To Eat or Not to Eat... That is my question!

I am new to this forum so I apologize if this you have discussed this topic previously- I looked through a few pages of posts but did not see anything right off the bat? Anyway- My question is ?To Eat or Not to Eat!? before early am workouts. I have heard that you should eat something before a workout- but I have heard that working out on an empty stomach forces your body to use up ?stored fat? as fuel? Anyone have any opinion?

Thanks! ***Shmoopy***

I would like to know also, because i have heard you should eat even if its an early AM workout. I think you lose muscle if not.

Also, would a protein shake be enough, just to replenish your amino acids, or do you need carbs too?

it mostly depends on your body. i have to eat befor i work out otherwise ill pass out (if its an am work out) but i waght 20-40 minits for it to digest some. the reson people say your not sapost to eat and then work out is because your body needs oxygen for your mussles and stomic to digest the food. and if you work out right after you eat it takes away form it so while your exersising you have food just siting in your stomic not doing anythign and that tends to make people uncomforitable and have cramps. i would say protein shake would be enough just befor you work out for you to have energy but then i would eat a real meal after your work out.

Eat something, that is the answer. Your body uses gylogen and sugar first before moving to fat. Unfortantly, using fat is not a particually quick way to provide energy. So if you don't eat before you work out, your glycogen stores are going to get depleted fast, and that will prevent you from having a good workout. Don't worry about where the calories are coming from directly, as it all evens out in the end. If you deplete your glycogen, then your body will replenish it in one of two ways. Either from fat and converting it to glycogen while you are recovering, or from your next meal, which the body will store as glycogen instead of as fat.

I would say having carbs is moer important than a protein shake, but, depending on your goals some protein could be good too.

i am the same as bernst. i work out in the morning, but if i don't have something to eat beforehand, i'll croak! breakfast gets me going. i usually have a 250-350 cal. breakfast, and wait 45-60 minutes before i head out. it gives me more energy, and i feel better... and can usually run for longer than if i wouldn't eat breakfast. but like everyone says... it depends on your body.

have a protein shake before your workouts, don't do a carb. unless you have blood sugar problems. you want you body to be carb depleted so it has to look for other energy sources. your body will go to the glycogen first then the amino acids in the blood stream then the fat. The body never wants to break down fat because it is a survival technique our bodies have been doing for years. So with the protein in your system, the amino acids will help to fuel your workouts and prevent muscle breakdown, and it will allow your body to burn more fat. If you ingest carbs before your workout it will delay the fat burning process, you want to ingest a high glycemic carb after the workout with protein(preferably a shake)

if i work out right after i wake up (wake up change and drive to the gym) i don't eat. But then again, i have never been a huge breakfast person to begin with. It all depends on the person. Try with out, and if you feel weak or light headed, then next time eat before hand. But either way just make sure you eat!!

and water! haha

You should always eat a little something before a work out, your body needs the energy to fuel a work out. Especially in the AM, you will not get a very good workout on an empty stomach! Yogurt is always a good pre-workout snack, or a handful of nuts! Don't overdo it, but your body needs a little somethin!

What is better though to workout in the am or in the pm I know it all depends on the time you have for this but is there any benefits over one to the other?

As far as fitness benefits go, the time you work out doesn't matter. What does matter is how you feel, because if in the morning you are still tired from sleep, you may lag a little in your workout, and not do as well. BUT you will end up feeling energized and ready for your day! The late afternoon workout provides a welcome change of pace at the end of the work day and helps dissolve the day's worries and tensions, so thats good, as well. In all depends on your schedule and when you feel your best!

You definitely want to eat something before an early morning workout. Your body goes almost 12 hours (give or take a couple hours, depending) without eating while you're sleeping. Generally, you should eat every 3-5 hours to keep your metabolism going fast and strong. Food is fuel for your body, and if you want to maximize your workout, you should definitely eat. What should you eat? Preferably carbs and protein, as carbs and protein is what energizes you. I usually eat one piece of (rather burnt) toast and a couple of hard boiled eggs. It's true that the yolk of eggs contain cholesterol, but it also contains some very important nutrients that your body needs to function properly.

Most people tend to starve themselves, or cut back on their daily calorie intake ridiculously because they believe they'll lose weight that way. It's true that you'll lose weight, but not much of it is really fat. It's mostly water weight. There's no way you can lose weight by starving yourself unless you continue to starve yourself throughout your entire life, but that's one diet that NOBODY should or could stick to. ;)

When you skip a meal or two, your body goes into "starvation mode" which is when your body begins to slow down your metabolism and conserve the little calories you give it. A slow metabolism is what causes most weight gain. What's the point in working out if your metabolism is slowing down? You need to keep your metabolism going, and the only way to do so is to feed your body the nutrients that it needs to perform at it's full potential.

So the answer is: EAT!

Love and alohas,
Ihilani