Eating before or after working out in the AM

I'm trying to get up early and work out, but I'm wondering whether I should eat before or after working out. Which is better? I don't want to wait for the food to digest a little, but I need energy as well. Thanks!

I eat a little before and a little after.

Original Post by kurichan:

I eat a little before and a little after.

Same. 

If I'm doing a moderate workout, then I'll eat just a tiny bit - usually a small handful of cheerios or a banana. If I'm doing a long run (10+ miles), I try to eat a banana with peanut butter. 

Hunger after a workout doesn't kick in for me until at least 30 minutes after. It seems that the harder I work out, the more full I feel. After long runs I immediately drink a glass of chocolate milk. After a shorter workout, I just wait until I'm hungry - which is usually 30 minutes after I'm done. I'll eat a full breakfast though of probably around 500 calories then. 

Good luck! Working out first thing in the morning is the best feeling in the world :)

Most sources I've seen suggest eating something light 15 to 30 mins before exercise.  Apparently it will give you the energy to give the workout your all.  Personally, if I'm running in the morning, I'll wake up and eat a banana 15 mins before I run.  I'm in the same boat as jcl, I'm not usually hungry right after running and it takes about 15 to 30 mins to get my appetite back.

From what I have read on the web on several sites, you should eat something about 20-30 minutes before you work out.  Some suggestions for a light meal are:

1. banana
2. peanut butter with wholegrain toast
3. oatmeal with maple syrup and skim milk
4. two cups of coffee (I saw this a couple of places--but can't testify that it is good advice)
5. fortified cereal with fruit

Overwhelmingly, the evidence I found is that you should eat something to get the metabolism going before your morning workout and you should drink a glass of water first thing.

Thanks! I think I might eat something light before like fruit, then afterwards I'll eat cereal or oatmeal.

Thanks for the answers/suggestions!

Definitely eat before, and eat after.

You need the immediately available carbs to help get you going.  After, if you're hungry, eat then, too.

Before working out I like to have a yogurt cup with some All Bran Buds.  There's some simple sugars as well as some fiber and more complex carbohydrates in that.

After, I like to have a tall glass of milk because studies show that you build more muscle if you drink 500 mL immediately after a work out (Google Scholar search for "milk exercise muscle").