Lifting with an Empty stomach = bad?

[Boashoak]

Is lifting early in the morning (about 6am) on an empty stomach bad? How about with nothing but a pre-workout supplement such as NO-Xplode or Met-Rx Amped in your stomach? Also, if it's okay to lift on an empty stomach, how long should you stay in the gym, is 1.5-2 hours too much? Thanks

[J.L.C.]

You were asking about working out for more than an hour.....you do this with no fuel???

You're worried about long workout elevating cortisol.....yet you try to lift when cortisol level are at their highest....i.e. in the morning (after an 8-hour fast, on an empty stomach).......

Are you worried about cortisol or not?

How can you lift with no fuel? My car doesn't go very fast or very far with an empty gas tank.

[GarethCheeseman]

My blood sugar crashes if I lift without having ate around an hour before. I left it two hours once, did a couple of sets of squats and it hit me like a wall, I fealt sick, weak and unable to lift any more. Now I always eat an hour before and drink fruit juice during the workout.

1.5-2 hours is too much for strength and hypertrophy training, keep it to 45 minutes

[RenegadeRows]

It is very bad to lift on an empty stomache, including an empty stomache with some creatine or NO-xplode in it. Like the guy above said, you have no fuel. I suggest if you lift early in the morning, eat something before you lift, even toast. Carbs/Food = Energy, Energy = A better workout. Wake up an hour early, eat a good breakfast. Lifting on an emtpy stomache just means your body pulls nutrients from your muscles and storage. It's a double negative - trying to build muscle while your muscles are eating themselves away!

[MCWTRAINER]

I would not suggest taking AMPED or NO-Xplode on an empty stomach first thing in the morning before you ate anything that day. I would eat something and then take AMPED and workout 30 minutes later...

[RipStone]

when you wake up your are in a catobolic(muscle burning) state due to an 8+ hour fast during sleep. lifting weight, believe it out not, is also a catbolic activity. if you combine the two you are asking for muscle loss.

[BlueBayou]

Yes, weight training on an empty stomach is bad if you want to build muscle- according to scientific research, and a whole lot of anecdotal evidence as well.

I work out first thing in the morn also. I used to always just jump right up and do my w/o. I would have a glass of OJ immediately after and then a full meal ASAP. I used to just think, "well your muscles grow in the hours and days after a workout and what you have in the tank -during- the workout isnt crucial." WRONG!-->Well at least thats what an ocean of research says anyway... This working out on an empty stomach may have been one of the things that contributed to my frequent overtraining and hardgainer status of the past.

I have since done a lot reading into the research surrounding this and have switched up. I wish I had done this long ago! I now have whey and simple carbs about 30 minutes pre-w/o and again immediately post-w/o now. And then I go for a full meal about 60 minutes post-w/o.

Here is an excellent thread that reviews a wealth of the scientific research and its conclusions reguarding this. I would suggesting reading through this- very informative with many research articles listed!:
http://www.forum.bodybuilding.com/sh...d.php?t=584191

And a great sticky from the nutrition forum, "Pre, During, & Postworkout Nutrition":
http://www.forum.bodybuilding.com/sh...d.php?t=272067

[Boashoak]

It is very bad to lift on an empty stomache, including an empty stomache with some creatine or NO-xplode in it. Like the guy above said, you have no fuel. I suggest if you lift early in the morning, eat something before you lift, even toast. Carbs/Food = Energy, Energy = A better workout. Wake up an hour early, eat a good breakfast. Lifting on an emtpy stomache just means your body pulls nutrients from your muscles and storage. It's a double negative - trying to build muscle while your muscles are eating themselves away!

So basically, would it be alright to take a dextrose drink right before working out if you work out early in the morning?

[Mr Lee]

I would have said its bad, but after having read the warrior diet book i'm not so sure. If you have eaten properly the day before you should have no problems doing a workout in the morning on an empty stomach. Your body will use its stored supply of glycogen to fuel itself during your workout. Your meal after your workout is very important.

[Boashoak]

I would have said its bad, but after having read the warrior diet book i'm not so sure. If you have eaten properly the day before you should have no problems doing a workout in the morning on an empty stomach. Your body will use its stored supply of glycogen to fuel itself during your workout. Your meal after your workout is very important.

Thanks. I think just to be safe I'm going to have a penut butter and jelly sandwich on whole wheat bread before going to work out. That shoud give me some carbs and protein to work with. But yeah, I do eat very well so I'm not concerned about that.

[RipStone]

I would have said its bad, but after having read the warrior diet book i'm not so sure. If you have eaten properly the day before you should have no problems doing a workout in the morning on an empty stomach. Your body will use its stored supply of glycogen to fuel itself during your workout. Your meal after your workout is very important.

But when your body taps into its glycogen stores you are probabaly already in a hypoglycemic state which is not good. You might be dizzy and not be able to concerntrate if you have hypoglycemia. Just eat before you lift guys.

[Jneves]

proper pre workout nutrition may be as effective at boosting your results in the gym if not moreso then proper post workout nutrition. I would say these effects are magnified by the fact that your allready in a catabolic state when you wake up.

a simple dextrose & whey shake when you wake definatly isnt a bad idea

[Masta ZuZ]

in the body for life program, he wants you to work out first thing in the morning with only water in you. they get excellent results? i understand everything being said, but why will that program work then?

[Mr Lee]

But when your body taps into its glycogen stores you are probabaly already in a hypoglycemic state which is not good. You might be dizzy and not be able to concerntrate if you have hypoglycemia. Just eat before you lift guys.

Possibly, i'm just going by what the guy who wrote the warrior diet says.

[BlueBayou]

Possibly, i'm just going by what the guy who wrote the warrior diet says.

It would be very foolish to take one man's word over-->

1-an ENORMOUS amount of scientific research that shows the detrimental catabolic effects of working out without proper pre- and post- w/o nutrition versus the very positive effects on anabolism of proper pre- and post- w/o nutrition!!!!!????????? (and none suggesting the contrary)

2- an ENORMOUS amount of anecdotal evidence (including ALL of those who have succeeded greatly in the sport) saying the same of the utmost importance of pre-and post- w/o nutrition.

?????????

[Boashoak]

It would be very foolish to take one man's word over-->

1-an ENORMOUS amount of scientific research that shows the detrimental catabolic effects of working out without proper pre- and post- w/o nutrition versus the very positive effects on anabolism of proper pre- and post- w/o nutrition!!!!!????????? (and none suggesting the contrary)

2- an ENORMOUS amount of anecdotal evidence (including ALL of those who have succeeded greatly in the sport) saying the same of the utmost importance of pre-and post- w/o nutrition.

?????????

So, do you think a penut butter jelly sandwich on ww bread before working out would do the trick? I mean, it has protein, carbs and sugar. Okay, maybe two penut butter jelly sandwiches.

[BlueBayou]

So, do you think a penut butter jelly sandwich on ww bread before working out would do the trick? I mean, it has protein, carbs and sugar. Okay, maybe two penut butter jelly sandwiches.

That would definately be better than nothing pre-workout. Something faster like whey+ dextrose and/or maltodextrin + water might be better. Actually, research with just milk peri-w/o shows it to be quite effective also- if you digest it well. I would go for the lower fat or skim varieties though for faster digestion.

[Boashoak]

That would definately be better than nothing pre-workout. Something faster like whey+ dextrose and/or maltodextrin + water might be better. Actually, research with just milk peri-w/o shows it to be quite effective also- if you digest it well. I would go for the lower fat or skim varieties though for faster digestion.

So basically, just a couple glasses of milk before the work-out? Thing is, I'm also taking Amped pre-workout. Should i just wait a bit after drinking the milk to take the Amped (creatine work-out supplement in case you don't knok).

[RipStone]

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=512103

[Mr Lee]

It would be very foolish to take one man's word over-->

1-an ENORMOUS amount of scientific research that shows the detrimental catabolic effects of working out without proper pre- and post- w/o nutrition versus the very positive effects on anabolism of proper pre- and post- w/o nutrition!!!!!????????? (and none suggesting the contrary)

2- an ENORMOUS amount of anecdotal evidence (including ALL of those who have succeeded greatly in the sport) saying the same of the utmost importance of pre-and post- w/o nutrition.

?????????

Yeah the warrior diet states it is not aimed at serious bodybuilders but really for those who are looking to lose weight and get that lean muscular 'warrior' look.