Is it better to eat before or after a work out?

Kelstarr84
Kelstarr84 Posts: 21 Member
edited October 1 in Fitness and Exercise
I finish work at 5pm and get home for about 5:30pm and leave the house at 6:30 pm to attend a 1 hour zumba class. When should i eat in order to lose weight - before or after the class?

Replies

  • martinh78
    martinh78 Posts: 601
    After, providing you have enough energy to complete the class. Can you have a banana before leaving work, or on your way home?
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I do something similar - leave work around 5 - 5:30 and do Zumba (DVD) when I get home. I have found that I perform better if I have a good snack before (4:30 ish) and dinner after. The snack is usually something like a granola bar or fruite and handful of almonds, veggie sticks with peanut butter. I try to include carbs and protein.
  • Jessicaruby
    Jessicaruby Posts: 881 Member
    i would have a small snack right when i got home so i would have some energy for the zumba class but am not weighed down by a huge meal... then i would eat dinner after the class.
  • julwills
    julwills Posts: 286 Member
    Everybody is different but for me I eat a small snack when I get home from work at 5:15 (cheese stick or granola bar) then go to Zumba from 6:30-7:30 and eat dinner when I get home. Works best for me.
  • lind3400
    lind3400 Posts: 557 Member
    Yeh some people r sensitive to eating before they work out and it makes them nauseous....I personally hate eating before working out. I have a kickboxing class at 530 and I get off at 430 so I usually have something small so I dont pass out..but not a whole meal
  • I can't eat a big meal before zumba as it really messes with my body and I can't do it - but I do try to eat a snack. I also have a full meal at work at lunchtime and then after the class (whcih is a 90 min one and uses over 1000 calories) i tend to just have a shake or something, not normally a full meal.

    However I do find if I don't eat enough during the day I do sometimes start to feel faint during the class so it is important to get the balance right and I try to eat nearly my normal (non exercise adjusted) allocation of calories before the class, that way I feel fine!
  • Kelstarr84
    Kelstarr84 Posts: 21 Member
    Thanks guys, really helpful :happy:
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