lunch then walk or walk then lunch

kholmes · September 2009

I do my main workout as soon as I wake in the morning, get dressed, then eat breakfast before going to work. I have been walking for 30 minutes during my lunch break as a stress release, get my bottom off of the chair, and just to feel better about my day. I do power walk most days so I am also getting a workout so my question is...

Do you eat lunch and then go for the walk or should I go for the walk and then eat lunch? Which is best for burning calories but also for energy? Or does it really matter?

Thanks for any help.

CrystalT · September 2009

I walk during my lunch, too. I've always had better luck walking before I eat. I'm not sure if one is better than the other. I just don't like walking that soon after a meal. Plus, it gives me motivation to walk faster if I have my food to look forward to.

Bretto · September 2009

I think if you walk first it speeds up your matabolism so that when you eat after the walk, your body will burn it faster. Just my thoughts.

thumper44 · September 2009

I walk at my lunch time before I eat as well.

As Crystal said, gives you motivation if you have food to look forward too.
Other side of the coin. How many times after eating, do people not have motivation to do anything.

If anything negative, you eat your lunch and then go for a walk, IMO, your not letting your food digest properly, and perhaps could cause a cramp.

Luludog1 · September 2009

I, too, walk on my lunch. I always eat about an hour earlier then offically take my lunch break for walking. I feel like i better burn the calories i just ate. But thats just me. Also, not sure if your employer allows that kind of flexibility. Good luck either way

nhendri · September 2009

Funny cuz I eat before I walk . I usualy waite about 30min between. If I dont I feel light headed and sometime dizzy. I think it realy depends on you though. I would love to waite untill after but find that it makes me sick. Maybe I just let my blood sugar level get too low :laugh:

Phoenix_Rising · September 2009

I think if you walk first it speeds up your matabolism so that when you eat after the walk, your body will burn it faster. Just my thoughts.

I learned in a college class that your metabolism is up for up to 45 minutes after you work out. Anything you input will be more quickly burned off.

That said, if it's burned quickly, you'll be hungrier faster.... sorta.

But if you don't eat for that 45 minutes, you will be burning stored fat or whatnot. So I always try not to eat for 45 minutes after working out.

However, I was able to eat lunch at my desk at noon, then go workout at 2:30 on my "lunch hour". Is that something you could do? (I also ate a 3:30p or 4p small snack.)

kholmes · September 2009

Thanks for all of the tips.

After reading all of your thoughts I am starting to think it may not be the best idea to walk in the 100 degree heat with no food in my tummy since the midmorning snack. And yes after I walk I am usually not in the mood to eat because of heat and then I will not eat until later and that will through off the whole afternoon snack and dinner. Wow how much thought can go into this.

So I will eat now and then I will wait 30 minutes or so and go for my walk. Work is pretty flexible with that so I am going to give that a try.

Thanks again for the input.

Chenoachem · September 2009

I had read recently that walking after eating helps rev up your metabolism and burn your food as energy. Some are right though that depending on what you eat you might cramp up on your walk. The times I go out at lunch I eat some of my lunch before and some afterwards.

Here is an article on walking after eating reducing heart burn.

http://heartburn.about.com/cs/emailcourses/qt/heartburntip24.htm

There is also an interesting article from WebMD about walking before eating.

http://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/news/20041222/walking-before-eating-offsets-fatty-feasts

1harleygal · September 2009

They are right, walking after you eat helps rev up your metabolism and burns more calories. Also what I do sometimes is eat while I walk, like lo cal bread with smoked turkey breast with mustard, also some sort of veggie and lo cal cheese sticks. It seems to keep me from feeling hungry, I burn what I eat and I get my excercise in all at the same time!

TuscanySun · September 2009

I walk before I eat. If I do it the other way, I dont seem to be able to go as fast or as far...seems like my body wants the energy for digestion instead of the exersize...I feel sluggy doing it after eating.

Gogo · September 2009

I have been walking on my lunchbreaks now for about 3 weeks and I always walk after I eat. I usually have a small lunch and then walk for 30-45 mins. I have never had a problem with cramps or anything like that. I eat first so that I have energy to walk.

Solandra · September 2009

I have my midmorning snack about 45 minutes before my "official" lunch hour, and then walk for the first 30 minutes of lunch. The walk gets me out of my tech-job headspace and lets me enjoy my lunch afterwards.