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Working out on an empty stomach.

Ambersaur
Ambersaur Posts: 9 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Is it bad to work out on an empty stomach? Am I harming myself by doing this? I usually workout first thing in the morning. If it is harmful, what should I eat beforehand that won't make me sick during my workout?

Replies

  • DebLaBounty
    DebLaBounty Posts: 1,169 Member
    I sometimes drink a protein shake, sometimes just half of one. I think the energy boost helps my stamina.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Ambersaur wrote: »
    Is it bad to work out on an empty stomach? Am I harming myself by doing this? I usually workout first thing in the morning. If it is harmful, what should I eat beforehand that won't make me sick during my workout?

    No it's fine
  • Therealobi1
    Therealobi1 Posts: 3,262 Member
    i prefer to work out first thing in the morning. then i have my breakfast afterwards.
    never heard it may be harmful
  • penny_heathwood
    penny_heathwood Posts: 6 Member
    I workout before breakfast and eat after. I cannot eat before working out.
  • sak20011
    sak20011 Posts: 94 Member
    I usually just have coffee with cream or milk. But if I've been up for more than 3 hours, I'll eat or at least bring a banana. Its usually fine. the only times I've felt shaky is when I've done a really intense ashtanga yoga--and more likely from dehydration.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,148 Member
    Do it pretty much everyday. I don't eat till 12pm and my workout is usually around 8am.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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  • JaxxieKat
    JaxxieKat Posts: 427 Member
    I like doing fasted cardio. I feel less sluggish and heavy when I do HIIT without a gut full of food.
  • AliNouveau
    AliNouveau Posts: 36,287 Member
    It's the way I usually do it. OtherwiseI feel gross.
  • girlgeeklula
    girlgeeklula Posts: 85 Member
    I usually don't eat before my workout if I'm doing it in the morning (or I'll get something light, like a piece of fruit). I don't like the heavy feeling of working out after I eat. Though for lunchtime workouts, I do actually eat before since I've been chasing kids for 4 hours and it's in the hea of the day, so I'm not pushing for any records.
  • Chieflrg
    Chieflrg Posts: 9,097 Member
    edited July 2017
    It's a preference thing and the only thing I would be concerned about is does it affect your energy for training in a negative way.
  • DancingMoosie
    DancingMoosie Posts: 8,619 Member
    I've only done it almost everyday for the last 3+ years...
  • pigheaded
    pigheaded Posts: 3,083 Member
    I workout fasted. I use a pre workout with BCAAs 15 minutes before and a list workout meal. All to protect my muscle mass as I'm at a calorie deficit.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    You have huge energy stores on board already.
    Eating before/during/after is very personal on how it makes you feel and how you perform.

    It's certainly not automatically harmful, what you are doing isn't in the slightest unusual.
  • Okiludy
    Okiludy Posts: 558 Member
    edited July 2017
    Another pre-workout drink and hit it guy. If I go to gym after work I need at least 3-4 hours after eating before I feel right in gym.

    My pre-workout is Transparent Labs Lean. It taste horrid and I'll likely get a better tasting one next time. Still it gives me energy for lifting without that belly full feeling I hate in gym.

    Oh and hundreds of thousand of Marines do this most days. PT at O'darkthiry for years while I was in. Hell hard enough just getting to formation on time let alone eating before hand.
  • ErinMarie25
    ErinMarie25 Posts: 733 Member
    I prefer having a little something, most likely a banana. If I eat a meal beforehand, I get cramps or an upset stomach. It is not bad nor good, it is all about what you prefer!
  • livingleanlivingclean
    livingleanlivingclean Posts: 11,750 Member
    edited July 2017
    I generally work out fasted, either in the morning, or a few hours after my last meal. I find working out too close to food makes me feel a bit ill, and pushing too hard makes me feel like whatever I ate is coming back up....

    I've never had an issue with training this way...
  • jenilla1
    jenilla1 Posts: 11,118 Member
    Who flagged the first response!? I hope it was an accident...
  • asianolikeyou
    asianolikeyou Posts: 393 Member
    It really depends on the person and what works with his/her body.
  • OldAssDude
    OldAssDude Posts: 1,436 Member
    You're still digesting what you ate yesterday. So no.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
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  • ChelzFit
    ChelzFit Posts: 293 Member
    If I workout early morning I usually have something small like a gronola bar and I have to eat pretty much right after. I get low blood sugar else I would prefer to workout on an empty stomach.
  • Motorsheen
    Motorsheen Posts: 20,506 Member
    jenilla1 wrote: »
    Who flagged the first response!? I hope it was an accident...

    protein shakes can be rather insulting.
  • livingleanlivingclean
    livingleanlivingclean Posts: 11,750 Member
    Motorsheen wrote: »
    jenilla1 wrote: »
    Who flagged the first response!? I hope it was an accident...

    protein shakes can be rather insulting.

    I find the farts that might result from a lot of protein more offensive... :D

    :
  • rybo
    rybo Posts: 5,424 Member
    Not harmful at all. I do much better on an empty stomach
This discussion has been closed.

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