Eat before working out or work out on empty stomach?

MensHealthGuy · 02-12-2009, 08:56 AM

I like to work out in the morning. What I usually do is wake up around 7, be at the gym by 8 then have my first mean/post work out shake at 10. Is that going too long without eating in the morning? Don't you burn more fat on an empty stomach? Sometimes I feel like if I eat before I work out that's counter productive.

I've read so many conflicting articles telling me to either work out first thing in the morning with an empty stomach vs eating a pre work out meal... what do you guys do? I need some good advice here...

rhizome · 02-12-2009, 09:09 AM

Myth and counterproductive.

ThickAsABrick · 02-12-2009, 09:10 AM

I had **** workouts when I tried that.

MensHealthGuy · 02-12-2009, 09:11 AM

It's a myth that you should work out on an empty stomach or that you should eat a pre work out meal?

mingo3403 · 02-12-2009, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MensHealthGuy

I like to work out in the morning. What I usually do is wake up around 7, be at the gym by 8 then have my first mean/post work out shake at 10. Is that going too long without eating in the morning? Don't you burn more fat on an empty stomach? Sometimes I feel like if I eat before I work out that's counter productive.

I've read so many conflicting articles telling me to either work out first thing in the morning with an empty stomach vs eating a pre work out meal... what do you guys do? I need some good advice here...

Lifting weights in the morning on an empty stomach is a recipe for disaster. Empty stomach and in the morning the body is usually in Catabolic mode (You don't want this if you want to build muscle). I suggest you eat something pre-workout a good breakfast with good carbs like oatmeal and some form of protein (eggs) or powder. I like to workout in the afternoon, read somewhere that cortisol levels are lowest and testosterone levels are higher in the afternoon.

Edit:

Also if your trying to lose weight and are running in the morning and doing it on an empty stomach, you'll start burning fat right off the bat vs the 16-20 min timeframe it takes for your body to start burning the fat.

JZ1986 · 02-12-2009, 10:11 AM

I have worked out early morning, between 4-6am, for the past 15 years and have had no problem at all building muscle.

I workout on an empty stomach so I dont throwup at the gym, sometimes I might just eat a spoonful of peanut butter if I have any rumblings in the belly.

What I make sure to do though is have a light meal at night shortly before I go to bed. Then I just get up have a quick cup of coffee and hit the gym.

I think your post workout drink or meal is very important. You should try to get something in almost immediately after training.

MonkeyMikey · 02-12-2009, 02:54 PM

I have done both of these things and i feel like I get a much better workout when i eat a small lean breakfast of just oats and maybe a couple egg whites if i feel like it. I would say your not being counter productive if you eat completely lean in the morning because your starting your metabolism up and this in turn will burn fat later

if you eat a small breakfast to get yourself going and then have that protein shake 30 min after your workout i think youll start to feel great.

Just remember if your body isnt used to eating in the morning it might take some time to adjust

donny_c · 02-12-2009, 03:17 PM

I'm a fan of eating a small meal about 30 minutes prior to working out

iPump · 02-12-2009, 06:27 PM

I just started working out in the morning. I have a protein shake the night before, wake up in the morning and then a small meal--usually some high protein yogurt, a slice of bread with lots of PB&J. I then have another protein shake within 20-30 minutes of workout. Then a small breakfast at work. I'm still trying to figure this out too, but hopefully it helps you.

bad_intentions · 02-12-2009, 07:03 PM

By no means am I an expert, but if you work out early in the morning I suggest drinking a shake (preferably casein) right before you go to bed. The casein will slowly digest while you are sleep and for me I feel a bit more energetic in the morning.

IronAbrams · 02-12-2009, 07:08 PM

Pre-workout nutrition is just as, if not more important than post workout nutrition.

Nick1971 · 02-12-2009, 11:52 PM

I tried the whole "working out on an empty stomach" thing and it totally killed my workout. I couldn't finish it. I'm an ectomorph, so maybe I'm just not able to do that, while others might be just fine with it. But I generally don't recommend anyone do weight training on an empty stomach. Maybe some LISS cardio.

zackmorris · 02-13-2009, 12:11 AM

I need carbs in me to work out. I eat a lean meal an hour before, so I still feel my pre-workout supp.

I can't see anything good coming out of working out on a complete empty stomach.

Kelei · 02-13-2009, 04:22 AM

You should never weight train while hungry, not only will it effect workout performance but you will most likely burn a higher percentage of protein as fuel.

I usually train for 2-3 hours and through trial and error I have found that I need about 300 grams of carbs to prevent a premature decline in performance, I'll usually eat around half pre workout and the other half during the course of the wrokout.