Question for a.m. exercisers

It depends on what I'm doing, and when.

I usually get up at 6am and do a video of some kind - I never eat before that. Too much jumping, too much effort - anything in my stomach will just send the blood there for digestion so I won't have it for my muscles - plus it all sloshes around and makes me feel like crap. I can't even drink much water before/during for the same reason - I'll get bad side stitches. (I guzzle after though, that's okay.)

On the weekends, I get up a little later and go hiking with a friend. Because I have a bit more time, I always eat breakfast before heading out. But - I'm also not jumping around, or running. I'm working, walking fast and going over fields and hills, but because it's not sloshing, I feel okay. And if I waited until after that to eat, it's no longer breakfast, it's lunch...and I'm starving. No good.

i eat at 6:30 a.m. and then work-out at 8:00 a.m. i eat a normal breakfast, yogurt, protein shake, banana, fruit, cereal, etc. whatever i would normally eat. it has settled by the time i head to the gym. i could never work-out on an empty stomach, but some people can.

I don't eat before I excercise. I'm not usually hungry until after my workout. I hit the gym at 6am this morning and when I got to work (at 8:30am) had my breakfast. I had oatmeal, strawberries, a little protein powder and some PB2 mixed in. It kept me full until lunch.

If I do feel like I need something before my workout, I eat a granola bar (Larabar or Kashi or something like that) before I hit the gym, but I'm usually not hungry until after I finish my workout.

I have an energy gel of some sort (I like GU best), or a half-cup of Chocolate Cheerios (for some reason, the only solid food I've tried that my stomach will tolerate before exercise). Then I eat my breakfast once I get to work. I don't have problems with throwing up, but my stomach gets upset and crampy very easily.

The banana is a great choice for that carbohydrate energy that you'll be needing during your workout; however, timing is the thing to watch. Since your body needs a bit of time to digest something like a banana, you should give it about an hour before heading into your workout. If you are really in a time crunch, then try something comprised of a fluid, like orange juice or a small liquidy smoothie.

Try to stick to having breakfast before your workout, especially if you want to have the ability to push harder during. Your carbohydrate stores (liver stores in particular) deplete overnight and a serving of carbohydrates in the morning will help to replace some of that. AND why do you want to do this? - because your body runs on carbohydrate, especially as you push hard during a workout. You'll be able workout harder with less fatigue if you give your body some carbs as a fuel source.

Last note - your stomach is a muscle and it can be trained to tolerate foods and fluids. So, don't give up on breakfast before your workout just because you threw up this once. Work with the timing a bit and try smaller amounts to get started. Good luck!

I workout early in the morning, about 5:00, so typically just drink water as I am working out. I drink a protein shake right after while I am taking a shower, getting myself, and kiddos ready. My protein shake has 30g of protein so it keeps me full for a while. I will then eat greek yogurt around 9:30-10:00 as a snack. Definitely listen to your body! I can never eat close to working out or i get sick!

I have oats with blueberries and walnuts before my workout and a snack after.

If I work out FIRST thing in the AM all I have is BCAA's mixed with water before/during my workout. Then I eat as soon as I'm done.