What do you eat before an early morning workout?

Spaffdavidson
Spaffdavidson Posts: 117 Member
edited November 24 in Health and Weight Loss
I workout at 545am and I am having trouble finding something to eat to give me energy before the workout that doesn't weigh me down or make me feel sick during the workout.

Any suggestions????
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Replies

  • xxharleyquinnxx
    xxharleyquinnxx Posts: 166 Member
    Banana And peanut butter? Or just a banana or spoonful of peanut butter? I don't really workout early apart from weekends and don't normally eat beforehand but I've tried what I've suggested before and it is just enough :)
  • From9five
    From9five Posts: 60 Member
    A simple protein shake and a banana or orange are what i eat when i dont have time for breakfast. And some coffee (i throw the protein in my coffee sometimes)
  • jflongo
    jflongo Posts: 289 Member
    Are you saying if you work out before eating that you don't have energy, just curious? And yes a simple protein shake isn't a bad idea. 1/2 banana, a few strawberries, almond milk, 1/2 of full scoop of protein shake.
  • fitoverfortymom
    fitoverfortymom Posts: 3,452 Member
    I run at 4:45 am and run fasted. I usually eat a protein bar or something around 8:30 am.
  • h1udd
    h1udd Posts: 623 Member
    always fasted so just some kind of caffine to get me going at 04:30 .... 1st time I eat is 13:00 for lunch
  • aeloine
    aeloine Posts: 2,163 Member
    Frozen waffle with PB
  • Aw0627
    Aw0627 Posts: 82 Member
    If exercise in the morning, I eat after I can't eat that early I rarely eat an actually breakfast
  • fitoverfortymom
    fitoverfortymom Posts: 3,452 Member
    aeloine wrote: »
    Frozen waffle with PB

    Best breakfast ever.
  • MelanieCN77
    MelanieCN77 Posts: 4,047 Member
    Yoghurt or cottage cheese and a fruit cup, and I take a 100-150 cal something for directly after.
  • StarryEyed0
    StarryEyed0 Posts: 32 Member
    I always have oats for breakfast only a small bowl though so its not too heavy
  • beaglebrandon
    beaglebrandon Posts: 97 Member
    I love Belvita breakfast bars. They're 230 calories each. They're easy to eat driving in the morning to the gym, and give me enough calories to last through a 2 hour workout.
  • tinkerbellang83
    tinkerbellang83 Posts: 9,140 Member
    I normally don't eat before a morning workout (because it'd make me vom) but I would probably have my powdered greens in some OJ about half hour before, so as to not workout on a totally empty stomach.
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    Coffee.

    Do you really "need" the energy? Unless you are running a huge deficit you should have enough from the day before.
  • ritzvin
    ritzvin Posts: 2,860 Member
    edited January 2018
    Spaffdavidson wrote: »
    I workout at 545am and I am having trouble finding something to eat to give me energy before the workout that doesn't weigh me down or make me feel sick during the workout.

    Any suggestions????

    1/2 a protein&fiber-added food bar on my way out the door (usually Clif or Special-K).
    (Also a caffeine pill earlier on just before getting out of bed)

    ETA: above for weight training. I run in the evening. If I don't have time ~30 minutes before the run for dinner, than I stick to fruit snacks right before the run (anything more complex would be too much for me right before cardio).
  • MarylandRose
    MarylandRose Posts: 239 Member
    I'm in the "I don't eat until after the gym" camp. If I get up really early for other reasons (ie, to leave for the beach before traffic) I don't eat then, either. I am not just not hungry in the early morning.
    I do cardio and lift 3-4x/week on an empty stomach (start time 0530-0700, depending), and it works for me. I can't imagine eating before working out, and I'm often still not hungry for several hours afterwards...I wait for my body to wake up and get hungry to eat. This morning was spin at 0530, and I think I would have been sick if I'd forced down food before that class.
    If you're not hungry that early, don't force yourself to eat just because you've heard you have to. What works for you is what's most important.
  • ScottMermer
    ScottMermer Posts: 4 Member
    My schedule dictates that I get up at 3:00am in order to get a work out in ... I do not eat anything before and have a protein shake as soon as I'm done. I have found that eating right before my workout makes me continually "taste" whatever I ate.
  • astrampe
    astrampe Posts: 2,169 Member
    Coffee, I eat something after....
  • 1houndgal
    1houndgal Posts: 558 Member
    I actually eat breakfast about 1-2 hrs before I swim. And I bring a protein bar for after my workout if I need it. As a type 2 diabetic I have foods to eat should I get symptoms of low blood sugar. My favs gym bag food provisions are pure protein bars and welches fruit gummies (in case my blood sugar has really dropped).

    Other favs for snacks that I may bring are string cheese, and apples, nuts; but they are more perishable and I don't put perishables in my gym bag.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,598 Member
    People differ. Me, I can't do fasted workouts of any length/intensity. It makes the workout quality s**k.

    Before spin class, I eat a Coco Lite Pop Cake (20-calorie tortilla-sized cracker-type thing) with 30g crunchy peanut butter, alongside 3/4C lowfat kefir, 3/4C hot skim milk with vanilla (I need my protein!).

    Before on-water rowing, because I've learned I need more carbs for that, I sub an Ezekiel pita for the pop cake.

    Experiment a little: You'll find something that works for you. Good luck!
  • fatvegan88
    fatvegan88 Posts: 71 Member
    I just take my preworkout and go hard. I have a hard time working out when I can taste food especially a banana or apple. Makes my stomach hurt.
  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    I don't, But

    PB, Banana
    PB, Bread

    Basically, if you need something you'll want carbs/fat with some protein. Something that's relatively calorie dense, but not going to stress you stomach. Yoghurt bothers some people. As does citrus.

    IF PB doesn't work for you , almond butter or Guac are just about as good.
  • Spaffdavidson
    Spaffdavidson Posts: 117 Member
    Thank you everyone for the suggestions. I will try a few out and find one that works for me.

    I used to be able to do a workout without eating anything beforehand but now half way through I'm struggling to keep the momentum of the workout going.

    Thanks again everyone...all the suggestions are greatly appreciated!!! :)
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    I personally don't feel the need to eat before an AM workout unless it is going to be particularly long. If I'm going to be doing a longer workout and I feel a bit hungry, I will have some dried fruit or a piece of toast with nut butter. These work well for me personally, they don't upset my stomach or make me feel weighted down.
  • 1beetleboy
    1beetleboy Posts: 19 Member
    I always run on an empty stomach but the suggestions of a banana r spoon of peanut butter are good suggestions.
  • PaulaWallaDingDong
    PaulaWallaDingDong Posts: 4,645 Member
    A pop tart and either a cup of black coffee or an energy drink mix.
  • apullum
    apullum Posts: 4,838 Member
    Depends on what I'm doing. I can do about 30-45 minutes of exercise in a fasted state; anything more than that and I need something to eat. Usually, I'll have a piece of fruit.
  • hesn92
    hesn92 Posts: 5,966 Member
    I don’t work out in the morning but when I did I usually didn’t eat anything, just drank my coffee which had a little sugar and half/half. I might occasionally have a banana or maybe a piece of bread w peanut butter or something.
  • lucyluvhandles
    lucyluvhandles Posts: 138 Member
    Belvita breakfast bar and a cup of coffee is what I usually have before a workout. Not too heavy and gives me the energy I need to get through my workouts.
  • BeccaLoves2lift
    BeccaLoves2lift Posts: 375 Member
    I like 1-2 tbsp of peanut butter on a slice of bread.
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