To eat before or after working out in the morning?

I'm diabetic, and I have to be careful not to let my blood sugar drop too low. I eat before exercise (usually a morning walk,) and often have a snack afterward to restore blood sugar levels.

When I had the luxury of working out first thing in the morning, I did it on an empty stomach (besides coffee) b/c it was just too early to eat and I sometimes would get a bit of regurg if I was doing abs or cardio. Now I have a small carb snack before I work out and then eat protein about an hour post-workout.

The bottom line is, we each have to find a system that works for us. You may be fine doing cardio without a meal in the morning, but strength training may require more fuel to really challenge your muscles. The best answer to this is to do what works for you. Don't go hungry just because you think you're burning more fat...after all, if you cut it short or lower the intensity because of low energy, how much fat are you burning anyway?

If you do eat before a workout, make sure you give your body time to digest. The larger the meal, the more time you'll need. But, if you choose a light snack (100-200 calories) and stick with higher carb fare, you can probably exercise after about 30-60 minutes.

Pre-workout snack ideas:

•Banana (or other type of fruit)
•Yogurt
•Oatmeal
•Energy bar or gel
•Fruit smoothie
•Sports drink

I only do morning workouts on weekends and days off work. In those cases, I work out before I eat.

My weekday workouts are almost always right after work, around 4 PM. I typically eat lunch between 12 and 1, and then I have dinner right after my workout, around 5:30.

But I agree with the poster who said there isn't a right way and a wrong way to do it. There is no point in trying to commit to something you will not continue doing in the long-term. Figure out what works for you, and don't worry about what everyone else says you should be doing.

I've been getting up and running first thing in the morning (well... running/walking in intervals. I'm not a runner yet, but I'm trying to be lol). Right now (because of the tropical storm that dumped all the rain in our area), I'm doing a 2.5 mile route. As soon as my normal route clears up, I'll be back to the 4.2 miles I was doing.

I *always* go on an empty stomach (except water). I wake up and drink water while I change, grab my gear (runner pouch, iPod, pedometer) and go. I come back home, drink some more water, and then finally get around to some food. I'm not very hungry in the morning. If I eat before I go, I inevitably can't run as well because I feel like I'm going to throw up. :-x

Same for my gym time: if I eat first, I can't do the higher intensity stuff (elliptical, arc, treadmill uphill @ 4.0-5.0 mph). I always need at least an hour and a half after eating to do more intense exercise.

Honestly, do whatever feels comfortable to you. If you can work out fasted and not feel light headed or weak during then do that. If you feel that you need a little something in your system and a small meal prior to helps you, then do that.

There will be a lot of people who will tell you that you "have" to work out fasted to get better results or you "have" to eat in order to kick start your metabolism... lots of noise and opinions.

Do what works for you and what makes you feel good.

This. In fact, I would say this about the many theories on MFP that sometimes seem to oppose one another. Personally I don't eat before I workout in the morning but it's not because I feel I have to. I am used to not eating until I get to the office. I do subscribe to the idea of eating protein within 60 minutes post workout.

This is me too! I wake up have some water, split a coffee with my husband on the way to the gym, take care of what I need to get to work then eat. I tend to work out better on an empty stomach, if I go after work I often feel weighed down, BUT that's me, every one is different, try it and see how you feel.
Good luck!

I do both.

I have a small home made protein/granola bar pre-workout for fuel. Post workout I make a protein smoothie with fruit.

It's up to you and how you feel either way.

depends on if i am hungry or not.

most times i have some coffee then workout

if i am going to meet up with my trainer i make myself eat something and bring a protein shake because the few times i have gone without eating i end up with a ridiculous headache and get nauseous.

if i am just doing cardio, even longer more intense session then i am ok not eating

but any sort of weight lifting i need to get some carbs in

before. you need to energy to complete your workout. When you are done eat some more. then eat some more.

I eat something small like a piece of fruit or 1/2 a cream cheese pita filled with fruit before my morning workout. I personally cannot work out on an empty stomach. I have zero energy and get real light headed. I finish off after my workout with a glass of skim milk once I get to work. I guess each person is different though.

I don't eat before a workout anytime between 8am-Noon and routinely burn 600-800 calories. I don't eat immediately I get home either; I usually eat my first meal at 3pm(ish).

Do what works best for you, your body will know what that is.

I think you should just try both and see what works for you. I've heard from different people that different things work for them. Personally I would eat before.

I get to the gym at 6am every weekday. I have a coffee on the drive there and then I have a protein shake after with a banana in it. The I will have a snack around 10:30. Seems to work.

Well I haven't tried not eating before a workout in a long time, but when I have before I'd get really light headed and just totally suck throughout the workout. Now I eat half a pb&j sandwich before I work out, or sometimes some fruit. Usually the more I eat the better I work out, and I'm more concerned with seeing progress in my performance than burning the optimal amount of calories so that works for me.