Exercising on an empty stomach

virgogirl916
virgogirl916 Posts: 32 Member
edited November 12 in Fitness and Exercise
Is it a myth that exercising on an empty stomach is better than after a meal? If u exercise after a meal how much do you wait before working out?
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Replies

  • curiousmissclay
    curiousmissclay Posts: 72
    I find it hard to work out with much food in my stomach just because I have always had a sensitive stomach so maybe a couple of crackers or a piece of fruit about an hour is usually what I do.
  • donna_glasgow
    donna_glasgow Posts: 869 Member
    glad you asked this, Im sitting here just after my lunch wondering if it will be OK to go out for a jog lol
  • TiredandReadyForLoss
    TiredandReadyForLoss Posts: 41 Member
    Either eat a protein bar, banana, or egg salad before you work out...I usually eat and then wait about 30 - 60 minutes. Exercising on an empty stomach isn't good according to my old personal trainer. Also, have some kind of snack for in your car after workout...fruit, nuts, protein shake or protein bar.
  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    I don't feel good working out if I haven't eaten recently, and I don't feel good if I've eaten more than a little food, either. I tend to eat a granola bar maybe an hour before...
  • BoxingCoachMo
    BoxingCoachMo Posts: 420
    Donna, what i do is eat my solids first and leave my body to digest this food for thirty mins before i even drink any water.

    I would say leave it an hour before you go.
  • smplycomplicated
    smplycomplicated Posts: 484 Member
    I do my morning workout first thing before i hit my coffee or breakfast. My mornings are really busy so i'm always worried if i don't do it right when i roll outta bed i won't be able to fit it in.
  • jaalexan27
    jaalexan27 Posts: 3
    What I've heard is that when you exercise on an empty stomach, it forces your body to burn up fat that is already stored to provide you with energy. Whereas, if you eat before working out, your body will use whatever you consumed to provide you with energy. And if you eat before you workout, I think you're suppose to wait about 2 hours after eating before working out. That's as much as I know. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong.
  • Keefypoos
    Keefypoos Posts: 231 Member
    What kind of exercising?

    ie gentle, moderate or intense
  • alexbelly
    alexbelly Posts: 277 Member
    If I'm hungry, I cant focus on the workout.. I rush through it just to get out of there and get something to eat.

    If I eat about an hour before, I have the energy to power through and really challenge myself during the workout
  • alyssaanagram
    alyssaanagram Posts: 73
    If I'm working out first thing in the morning I usually eat a hard boiled egg white before I head to the gym. But if I'm working out mid-day I wait about an hour before I leave for the gym and make sure to have a piece of fruit/protein bar in my bag for after because I know I need it.
  • donna_glasgow
    donna_glasgow Posts: 869 Member
    Donna, what i do is eat my solids first and leave my body to digest this food for thirty mins before i even drink any water.

    I would say leave it an hour before you go.

    Thanks :flowerforyou: , my hours up in about 20 :) so ill be off out at 2 :D perfect time for getting back for the kids :):):)
  • Ladyiianae
    Ladyiianae Posts: 271 Member
    I can't workout with food in my stomach. Just can't. However, will come home and have protein after i'm done :smile:
  • Faintgreeneyes
    Faintgreeneyes Posts: 729 Member
    I personally cannot exercise having a full stomach. I make sure I eat an hour or 2 before I work out, and will have a banana about 1/2 hour beforehand if I feel hungry. Banana's also help with cramping.

    But to each his own! Do whatever works best for you.
  • kvissy
    kvissy Posts: 205 Member
    What is your body telling you? If you're hungry, eat. If you exercise and feel lightheaded, eat.

    Personally, (especially when I work out in the AM) I don't eat before I work out. I'm never really hungry or feel faint so I find that I'm ok doing it this way. Although if I don't workout until later on in the morning, I make sure that I have something to eat (even if its smal) to get my metabolism going.
  • frosty73
    frosty73 Posts: 424 Member
    What I've heard is that when you exercise on an empty stomach, it forces your body to burn up fat that is already stored to provide you with energy. Whereas, if you eat before working out, your body will use whatever you consumed to provide you with energy. And if you eat before you workout, I think you're suppose to wait about 2 hours after eating before working out. That's as much as I know. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

    I've heard the same thing. I started working out first thing in the AM, before I eat, and it feels like I'm burning more throughout the day. However, that doesn't work when I am truly starving hungry first thing in the morning.
  • 50nfit124
    50nfit124 Posts: 21
    i do complex carbs about an hour before for energy and then protein after.. to rebuild muscle
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    It's largely a comfort thing. I don't like working out for art least 2 hrs after I've eaten (with the exception riding my bike, I can have a good breakfast and hop on my bike to ride to work without any discomfort).
  • jennifer52484
    jennifer52484 Posts: 888 Member
    egg salad pre workout?? That does not sound like a great workout food. Maybe a plain salt free rice cake with a small amount of peanut butter.

    Also, if you can workout in the morning, workout without eating or drinking anything. It will help you burn the most fat.
  • BeautyFromPain
    BeautyFromPain Posts: 4,952 Member
    What I've heard is that when you exercise on an empty stomach, it forces your body to burn up fat that is already stored to provide you with energy. Whereas, if you eat before working out, your body will use whatever you consumed to provide you with energy. And if you eat before you workout, I think you're suppose to wait about 2 hours after eating before working out. That's as much as I know. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong.


    Also is said that not as many calories are burnt though.
  • ChubbyStudent25
    ChubbyStudent25 Posts: 74
    Yeah I heard you burn more fat if you workout on an empty stomach the guy who plays John Carter in the new movie said that's what he did to get in shape for that roll. I do it sometimes but I just feel to exhausted to go for very long so I usually eat and then wait 30-60 minutes depending on how I feel.
  • SandyChampWins
    SandyChampWins Posts: 133 Member
    You wouldn't take youe car on a trip if your gas tank is empty, would you? Your body is the same way! You will work out faster and longer if your body has nourishment first. I try to do my hula hoop after every meal. If I try before I eat I can't go as long!:happy:
  • hpsnickers1
    hpsnickers1 Posts: 2,783 Member
    It depends on how hard the workout is. A really intense cardio session is stress on the body. The digestive system will shut down and your body will deal with the stress.

    Plus if you have an empty stomach or haven't eaten in a while then you can be sure your body will be pulling what it needs from you and not what you just ate.

    Wait about an hour or so then have something to eat.

    But you will get different opinions depending on who you ask. So see what works for you. I really don't understand some of these comments. It's like a long, long list of rules on how and when to eat. Your body doesn't care what time it is when you eat. It doesn't matter that you eat carbs in the morning or at night (you get your highest blood sugar spike with AM carbs, though).

    My biggest meal is at night. Sometimes it's HUGE. It doesn't affect the scale unless there is sugar or refined carbs involved (they make the body retain water)
  • ShellBelle6
    ShellBelle6 Posts: 105 Member
    Personally - I'd say whatever you are comfortable with.
    I don't feel good if I work out after eating. So I will generally work out in the morning before I eat breakfast (I have always eaten late breakfasts - around 9 or 10 am) or late at night after my kids are in bed asleep.
    It's what works for me, what I'm comfortable with.
    Good luck!!
  • slrrese
    slrrese Posts: 180 Member
    Like everything, it all depends on what works for you. I get up at 4:30-5am to exercise. Don't have time to eat and/or wait, so I do it on an empty stomach and eat afterwards.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    What I've heard is that when you exercise on an empty stomach, it forces your body to burn up fat that is already stored to provide you with energy. Whereas, if you eat before working out, your body will use whatever you consumed to provide you with energy. And if you eat before you workout, I think you're suppose to wait about 2 hours after eating before working out. That's as much as I know. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

    I've heard the same thing. I started working out first thing in the AM, before I eat, and it feels like I'm burning more throughout the day. However, that doesn't work when I am truly starving hungry first thing in the morning.

    The theory was that by running in a fasted state you would burn more fat than glycogen (the idea being that your glycogen stores were reduced) but the fact is that it takes about 24hrs of fasting to deplete the glycogen stored in your liver.

    Having said that, my favourite time of day to go for a run is 5:00AM, and I usually run my easy runs on an empty stomach. For my longer runs I'll eat and wait a couple of hours otherwise I'll bonk halfway through.
  • viclee1
    viclee1 Posts: 156 Member
    this seems to be one of those things that varies from person to person. You might need to play with it to figure out what works for you. I know I need to have something in my stomach awhile before going or I just feel sick. and if I eat a whole meal then I feel sick. Another point is your body seems to adjust. I go to the gym an hour after a snack, and prior to eating lunch, and in the beginning I was sooo hungry and nauseaus, but now my body has adjusted and it's all good :)
  • virgogirl916
    virgogirl916 Posts: 32 Member
    Thank you for all the replies. :)
  • ncahill77
    ncahill77 Posts: 501 Member
    It really depends on what works best for you, some people just can't do it. The protocol I follow suggests that you get some protein in your body pre workout but no or very little carbs. Then you load up on your carbs after working out.

    If you are really interested in the science do some research on glycogen depletion and fat cell creation. It get's pretty in depth but the goal is to deplete the glycogen in your muscles and tap the glycogen in your liver by working out fasted which means that what you eat afterwards does not go to your liver first and potentially become fat cells but instead replenishes the muscle glycogen.
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    What I've heard is that when you exercise on an empty stomach, it forces your body to burn up fat that is already stored to provide you with energy. Whereas, if you eat before working out, your body will use whatever you consumed to provide you with energy. And if you eat before you workout, I think you're suppose to wait about 2 hours after eating before working out. That's as much as I know. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

    I've heard the same thing. I started working out first thing in the AM, before I eat, and it feels like I'm burning more throughout the day. However, that doesn't work when I am truly starving hungry first thing in the morning.

    The theory was that by running in a fasted state you would burn more fat than glycogen (the idea being that your glycogen stores were reduced) but the fact is that it takes about 24hrs of fasting to deplete the glycogen stored in your liver.

    Having said that, my favourite time of day to go for a run is 5:00AM, and I usually run my easy runs on an empty stomach. For my longer runs I'll eat and wait a couple of hours otherwise I'll bonk halfway through.

    Whether you did it purposefully or not, you have just illustrated why this is not an "either/or" question. There is no one answer--even for the same person.

    Intensity of exercise plays a big role, previous day's meals plays a role, previous few days of training can play a role.

    In general, it is easier to do lower-intensity workouts on an empty stomach, High-intensity steady-state workouts will be more/most difficult. In general, performance for higher-intensity workouts will suffer if one exercises on an empty stomach. Eating before a workout doesn't mean having an entire meal. Often 100-200 calories is sufficient.

    Exercising on an empty stomach does not provide any greater fat loss than exercising with food. Even if it does result in greater "fat burning" during the workout, the amount of fat burned during the workout has zero effect on losing stored body fat. Depending on the amount fat burned during a workout, the body adjusts fat oxidation at rest so that, after 24 hours, there is no difference.
  • sozzell
    sozzell Posts: 166
    I think you'll know after you've tried it out for yourself.

    Me, personally. I usually start my gym workout at 6.15pm and won't have eaten anything after 4pm.

    I just went out for a run at lunch and ate an apple & a pear around 1 hour before and it was awful...could feel it all jumbling about!! :-/
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