Working out.....eat before or after?

I typically make lunch my biggest meal of the day (300-350 calories). I usually wait about an hour and then I work out. Some days I do cardio, some days I bike, some days I lift...it just depends. I try to alternate days but I do workout everyday.

I usually workout for 1 to 1 1/2 hours and then I wait another hour and have a light snack. Usually its fruit.

My question is.....is it best to have the larger meal before I workout or would it be better to switch and have the snack before and eat the larger portion after?

Your thoughts? 

 

 

I workout in the mornings before eating (only drink water before and during workout).  I do it because of my schedule, but I have heard that if you workout first thing in the morning and haven't eaten in several hours (i.e. overnight) then the weight will come off faster... how true this is, I'm not sure... I've only just started!

The important thing is to eat, you'll need fuel to workout, especailly if you're going to workout for a longer time. 

You don't wan't to eat a big meal before a workout, because; one having all that sloshing around in can effect your workout or make you sick.  The second reason is that when you eat, your body focuses on digestion which will cut down on the amount of blood and attention that will be focused on your workout.

It's also very important to eat after a workout to refuel after depleting so that your body can build and heal. 

I try and split the difference and eat lighter before the workout than I would if I wasn't working out and eat a little more than the protien shake or so that I would have after.

At least that's what they say....

I never ever eat a large meal before i go work out, ill eat a banana or apple or energy bar to hold me over.  if i eat a lot before working out i end up feeling like im going to puke while during my cardio and its enough to make me stop.  its kind of like no swimming for on hour after you eat.  and usually i save my largest meal for after im done working out because im typically pretty hungry by then.  unless of course i work out later at night...

After a workout is when your body replenishes your stores, and tends to be the most efficient at breaking down and moving food units to where they need to be.  Cyclists eat huge pasta meals after a run to get the sugar into the bloodstream and back into the muscle.  Body builders dump creatine, protein and vitamins into their system to rebuild for the rest period.  Bottom line, easily digestible quick energy foods before to keep you going, and heavier protiens and multigrain carbs afterwards.  On top of that, your body will continue to burn long after your workout ends, so the added benefit of better transport through your body will be felt as well.

 

J 

i try to eat about an hour before I run and play basketball, I usually have a peice of wheat toast w/ jelly and 2 peices of turkey bacon.. (carbs and protein)

then Ill eat some fruit after...

I try to eat a little fruit before lifting.

and I walk to get lunch so I walk there, eat, wait 10 minutes and walk back..

always drinking water no matter what I do

That helps alot! I will cut down my meal before my workout and have the protein and carbs after.

Appreciate all of the input!

Absolutely eat the snack before and the meal after! While working out you will burn fat instead of just the calories you ingested with the huge meal. then after your metabolism is the highest it will be so it will help you burn the calories as you eat!!! Definitely switch them around!

Original Post by mandimoore87:

I workout in the mornings before eating (only drink water before and during workout).  I do it because of my schedule, but I have heard that if you workout first thing in the morning and haven't eaten in several hours (i.e. overnight) then the weight will come off faster... how true this is, I'm not sure... I've only just started!

DO NOT DO THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you don't eat ANYTHING before working out- like mandimoore says, you will burn muscle. Eat something, anything. I suggest eating the fruit first, then after a workout eating the big meal... just because a heavy meal might slow you down! But whatever works I suppose! I usually just depend mine on time of day/meal time. But PLEASE eat SOMETHING before you work out!! My highschool basketball coach would lecture us for hours on eating before practice....

Kan Kan- I'm going to have to disagree. If it is a cardio workout I have been told by a nutritionist that you should do it on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. Now weights you need the extra anergy to build muscle, but cardio is good for you on an empty stomach.

I work out at 12pm. and I have a snack at around 10.30am before I go and then eat lunch when i get back at 1.00pm.

Doesnt the body burn calories more after a workout?

Original Post by jennielee15:

Kan Kan- I'm going to have to disagree. If it is a cardio workout I have been told by a nutritionist that you should do it on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. Now weights you need the extra anergy to build muscle, but cardio is good for you on an empty stomach.

how can you run on an empty stomach? What will your body do for energy?? I guess it may just be me but my tummy will growl and my endurance is way less when I haven't eaten more....

I'm also a runner so when I run its usually over 3 miles at a time, which isn't good on an empty stomach.

Whatever works best for you. I would try experimenting to see what gives you the best results. If you have a snack before a workout, sure you may consume more calories, but you may burn those calories plus more during your workout. If you don't have a snack before, you may shave off a few of your total calories, but get a sucky workout.

Personally, I work out in the after noon, and usually have a piece of fruit (and some coffee, shh :P) before my workout. Usually I get home about an hour or two before I eat dinner.

Kankan and jennie, people are different. Some people would faint trying to work out on an empty stomach early in the morning. Other people can wake up and exercise without eating breakfast first. Again, it depends on the person.

I don't know if this will help, but I used to get up early in the morning to go to the gym without eating but I would first have a glass of soymilk and then a bottle of water just to keep me hydrated and so my tummy wouldn't grumble during my workout. (Which was cardio followed by weight lifting)

Afterwards I would eat a moderate breakfast but with that diet I found myself getting tired easily and falling asleep in class (plus it was BORING!).

However, this time around I'm planning to have a small snack like an apple, banana, or energy bar before my workout and a protein-rich shake afterwards.  And hopefully by increasing my calories from 1200 to 1500 a day I'll get to my goal and stay there.

Original Post by kankan213:

Original Post by jennielee15:

Kan Kan- I'm going to have to disagree. If it is a cardio workout I have been told by a nutritionist that you should do it on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. Now weights you need the extra anergy to build muscle, but cardio is good for you on an empty stomach.

how can you run on an empty stomach? What will your body do for energy?? I guess it may just be me but my tummy will growl and my endurance is way less when I haven't eaten more....

I'm also a runner so when I run its usually over 3 miles at a time, which isn't good on an empty stomach.

for real If I dont have some protein I burn out about 15 minutes in, if I eat I can go for 25-30 minutes no problem.. I always eat a little bit about an hour before cardio

Yea! I guess it does just depend on the person I suppose! My advice rkegal find out what works best for you, but be careful either way! passing out or puking on the treadmill...bad!

I work out in the morning when I can.. and it is after breakfast.. I wll have coffee, eggs and toast then work out 30-60 minutes later.. is this a bad thing?  when I work out in the afternoon, food doesn't reallly matter, in the am, it wakes me up.. and gets me going...