Working out on an empty stomach

darli ann

darli ann

Cathlete
Hi everyone-
I posted earlier about the "Body for Life" topic & wanted to say thanks to the folks who gave me their input! I read in the book that exercising on an empty stomach is the best way to burn fat. I was skeptical about that one because I figured I'd run out of energy halfway through my workout. But I'm trying it - and surprisingly having no problem. My energy level is still good. (I do eat afterwards) Anyone else do their workouts on an empty stomach? And your results?
 
I went for a run the other morning on a completely empty stomach (after having done KPC the night before and not eating after) and I could feel it on the back half of my run. It was a hard slog.

But usually I work out on a fairly empty stomach and I definitely can't have anything for at least an hour before running, or my gut lets me know in a big way!
 
I have worked out on an empty stomach since a little after I began in 2002. I have been fine. When I eat first even though I wait a while to exercise I always get sick to my stomach. I don't eat immediately after either. I wait about 30 minutes to an hour. I have never looked up what is optimum for you body, I just know this works for me. As for results since I never tried the other I am not sure but I am pretty lean and have definition.
 
I exercise in the mornings at least an hour after I've had breakfast, so not on an empty stomach. On days when I've been too harried to eat anything decent for breakfast I do feel my workouts suffer because I run out of gas.

If you're exercising in the morning you need to consider that you've not eaten for several hours and I think that is going to work against you because you won't be able to push yourself as hard, but again that is mho.
 
What I do is go home after work and begin my workout around 5:30 pm. I try to not eat anything 3 hours prior to my workout. But that's a good point, the fact that you may not be able to push yourself as hard through a workout when you're on empty, particularly first thing in the morning after you get up. I'm not an early morning person so I don't subject myself to that, but it almost seems dangerous to get up and jump right into it after an 8-10 hour fast. Not saying it's wrong, just trying to learn so I don't hurt myself.
 
I don't like to lift on an empty stomach, but I definitely prefer my cardio workouts before I eat. I cramp up too easily if I eat first.
 
I think that either it works for you or it doesn't. It depends on your body. I get real shakey and a rubbery feeling if I exercise early in the morning with no food in my stomach. For most people that's not an issue. I wish I didn't have to eat in the morning. I have to force myself to eat. But my workouts are much more effective, exercising mid morning with a somewhat digested meal.
 
i work out on an empty stomach cuz i get up at 4:30 to work out before going to work... if i had to eat first.. i'd have to get up way too early! i have no issues! i eat once i get to work!


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cute work out clothes are good for AT LEAST an additional 10-15 calories burned!
 
I started taking an energy pill because I get sick when I eat in the morning before my workout but I run out of gas if I don't. It's all natural - no caffine, at least as far as I can see. And it works!

Lisa
 
I workout also with an empty stomach, for several reasons. I can only fit a full workout in at 4:45am till 6am...so no time to really eat. Plus, I get sort of a 'heavy' feeling if I eat before a workout, especially cardio. Also, I followed BFL a few years back and began doing it then. I had great results with BFL and now with Weight Watchers doing it this way. However, if I do a workout in the evening and then another one in the early AM, I feel light-headed on occasion. When I workout at night, I will make sure I eat something small before bed...I get about 5 hours sleep at night.

Gayle
 
My stomach is always full when I workout or I get dizzy and weak. I will even do the jumping jacks in mid air and not be bothered.

Charlotte~~
 
I like to do my cardio fasted, at 4:30 a.m. or so, but prefer to have eaten about an hour and a half before my weight training. I find I can lift just a little heavier after I've eaten.
 
I get up very early (2:15 am) and I'm working out by 2:45 am most mornings. I usually exercise on an empty stomach, but I have insomnia and can usually only sleep for 5 hours (sometimes 4). I usually have an apple for a snack about an hour prior to bedtime, cuz I can't fall asleep if I'm hungry. I usually don't have a problem working out at this time, as I'm very used to it and I love it (believe it or not). I make sure I warm up well. However, a few times (since I've been doing the Hardcore Rotation), I've felt really hungry in the middle of my workout, so now sometimes, I'll have one of those tiny yogurts (60 calories) and a handful of cheerios before I workout if I feel I need the fuel. I tend to agree that cardio is best on an empty stomach though.
 
I only work out on an empty stomach during my cutting/leaning out periods or when I want to shock my system; I only do this for cardio sessions, never weight training; and I only keep the sessions between 30-40 minutes, enough to get to the fat-burning phase, and short enough to minimize muscle loss, if any.

I do see more definition when I do this and stop when I see the definition I want. This isn't something I want to do for long stretches.

Pinky
 
I always eat a little something before a workout . I feel I have to fuel the flame so to speak . I eat a banana or apple . workout and then try real hard to eat again in an hour hungry or not .Seems to work .:) :)
 
I always workout on an empty stomach, first thing in the morning. If I eat anything at all, I feel very sluggish and I can't even fathom working out. I think that is why I am finding it so hard to do a second workout in the evening.

Tammy
 
Often I do AM cardio on an empty stomach, but that's if I get up, climb into my workout gear and start right away. For a long grueling cardio session like intervals, or any weights session, I have to eat a little something first or I'll hit the wall halfway through. For cardio it means I get uncoordinated (start tripping on my step, or drifting over to one side of the treadmill belt instead of staying in the middle). For weights, I burn out - my muscles don't hit failure but I don't have the energy to do another rep.
 
I've been working out in the morning on an empty stomach for years. No problems here. I eat about 30 to 45 mins after my workout.

Diana
 
>Pinky, what do you mean by "cutting/leaning out periods"?
>THanks!

A cutting period is a time where I do more cardio than usual to burn the flab I've accumulated, normally after the holidays or after a bulking phase, where I mainly strength train (I eat more when I strength train) and do less cardio.

Pinky
 
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