, I prefer to work out 2-3 hours after my first meal of the day. (I'm lucky to have a schedule that allows this!) Seems to fuel my cardio more when I've consumed something!
    Keep us updated if you give it a try!


    Today was my 2nd day doing fasted cardio. It's going just fine so far & I don't feel like my workouts have suffered. I wake up before my toddlers & workout & then drink a smoothie while I make their breakfast & depending on what trey have I might have a little too! So far so good & thanks again for all the wonderful input people! I'm just starting out & have baby weight plus weight I put on while breastfeeding. If anyone wants to friend me feel free:)
  • brb_2013
    brb_2013 Posts: 1,197 Member
    Its just about preference, there's no fat burning advantage to fasted cardio (or cardio exercise at all...). I can't exercise with food in my stomach because without fail I ALWAYS vomit after.
  • WaterBunnie
    WaterBunnie Posts: 1,371 Member
    drachfit wrote: »
    WaterBunnie wrote: »
    A study here in the UK showed that whilst men burn more fat by exercising empty, women actually burned more from having eaten before exercise. The difference is due to hormonal differences.

    here is an article about a study done using a group of females that shows no difference in doing fasted vs. unfasted cardio.

    http://breakingmuscle.com/strength-conditioning/debunking-the-myth-of-fasted-cardio

    there. is. no. difference.

    The one I saw (BBC's Trust Me I'm A Doctor) compared men and women, fasted and unfasted and concluded that the women who had exercised after eating burned more than the women that had fasted, whereas the fasted men burned more than the unfasted ones. It may not agree with your study but it was concluded medically for this group.
  • Gamliela
    Gamliela Posts: 2,468 Member
    jacksonpt wrote: »
    ironhajee wrote: »
    jacksonpt wrote: »
    ironhajee wrote: »
    A very interesting topic indeed they say breakkyy is the most important meal of the day.

    "they" say a lot of things. Some of it has merit, some of it is pure crapola.

    And what is your stance on topic? Is what "they" say "crapola" ??

    As far as breakfast being the most important meal of the day? Important for what? Weight loss? No, at least not any more so than any other meal. Preventing early morning hunger? Yep.

    I used to skip it too, claiming brakfast made me hungrier. That hunger really depended on how much and what kind of breakfast I ate.

    So if I don't eat breakfast, I'm dizzy by 11:30 and I like to be balanced on my feet.

    The odd thing is that going without breakfast made me hungrier after 9:30 in the evening! Surprised me that when I started eating breakfast i was able to quit eating late night snacks. :smile:

    Apologies to the OP for adding something to the off topic discussion on your thread.

  • robininfl
    robininfl Posts: 1,137 Member
    I think the best time is the time that fits into your schedule, the time you can consistently exercise. So yeah, I have done fasted cardio for years, because the only reliable time I can work out, every day, is at 5:30AM. Nobody is asking me for anything that early in the morning, so I drink a lot of water in the evening, roll out of bed, pee, put on the shoes, go walk till I warm up a little then jog, then run. Home, stretch, have a glass of water, usually no time for breakfast until 9:30, and it's not big. Big lunch, then smaller supper.

    The limit for me is about an hour, if I try to jog more than an hour without eating or drinking anything, it feels bad. As long as it's shorter than that (and I have not ever managed to go longer than that under any conditions anyway, or not yet) it has worked fine to just drink water upon my return.

    The difference between fasted/unfasted, in terms of results, is likely nowhere near the difference between being consistent and not being consistent.
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