Exercising on empty stomach

chris1529
chris1529 Posts: 315 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I've read a lot from both sides. Just curious to see what others on here think and if it's helped them. Should I exercise on an empty stomach first thing in the morning? I read that it can speed weight loss cause it is burning more of the stored fat. Is it true that exercising a little while after a meal mostly burns that meal and not more stored fat? Like I said, I've heard a little on both sides but wondering which one is best and healthier.
«1

Replies

  • Sondras09
    Sondras09 Posts: 30 Member
    Id like to know also. I work out at 5 am and dont really want to eat before I work out. Id rather wait til after.
  • joejccva71
    joejccva71 Posts: 2,985 Member
    There are benefits to training fasted as long as you stick with it for a lengthy period of time.

    Intermittent Fasting
  • Meggles63
    Meggles63 Posts: 916 Member
    Two cups of coffee (and a bathroom break, lol) seem to work for me. I am simply NOT hungry at 5:30 a.m. I run some days, and alternate with strength training and haven't had any problems.
  • trinaparker
    trinaparker Posts: 1
    Hi!! I too exercise early in the morning (06:30). My trainer said I needed to have at least SOMETHING in my stomach, ie.e small bowl of porridge or a banana which I usually have. Something slow release to give you the energy to exercise is fine, so I believe! ;-))
  • poledancing_ninja
    poledancing_ninja Posts: 271
    I can but I can't put as much into it as if I've eaten, then I am ravenously hungry all day and horribly moody. Some orange juice beforehand helps me perform better and a slice of toast keeps me from murdering people at work later in the day
  • creature275
    creature275 Posts: 348 Member
    studies have shown that taking caffeine in the morning and doing cardio in a fasted state is beneficial to burning fat, personally I dont do that kind of thing because I fear losing muscle as well but for someone only trying to lose weight I would say go for it
  • shovav91
    shovav91 Posts: 2,335 Member
    I personally can't work out on an empty stomach. It makes me feel faint, and I know I'm not working as hard as I could if I were properly fueled.
  • Lisamar74
    Lisamar74 Posts: 114
    I'd say it definately helps to workout first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. For me it does anyway. I used to train in the evenings and then swapped to the mornings. Noticed it made a big difference to my body shape.
  • dmf80
    dmf80 Posts: 60
    If there is one thing I have learned over the last 10 years of living a healthy lifesytle is that there is no blanket statement, method, whatever, that works for everyone. Some people have success with not eating before working out. Others (like myself) need to eat before working out. Eating is never an issue for me early in the morning. I am up at 4am, eating by 4:05am and working out by 4:30am.

    Intermitten fasting has been proven to work for some but if you play the numbers game, most people have success by fueling their body within 30 minutes of waking up. Try new things and see what works best for you and your body. Then stick with that.
  • chris1529
    chris1529 Posts: 315 Member
    I want to lose more belly fat. I look pregnant..... and I'm not! I have been eating better and exercising for about 2 weeks now and have lost 3 pounds. I have to say, I'm impatient! I don't do hardcore workouts. I have no endurance for that. So I do Leslie Sansone's walk at home dvds. I have noticed a difference in my thighs and my belly has gone down a bit BUT I want to lose more weight from my workouts.
  • chris1529
    chris1529 Posts: 315 Member
    bump
  • chachadiva150
    chachadiva150 Posts: 453 Member
    I want to lose more belly fat. I look pregnant..... and I'm not! I have been eating better and exercising for about 2 weeks now and have lost 3 pounds. I have to say, I'm impatient! I don't do hardcore workouts. I have no endurance for that. So I do Leslie Sansone's walk at home dvds. I have noticed a difference in my thighs and my belly has gone down a bit BUT I want to lose more weight from my workouts.
    You're going to have to eventually move away from Leslie and do more vigorous work.
  • hg345
    hg345 Posts: 14 Member
    I started running this time last year on an empty stomach. I wanted to run early so I wouldn't be seen (didn't want to see anyone I knew!) so I didn't have time to eat before I went. Each time I came back feeling faint so now I would never excercise without having eaten first.
  • Benson19
    Benson19 Posts: 54 Member
    When we first wake up of course we are hungry because our body just went without food and water over night. I personally like eating before working out because It makes me feel stronger during the workout and the energy gets used a bit during the workout. Your body will also use fatty deposits because it takes awhile to 1. digest your food and 2. for that energy to get to where it needs.

    During a workout though your body is focusing on working and not digestion so your taking away from digesting a bit. Having a shake or small meal is ideal because it doesn't have much work to do. If you have a big meal and work out your body gets confused on what to do.

    Caffeine is a hunger suppressant....That is good and bad. Think about it.
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    I would try both methods and choose whichever one you enjoy more.
  • susannamarie
    susannamarie Posts: 2,148 Member
    Personally I hate exercising on an empty stomach. Other people hate exercising with food in their stomachs.

    Try both and see which you like.
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    For the lean trying to get very lean (15% body fat or less for men, 22% or less for women), various strategies, including fasted cardio are probably going to be required to offset the mobization and blood flow defects. That’s why that specific group found decades ago that fasted morning cardio worked best. And why I wrote The Stubborn Fat Solution since it deals with how to overcome all of the problems.

    But for folks who aren’t that lean yet, the folks in the middle range of body fat levels, it really doesn’t matter. The best time to do cardio will be whenever it will most consistently get done. If that’s first thing in the morning, fantastic. If not, also fantastic. It’s more important in this situation that it gets done than when it gets done.

    Again, for the extremely obese, different strategies entirely are required but, again that would take a full article to address so I won’t talk about it here.

    http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/fasted-cardio-and-fat-loss-qa.html
  • vim_n_vigor
    vim_n_vigor Posts: 4,089 Member
    If I workout early, I do it on an empty stomach. I will not keep down food that early in the day, especially if I am working out. I don't feel hungry or weak either. Now, if I workout later in the day, it is not on an empty stomach. Then I will feel light headed and weak. What works best for you?
  • runfatmanrun
    runfatmanrun Posts: 1,090 Member
    Something I have found is that if I have a late night snack, 200-ish calories, within 30 minuts of going to bed it is easier to workout in the early morning and I don't feel like I am starving when I am done.
  • jenniejengin
    jenniejengin Posts: 784 Member
    I tryed it and do not seem to have enough energy. I find myself eating in the middle of my workout just to fuel.
  • raider66cv
    raider66cv Posts: 4
    Due to my work schedule, I workout during my lunch time. I'm usually in the office around 6:30 AM and immediately have a bowl of oatmeal and coffee. About 30 minutes before heading to the gym I usually grab a energy/protein bar and either eat 1/2 of all of it depending on how I feel. I noticed that if I don't eat anything prior to working out AND if it's a weight lifting day, I feel weaker and can't do my complete reps of 8-10. Anyhow, eating before strenuous exercise is my recommendation.
  • moochachip
    moochachip Posts: 237 Member
    I find myself being able to do more reps and lifting heavier weights if I eat something light like a turkey wrap 30 minutes to an hour before working out.
  • leahnoelle31
    leahnoelle31 Posts: 79 Member
    I don't eat before my weekday workouts (at 5am, usually up to an hour long) but I do eat and have coffee at least 1 hour before my long runs on the weekend (at least 8 miles). During the week I just eat after I shower.
  • suziecue66
    suziecue66 Posts: 1,312 Member
    I thought fasted cardio is okay to do but if lifting weights you should have something to eat beforehand.
  • hpsnickers1
    hpsnickers1 Posts: 2,783 Member
    I think all exercise should be done on an empty stomach. If there is no food in your system your body has no choice but to use what's already there. This is why I love Intermittent Fasting.

    It doesn't matter if you eat anything before or after. Some people have "bonked" while lifting in a fasted state. But I think as long as you don't over-do it, it's fine.

    Digestion requires quite a bit of energy. And if you over-do it, you'll shut down your digestive system (while it's still digesting) while your body deals with the stress of the exercise (remember that exercise is stress and the body treats all stress the same).
  • chrishgt4
    chrishgt4 Posts: 1,222 Member
    It depends what you are after really

    If you just want to lose fat then go for it.

    If you're wanting to increase muscle at the same time, then I'd say that by not eating beforehand you probably aren't going to have the energy to push as hard as you should/could.
    I want to lose more belly fat. I look pregnant..... and I'm not! I have been eating better and exercising for about 2 weeks now and have lost 3 pounds. I have to say, I'm impatient! I don't do hardcore workouts. I have no endurance for that. So I do Leslie Sansone's walk at home dvds. I have noticed a difference in my thighs and my belly has gone down a bit BUT I want to lose more weight from my workouts.

    "I don't do hardcore workouts. I have no endurance for that."

    You don't either have or not have endurance. You can gain it - by doing. If you never push yourself you won't progress.

    Looking good is hard work.
  • chris1529
    chris1529 Posts: 315 Member
    I thought fasted cardio is okay to do but if lifting weights you should have something to eat beforehand.


    I was thinking that too! :)
  • chris1529
    chris1529 Posts: 315 Member
    I was wanting to lose more fat but at the same time, I want to get toned. I'm thinking that I can fast for cardio but not for strength training. And by the way, I read that we should wait 30 mins after a workout to eat something cause our bodies are still in fat burning mode and if we eat right after working out than it slows that down. Anyone else heard that as well??
  • signgrrrl
    signgrrrl Posts: 74 Member
    I also exercise in the morning. I ate ONCE before the workout. Did not go over very well with my tummy. It works out better for me to wait untill after.
  • rbjcksn
    rbjcksn Posts: 31 Member
    I've been doing 30mins on the treadmill on a morning before work 2 times a week for the past 4 weeks. First few times I felt totally wrecked afterwards. Gotten used to it now, alternating the days really shocks me on a morning and feel pretty good afterwards. Having a "can-do" and determined attitude really helps though!

Categories