Fasting runs

So on another message board I post on (about music), an "internet friend" mentioned that when he wants to get in good shape for sports he's in, he does some fasting runs.  I was wondering if this is a good thing to do... I've tried it a couple times, where I wake up in the morning, have a couple cups of water, go for a run, then come back and eat a good, healthy breakfast.  It's not fasting in an unhealthy way, it's just more so exercising before the first meal.

Any input?

This is a myth. This is only a myth.

Here's some hard facts. If you don't eat before you exercise, you're running on reserve. That means you'll go farther and faster and harder if you eat first. I suggest an hour or so before you exercise.

Second of all, if you want more of your calories to come from fat, than the most important thing isn't whether you eat before you exercise, but at what pace you exercise. The fat-burning zone IS true.. you burn more fat at slower speeds, BUT you burn more calories, altogether, at higher speeds. If you incorporate resistance training into your routine, than calories taken from protein don't matter as much because you're building that, if not more, back!

This, by the way, and because I'm the type who likes to draw such creations is why, if you burn 35,000 more calories than you week over a month, you don't necessarily lose 10 lbs. of fat, because when you exercise, you aren't losing only fat.

That is exactly what I do in the morning when I get up to exercise, not because I'm "fasting" but because I'm already getting up at 5:30 in the morning.  I can't see how I could eat an hour before.  If I had a good supper or snack from the night before, I can run as long as I want.

hkellick - Thanks!  Understanding the science part behind it helps what you're saying make more sense to me

At the same time though, I'm in the same situation as you, triton, where when I wake up early, I just want to go and exercise before it gets any later, and eating before hand would make me have to wait.

Maybe doing something in the middle would be best, such as having an extremely light pre-run snack for more energy, but that won't slow down the run

Actually, I jog in the morning as well, at 5:30 (in the dark! Boo!)

That's not to say I can't jog, or that I'm unable to go, but I also know I totally start getting tired earlier in this run than if I'd eaten an hour before. If I run when I first wake up, I can maybe go a mile or mile and a half. If I eat before, I can go about two before I get tired.

I know quite a few people who run first and then eat.  It's actually easier on your system if you're running hard....then there is nothing in your stomach to make you sick.  As long as you don't starve yourself all day, you have reserves in the morning to do that run without breakfast.  I used to get up in the a.m. (around 5) and swim before breakfast.  It never hurt me.  I think it's what your body is used to.

I bow to neeners' knowledge as she is an Iron Man competitor and I am not.

I think this is one of those sports subjects that is always under debate.  :)  I honestly don't know whether there are health benefits/detriments, but I know that I am much more comfortable running on a mostly empty stomach.  I don't want to be rumbly hungry, just that pleasant feeling of being hungry but not starving.  If my tummy isn't a little hungry, or doesn't have the capacity to be so at the end of the run, I feel really sluggish.  So when I run in the mornings I don't eat at all before hand, and when I run in the evenings I'll go before dinner, and a couple hours after my last snack.

BUT - I know many runners who feel terrible if they run on an empty stomach - so I say to each his own.  :)

An alternative to having food in your belly for your am run is a sports drinks.  Mine has 270 calories and supplies my body the energy I need for a good run.  That said, for big runs, 1/2 or full marathon, I actually wake up early to eat.

I would also say anything under 30 minutes is probably ok with no calories.

Best Wishes,
Geo

gscott, that's a great idea!  I'm going to try a sportsdrink, because I agree, pandajenn, it does feel better to be pleasantly sort-of-hungry :)

Hey Nicole - I just read your profile, we're the same height and have the same goal weight.  :)  You're closer than I am, but I'm getting there!

Hey awesome!  I'm going to add you as a friend :)

My mornings are already way too early to be able to eat an hour before working out. 

Typically my morning is get up, get dressed, wash my face, brush my hair into a pony tail, and then bike with Schwinn for 15min.  After that I'll eat something small and protein and stretch out.  Then I go for a 2mile run.  After my run I get ready for work (takes me about 30minutes) and then I can eat my real breakfast in the car.  Usually a hard boiled egg, yogurt and a 24oz bottle of water. 

It's different for everybody.  Some people, like me, have low blood sugar; if I try to run on a completely empty stomach I'll start feeling sick about 15 minutes into it.  I need to eat a light carb first like a banana or toast, pretty much immediately before I run with lots of water.  Some people can't tolerate having anything in their stomach before they run. 

Hey everyone,

 i'm new and I like to jog at 5:30 am before I eat anything  get it over with and move on, then again in the night at 9:00pm, so far it's working i'm more toned and 46lbs lighter, I love excercise!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S iF you eat before working out your only burning the calories you ate but if you workout before you eat your hitting your presently stored fat. Either way you have to burn more cals than you consume!!!

I would suggest having a couple of bites of banana (or a whole, however much you can handle) before you run. The banana will give you a little to run on, and the potassium will keep you from getting cramps.

I get up at usually between 4 and 4:30 have a few cups of coffee while working- telecommuting/ or playing online then do the elliptical from 5:45 - 6:45 shower and then eat a good breakfast.  I found on days I would have a banana before working out I end up eating more later in the day.  If I wait to eat till after my shower and right before heading out the door for work I eat less later in the day.  I don't run though just  the elliptical in the am but after work I do weights on M/W and a cardio class on Tue/thur.  Last Thursday I had a late lunch and I had bad side ache during the class so for me I think my body doesn't like to work out with too much substance in my belly.