exercise before or after you eat?

jc1229
jc1229 Posts: 220 Member
edited October 4 in Fitness and Exercise
I have a silly question...Is it better to eat before you exercise or after? I've heard both and now I'm confused! Advice please!

Replies

  • therealangd
    therealangd Posts: 1,861 Member
    I have to wait a couple of hours after I eat before I exercise, or I get sick.

    Do whatever works for you. There is no right or wrong way.
  • pmich08
    pmich08 Posts: 193
    I'm in the same boat. I have to wait hours to exercise if I eat, so I generally just eat after I work out. But it's all personal preference.
  • lisy28
    lisy28 Posts: 156 Member
    I eat before i go as you burn off the cals as you work out and also you continue to burn calories at a faster rate for an hour or 2 after working out so i would rather have food in their to burn off

    i also find if i do this i wake up less bloated than if i eat after i excersice (which is usually late at night) and i end up going to bed full which really is not good
  • moondust7
    moondust7 Posts: 109 Member
    I've noticed if I have something very small about a half hour before I exercise (like a clementine or a string cheese stick), it's gives me energy and I have a better workout. I've always read that you need to eat after to replenesh electrolytes and help muscles recover, but I have to wait at least a half hour to an hour afterwards to be able to eat. Sometimes I do have a glass of milk after I exercise, and I think that should be good protein and sugar source to help recovery.
  • engineman312
    engineman312 Posts: 3,450 Member
    i have to have something in my stomach, especially for a morning work out. even for an afternoon work out, i need to eat an apple or something.
  • JeffJohnson26
    JeffJohnson26 Posts: 77 Member
    It's best to have a small meal/snack about an hour before you excercise, so you have some energy in the tank to burn off. Then eat within 30 minutes of finishing your workout. You'll need the protein and carbs.
  • Ange_
    Ange_ Posts: 324 Member
    Because of the heat not here i can't exercise here until it gets dark which is quite late (even in doors with the air con on!). But i am STARVING after work. So a few times i've eating a full dinner before doing my 30DS.
    It didn't feel great, but weirdly i found i burnt more calories than if i had eaten afterwards. I tried it a few more times and it happened again.
    I think i just had to work harder to move my heavy stomach around! So there is that benefit...
    But as i said, i didn't feel all that great. Id rather just have a snack, but then i end up having an extra snack in the day as after i've had dinner i don't need anything else that night.
  • jc1229
    jc1229 Posts: 220 Member
    A friend told me today thatt her Dr told her to eat 20-30 minutes after your workout and what you eat will basically be burned because your metabolism is still burning at a high rate from your exercising. Didn't know if this was really true or not. Has anyone else heard of this?
  • afigueroa_pr
    afigueroa_pr Posts: 344
    I usually eat at 5:30 am and go work out at 6:30 am
    Gives the body time to digest.
  • skinnypigeon
    skinnypigeon Posts: 107 Member
    I have heard, but could be wrong. You should exercise first thing in the morning before eating, this will help burn the fat that you already have stored as opposed to burning up the food you just put in your body. Seems to make sense to me. I would say this would be the plan IF you have fat you want to burn, otherwise a small snack might be important.
  • LFDBabs
    LFDBabs Posts: 297 Member
    I typically try to eat about 30-60 minutes before. I read somewhere that 8oz of Chocolate Milk is an excellent recovery drink after a work out.
  • engineman312
    engineman312 Posts: 3,450 Member
    A friend told me today thatt her Dr told her to eat 20-30 minutes after your workout and what you eat will basically be burned because your metabolism is still burning at a high rate from your exercising. Didn't know if this was really true or not. Has anyone else heard of this?

    i find that to be false, because how can it be burned if it is in your stomach?
  • ndwyer0910
    ndwyer0910 Posts: 86 Member
    Yes you need to replenish yourself about within about 30 minutes after working out. Protein and carbs. Protein shakes are always good for those who cant eat solids after working out.
  • NiciS72
    NiciS72 Posts: 1,043 Member
    I think it's more a personal preference. I know I have a much harder time if I don't eat something before I workout. That said, I wait at least 30-45 minutes after eating to workout. I find I get a better workout if I eat beforehand and make sure there is protein in what I do eat. Try it both ways a few times and decide for yourself.
  • SunshineRowe
    SunshineRowe Posts: 78
    there is some exact math to it... and it depends on what you eat and what exercise you are doing
    when you are trying to do something specific you will need to eat specifically I know my body builder friend does a morning fast
    and heavy cardio but he is trying to put his body to extreme
    but I do think your friends doc is right... eat afterwards is best but if you must eat before for strengh, make sure it's atleast an hour before.
    I do a lot of yoga and that is def the rule for that type exercise
  • Runs4Wine
    Runs4Wine Posts: 416 Member
    I WO in the morning right after waking up, and had to experiment. I started out having to eat 1/2 a banana or I'd be ill.

    Then one day it changed. To this day I run/workout out on an empty stomach. Eating anything makes me ill.

    I guess see what works for you.
  • Sp1nGoddess
    Sp1nGoddess Posts: 1,134 Member
    You should do what works best for you. Working out first thing in the AM on an empty stomach will force you to burn more fat for fuel but you might have low energy. Within 30 minutes to an hour of working out is the prime time to have a recovery meal/shake. You need to replace your glycogen stores and give your body material to build new muscle.

    Personally I have 1/2 a protein shake about an hour before hitting the weights, but I normally do my runs on an empty stomach.
  • Bindibelle80
    Bindibelle80 Posts: 21 Member
    The absolute best time to exercise is 1st thing in the morning before you eat anything as that is when you will burn the most amount of fat & it kick starts your metabolism for the day thus burning more calories at rest. The 2nd is last thing at night once all meals are finished then you continue to burn calories while you sleep. The 3rd is 1hr AFTER a snack or 2hrs AFTER a meal as your body is digesting your food & requires more blood flow. With the exception of the night exercise you should eat again 30-45 mins after exercising to replenish your system. Hope this helps:wink:
  • jskaggs1971
    jskaggs1971 Posts: 371 Member
    I typically try to eat about 30-60 minutes before. I read somewhere that 8oz of Chocolate Milk is an excellent recovery drink after a work out.
    ^^^^^
    I do this sometimes after a hard workout. 8 oz of chocolate milk with a scoop of whey power stirred in, then off to the shower with a cold cup of water. I feel like a new man after the sugar and protein kicks in.

    OP, I don't do well if I eat too soon before a workout, so I try to eat something at least an hour before, like a piece of fruit or a peanut butter and banana sandwich.
  • jc1229
    jc1229 Posts: 220 Member
    Thanks to everyone for their advice, I really appreciate it! I think I'll play around with it and see what works for me. Usually I'll eat my dinner about 30-45 mins. before hand, but really try not to eat anything afterwards( I exercise late afternoon when I get off work). If I'm desperate I'll eat an apple a little later, so maybe I need to change that to some protein instead. Sorry, I'm new to all this, so still trying to figure out how all this works and what works better. Thanx for bearing with me! :)
This discussion has been closed.

Categories