What do you eat before you work out and how long do you wait?

wheresmypopcorn

Okay... so, I started working out on Monday and I met with a nutrition specialist through my health insurance today. I should have asked this question there but didn't think about it... I will also look up some info... but thought some real life ideas might help, too.... I am planning on working out again (second time) tomorrow morning before work.  I NEVER eat breakfast but I know I should and the dietician scolded me about that horrible habit.  She also said to make sure I eat before I work out. I didn't ask enough questions, I think my eyes were glazed over from information overload...  

So, if you work out in the morning, what do you have for breakfast? and how long before you go work out?  

Looking for some inspiration, I guess.

Thanks.

CaylaSummer

I personally don't work out first thing in the morning. If you are hungry when you get up in the morning, eat something light like a piece of toast with some protein. you can bring a smoothie with you (fruit based mixed with protein powder) and drink that after you work out. 

everyone is different. For me if i eat a big meal I have to wait 3-4 hrs before I work out especially if I'm doing cardio or any ab exercises because it gives me cramps.

Go with how you feel when you get up but make sure you have a good size dinner too the night before so you are not starving when you get up.

Danidawn20

when I would work out in themorning I would have a small piece of toast before I worked out, then i would eat a breakfast after of egg white or cereal.  It really depends on you and how you feel when you get up.

raynes

I generally workout when I get home from work, so around 5:30-6pm-ish, so I try to have my afternoon snack (usually something like carrots and hummus, or some other combo of veggies and protein) around 3:30-4-ish. 

On weekends when I workout in the morning I usually have a bowl of yogurt with some fibre cereal or granola about a half an hour before I go to the gym, then add a bit extra to my post workout shake.

LittleKatie13

I work out in the mornings and don't eat before hand.  I make sure to drink a big glass of water (like 20+ ounces) and then I eat breakfast about 1-2 hours after workingout.  I know that's a long time, but my stomach gets upset if I eat to soon before or after working out.

AraDesi

Sometimes I don't eat at all before I work out since I work out in the morning, but if I'm hungry or think I need it I'll just eat a banana before, and eat the rest of my breakfast after I shower. That seems to work for me

lolomilly

Popcorn, if you are going heavy on the cardio (especially a long run/walk/bike), I would eat something carb-heavy.  If you are primarily lifting weights, eat something with lots of protein.  I personally can't eat anything substantial within a few hours of running, so if I run in the morning I just eat shortly afterwards.  I am usually fine eating before lifting weights though, and will do so about a half an hour to an hour before exercising.  Different strokes for different folks though.  See what your body responds best to - I have a friend who can eat a full meal before running and be just fine.  For me, that wouldn't go over well.

arwo

I generally do my workout in the morning. I have a small, carb-based breakfast (~200 calories, usually whole grain cereal or toast) and some caffeine, and I try to wait an hour before I start running, although I have been known to head out after 10 minutes. Then after, I have a snack (200-300 calories) that has more protein.

I used to have terrible trouble with eating before working out--I would get cramps, or even get sick. At my doctor's insistence, I worked over a period of a few months to get to the point where I could manage it. For what it's worth, my metabolism is actually higher now that I eat something before I work out, according to the testing my doctor has done.

crnota

I never WANT to eat in the morning pre-workout, but I force myself to do it.

My trainer said that is really impotrtant to eat at least 100 calories worth of something. It can be really light- a banana or something. Or a piece of toast, a yogurt, etc. I usually do half of a protein bar.

She said that the reason to ALWAYS eat something before working out is to break the fast that your body is on overnight- wake up your metabolism, in a way. If you don't, your body still thinks it is fasting and will not burn your fat (it saves it, in case it turns out that you actually are starving!). It will eat muscle instead. If you are trying to burn fat not muscle, you need to feed your body. Then it will know it's not starving and burn excess fat during your workout. This increases your metabolism, too. Plus you'll have more energy!

So even tho it may be tough to eat beforehand, definitely try to do it!

vhalbeck

I try to get my workouts in before work.

If I do eat, it's something light, like chocolate milk, or yogurt, or an amino mix to wake me up.

There was actually an interesting article in the NYTimes yesterday about eating before you work out and what's better for you.

*As previous posts mentioned everyone is different- I'm just sharing this article for a different point of view.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/15/phys-ed-the-benefits-of-exercising-before-breakfast/?src=me&ref=health

marksle84

On the weekends I workout in the morning. I have tried going with out eating and it makes me dizzy. So I eat a granola bar or at least half of it and then when I get back I make my protein shake. My trainer told me to not have a protein shake right before working out because its known to make you throw up! So I like working out right after work because then I go home and have dinner, but theres enough food in my system for energy. 

JoMega

It depends...what kind of workout are you doing in the morning?  If you are doing cardio, you want to do it on an empty stomach.  If you are lifting, you should eat a light form of carbs to give your body some form of energy.  I eat 2 graham crackers each time before I lift.

arwo

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_getting-shape_eat-before-work-out-long-wait?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:238Discussion:72bcb4b6-344b-49f2-8dff-0ad075edffe5Post:7e31b130-6d12-4dc9-9986-0bfd8fa60ac3">Re: What do you eat before you work out and how long do you wait?</a>:
[QUOTE]It depends...what kind of workout are you doing in the morning?  <strong>If you are doing cardio, you want to do it on an empty stomach.</strong>  If you are lifting, you should eat a light form of carbs to give your body some form of energy.  I eat 2 graham crackers each time before I lift.
Posted by JoMega[/QUOTE]

On what is this based? Just curious, since I've never heard this before, and like I said in my earlier post, my (sports medicine) doctor pretty much insisted that I learn to stomach taking food before doing my run in the morning.

JoMega

Well, first I want to state, I think it depends on how much cardio & what type of cardio you are doing...if you are going out for a really long run or doing something very strenuous then you need to fuel up because your body will not allow you to work so hard with such low levels of glycogen.  Also, another disclaimer I should add (thank you for asking this question by the way), I know the consequences I will get when I eat certain foods & what kinds of foods I need to eat on certain training days and what types of foods I need to take out before certain training days, etc, etc.  So, since I do know my body very well when it comes to food intake and exercise, I know what I am capable of doing each day.  If your glycogen levels (energy levels) are extremely low, your body will resort to using the muscle in order to break down for glucose (quick energy).  Your body will be unable to burn any fat and has to use the muscle to perform the exercise...which also is not good because when you burn muscle you are giving your body more opportunities to burn fat.  So, I think your doctor is correct in telling you to have something to eat before, however, if you are doing something light then I think empty stomach is fine.

To answer your question though, the fasted cardio viewpoint is basically this since your glycogen (stored carb that your body uses as its preferred fuel source during exercise) is somewhat low/depleted in the morning, your body will burn a higher percentage of fat during training as its next resort. 

Hope that answers your question...sorry if I steered anyone in the wrong direction!

melliefuller84

Nothing special. II try to eat carbs and drink water but I don't fret cause no matter what it's healthy and half of what I'll eat when I get home after the workout... And the time frame I wait...however long it takes me to get to the park/gym which is usually 5-10minutes

wheresmypopcorn

Thank you all so much for your responses.  I am going to read that NYT article, I really appreciate the link.  

A little bit of background... I have NEVER worked out and I have HORRID eating habits. I am really trying to work on both.  As far as exercise I am starting small and every other day because I am already sore from the limited work out I am doing.  I started with just cardio and on Monday I will meet with the trainer again to learn the strength routine.  Once I get acclimated to working out and am not soooo sore, I plan on taking some of the early morning classes offered at the gym - cycling and yoga - and then do a work out every other afternoon.  Yesterday, I ate a greek yogurt and an apple before heading off to the gym and I felt good - not lightheaded or anything like that after my little work out.