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Eating before early morning workouts.......

jodyl70
jodyl70 Posts: 94
edited November 2024 in Food and Nutrition
I get up at 4:15am to go to the gym before work everyday.

I do 4 days of heavy lifting and a short cardio on those days, a 45 minute cardio on the other day (Wednesday, to break up the weights)
.
My problem is I am not hungry AT ALL before I work out, but I do drink at least 2 litres of water before and during my work out.

Now, I am realizing I need to eat somethign before I work out. What though? I do not want a heavy meal and have room mates that would hit the roof if I fire up the blender at 4:30am! :grumble:

I was hoping to get some feedback regarding some ideas?

Thanks so much! :smile:

Replies

  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    Eating nothing is perfectly fine if you can still train hard.
  • spngebobmyhero
    spngebobmyhero Posts: 823 Member
    I don't think you necessarily need to eat right before a workout that is that early! I don't eat before a morning workout most of the time, unless it will particularly grueling (like the 5k I ran last weekend). If I do eat beforehand, I'll have a sweet potato with some butter (fat and carbs) which gives me some great fuel. A piece of fruit would probably be good too. Easy fuel for your body.
  • rides4sanity
    rides4sanity Posts: 1,269 Member
    I usually grab a protien bar before I go. I'm not really hungry either, but if I don't get something I tank part way through. I also like to make a smoothy the night before and put it in the freezer, when I get up I take it out and it is usually thaw enough to drink as I work out of right after. Good luck!
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,411 Member
    Eating nothing is perfectly fine if you can still train hard.
    True dat. I workout (lift) around 10:00 am and find that I need to eat to get the best out of my workouts, but you need to find that out. If it's not effecting your lifts, then like sidesteal said, don't worry.
  • billtonkin
    billtonkin Posts: 109
    When I worked out early, I used to drink an oatmeal protein shake. Grind the oatmeal up before, so you don't wake anyone. Then just use a shaker cup, half scoop of protein powder and half serving of the ground up oatmeal.
  • Irishmoonwitch
    Irishmoonwitch Posts: 97
    I tend to make a bunch of hard boiled eggs and grab one or two before a workout early in the morning.
  • rowlandk
    rowlandk Posts: 146 Member
    I get up at 4:30 am to head for the gym for my workouts. I just grab a protein bar and eat it on the way. I didn't for the first week and I just didn't feel like I was giving my all at my workouts. Now that I have a little something in my stomach, it seems to help my energy. Although, I have found it's also something to throw up during particularly grueling workouts. It's whatever works for you, but I find that the protein bar right before and having a protein shake after seems to work really well for me.
  • jodyl70
    jodyl70 Posts: 94
    Ok, thanks everyone! A trainer at my gym yesterday was asking what I ate before I work out so early and I thought they were going to pass out when I said "nothing". Not sure if they were trying to sell me something or scare me, but it got me wondering! :laugh:

    Lots of great ideas for before and after though, love the idea of the shake made and frozen the night before!
  • mmstgr
    mmstgr Posts: 578 Member
    Sometimes I have just a banana beforehand. Works for me :)
  • amymrls
    amymrls Posts: 1,673 Member
    I feel nausious if I eat before I work out, I wait to eat after unless I am having a late work out day.
  • AGirlandHerFrenchie
    AGirlandHerFrenchie Posts: 448 Member
    Working out on an empty stomach is fine, it's actually a good thing. If you feel hungry have something small like a yogurt or a small bowl of cereal.
  • czechmate823
    czechmate823 Posts: 89 Member
    Sometimes I have just a banana beforehand. Works for me :)

    ^ this ^ I eat a banana every day before my 5:30 a.m. boot camp. I think it helps regulate your blood sugar to have a little something in your stomach, but everyone's different. Protein bars and oatmeal are good options, too. Good luck!
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