Eating - before or after working out?

[gettingthere]

Hi everybody,

I'm curious as to what seems to work best for everyone else as to the timing of eating. Obviously a big meal before working out is not a bright idea! I usually workout a few minutes after I get up in the morning, so I'm working out on an empty stomach. I figured this would help use some of my fat reserves since I still have a few pounds to lose. However, last week a couple of times my DH wanted to have coffee with me before I got started, so instead of coffee I joined him with an Atkins bar. I noticed I had a lot more energy to put into my workout.

What's the general consensus out there? Eat a little before, or not at all? Or after?

 

[ebh87]

For me, it depends on what time I am working out. During the week, I get up very early and exercise on an empty stomach. On the weekend, when I can sleep later, I always eat breakfast first because I don't think I could work out on an empty stomach at that time.
Erica

 

[cataddict]

I think I remember reading somewhere that heavy exercise was not recommended after a long fast (which after a night's sleep would supposedly qualify as "long"). I'm sure someone with more "educated" information will chime in here, but I think you're on the right track to have something in your system for your workout. I work out before dinner & will eat a piece of fruit or yogurt before I start or I may feel light headed & certainly don't enjoy it as much. Personally I commend you for exercising first thing in the morning...my clothes would have to be on fire to get me to move much before noon!!

 

[getnfit@38]

I usually let my body and the scheduled workout dictate whether or not I eat prior to the workout.
For example: If I wake up at 5:30am and the days workout calls for 1hr cardio + weights, then I'll start my cardio, and usually I can tell whether or not I can go straight through to lifting afterwards or whether I need to rehydrate and eat a little something before lifting. So if I do pause, then I'll get water and a light snack like a banana and fat free yogurt, or maybe a bowl of Kashi cereal, then by the time I set up my weights, record my snack in my food journal and refill my water, it's been about 30-45min after I ate, so then I'll begin my weights. I usually have much more energy for lifting when I break up the cardio and weights like that.
But I do have mornings when I go straight through, but usually it's mornings with shorter or less intense cardios, and I'll go straight through on an empty stomach and then just have my breakfast after the workout is done.
But if you listen closely, usually your body will tell you what IT wants you to do.
Plus, there's no point trying to lift weights on an empty stomach if being depleted is going to keep you from lifting as heavy as you need to, or completing each set with proper form because you're famished and have no energy/strength! I've done that before too and then kicked myself because I didn't get the most out of the workout, which only hurts me overall in the end.

Donna

 

[jillybean]

I workout in the a.m. before eating. But, on days when I do MIC or Imax, I eat a little something about 1/2 an hour before I workout, like 8 oz of yogurt or a handful of almonds. It's probably just psychological, but I find I can actually finish my workout when I do it this way.

 

[Rockstar4614]

I guess I can offer the "do as I say, not as I do" opinion! My doc always reminds me to eat a little something before working out, his recommendation is a small snack that includes both protein and carbs. One of his favorite examples is peanut butter and crackers. BUT, like the others, I work out first thing in the morning and have breakfast afterwards. I think the best advice is probably to just listen to your body, if you feel better after a snack, it can only be helping your workout! Good luck!

 

[Cruncholi]

I have a suggestion different from any of those posted yet. I workout first thing in the morning also. I always drink water before I start and during my workouts. But sometimes when I feel hungry before hand, I will prepare and drink a water spritzer during my workout which has 3/4 water and 1/4 juice, and/or I will eat a yogurt during the course of my workout, taking a spoonful every time I go for a drink of water during my workout. It works for me!

 

[gettingthere]

I always find it interesting to see if I fall into a "norm" category or not! I appreciate all the input. I guess the best thing to do is of course, listen to my body. I'll experiment and see if a piece of fruit or a little yogurt before my workout helps me get a better quality workout.

I generally don't feel like eating that early in the morning. That coupled with the thought that exercising on an empty stomach might help burn some extra fat kept me pretty much from having anything before I actually got hungry. I guess though, if having something light helps me workout with more energy, I'll be burning more calories and building more muscle anyway.

Thanks again everybody.