Should I eat before exercise?

[EmilyBee]

I have started to exercise in the morning. I have very little time as it is and usually eat my breakfast two hours later when I get to work. Is it okay to exercise on an empty stomach?

I want to get maximum effect from my workouts and I have just realised that maybe I'm doing more harm than good. The only problem with eating beforehand is that I would be exercising immediately afterwards. I would be eating two boiled eggs.

Thanks in advance. :hug

[nickletaffy]

Eating before hand will give you that extra boost if needed but I find myself eating after workouts too as I do cardio on a track which consists of fast pace walking and I prefer to do this on an empty stomach as it feels better than food jiggling around in there.

Of course I also drink 2-3 glasses of water with my daily supplement before hand which ties me over. However, do what feels right to your body . . . if you need the extra boost and energy then eat before hand ~ if you can wait, that's totally up to you cause you're still burnin calories and that's the important thing! :yes

[Desertthorn]

I think eating immediately before exercise isn't the best, but a half hour or so wouldn't hurt. Make sure you eat every 6 hours and that means breakfast

[Isabeau]

For me, it depends what I'm doing and what time. For example, if I have a day off and want to do my weight training first thing, I might have something light, like a hard boiled egg, wait twenty minutes, then do my thing. I can't do weights after a larger meal, even an hour later. I find now for my cardio, especially if I'm running 5K, or cycling, I need to eat more before, but again about twenty minutes before. That's just me!

[Emo_Boy]

Always eat AFTER excersize!

[Kent]

If you can bear one more opinion, I prefer to eat afterwards as well less chance for cramping. If you feel yourself getting light headed, certainly get something in your body beforehand. In the end, it is really a personal decision about what you are comfortable with and how hard you exercise.

[2big4mysize]

it will depend on your make up as to if you have to eat or not. If you have a large fat reserve you can workout no trouble but if you are near or at goal you might need to depending on how late you eat the night before.
your body will tell you if you need food or not. If you can wait 2 hrs without fainting then you are fine.

[EmilyBee]

Thanks everyone

Since I feel fine while exercising, I think I shall carry on until something changes. I must say that I have noticed that I get hungry sooner in the morning than I did before. I used to force myself to eat breakfast but now I can't wait to get to work so that I can have it!

[2big4mysize]

good for you oh and see the reply in your AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH topic about the body morphing you are doing with all that exercising you are doing should have a big smile on your face you big fat loser!!!!

[EmilyBee]

Thanks 2big :hug

[snorkelman]

It depends on whether your work out is cardio based or weight lifting.

if you are doing cardio, then you should workout first thing in the morning before you eat anything. No question about this. It is the best way to burn the most fat.

cardio immediately after a meal - you will still burn fat, but you will burn less because you will be burning off the carbs you ate first.

if cardio first thing in the morning is not for you, then the second best time to do cardio is immediately after weight training.

The worst time to do cardio is late, just before bed. hey it is better than no cardio at all, but you don't get the advantage of the raised metabolism because as soon as you sleep, your metabolism drops to its slowest rate of the day.