Is it better to eat breakfast before or after a workout?

[Lisa24x]

If better to eat before a workout.. how long should I wait to excercise after eating?

[MrScTi]

The science behind the human metabolism as it pertains to its circadian rhythm supports the idea that eating carbohydrates for breakfast is a terrible move if your intention is to get lean and mobilize fat stores.

After a full night's rest, your body is ketotic and you're running primarily on fatty acids for energy. You'd starve overnight if this isn't the case.

When you wake up and don't eat anything, you're still in this ketotic state which is ideal for burning fat during workouts. Once you consume carbohydrates, insulin spikes, and so does HGH. This enables your fat cells to store fat (for body builders, it helps with muscle growth). That seems contrary to your fitness goals, doesn't it?

As for that awesome ketotic state where you're burning fatty acids for fuel, it shuts down. You're now burning glucose for fuel and fats are stored as reserve. Eating breakfast, particularly a carb-loaded breakfast, is the worst thing you can do if you're trying to stay lean and burn fat.

You can workout while fasted. It's possible and you won't cannibalize yourself. If you insist on eating breakfast for energy, make it high fat, moderate protein with no carbohydrates.

Bacon, sausage, and eggs are an example of a breakfast platter that is high in fat with moderate protein. Add some butter to the eggs. Heavy cream is also a great fat source to add to coffee.

Forget all the fat fear mongering you've heard. It's all wrong. High fat meals earlier in the day are ideal for fat loss.

[Dansexual]

Doesn't really make any difference, although your performance may be hindered if you workout straight after a big meal. But in terms of fat loss, the most important factor is the overall calorie consumption through the day. Meal timing does not matter despite what the diet books and magazines tell you

[Lisa24x]

Great thanks!! :)

[imnotcrearive]

Well it depends if you want to gain weight or lose it. If you want to lose weight, drink a lemonade as soon as you wake up and go for a run. Or highly intensive cardio. I don't suggest lifting weights on an empty stomach because you won't have any strength.

[Lisa24x]

Trying to lose weight a good 2 stone that I have put on over the past while , great very helpful thanks :)

[Anonymous]

Depends on the size of your meal. If you ate a relatively large amount, wait 2 hours before exercising. If it's just a snack, I would wait maybe 30 min to and hour before exercising. As for eating before or after a workout, it doesn't matter. Some people do better in a fasted state while others need some fuel before working out. What works for some may not work for others. As long as you have enough energy throughout your workout, it doesn't matter

[Lisa24x]

Very helpful thanks :)

[astatine]

if you work out on an empty stomach, your body finds it more convenient to burn muscles of your body instead of fat, to get the energy required to lift things in a gym.
so before workout, eat simple carbohydrates and sugars like dates, bananas, figs, nothing processed
after workout, eat proteins like egg, nuts etc.

[Anonymous]

It's much better to eat before, so your body has fuel to draw from during the workout. As for how long, I'd say an hour is good. I'm not sure if you're like me but if I eat too soon to my workout, I feel that really full feeling and I'm a little sluggish during my workout. So an hour or an hour and a half is good for me.

Just play around with the timing to see what works for you.

[Lisa24x]

Great thanks :)

[martyfellow]

So long as you're not eating too much, you need the energy it will provide. Generally after an hour or so you can work out, by then the nutrients will be in your bloodstream.

[Lisa24x]

Okaydokey thanks :)

[martyfellow]

Good time sweating!

[Takada]

Eat a light meal an hour before and a big meal afterwards. The light meal will give you the energy you need and the big meal will help restore your muscles.

[Lisa24x]

Thankss :)

[SexyJas]

When I eat breakfast before my morning workout it seems so much easier to get threw and I have a lot more energy

[Lisa24x]

Great thanks :)

[cavmanier]

I'd say unless it sex, eat breakfast first for the energy and protein. I would also eat something afterwards if you lifted weights. If you just did cardio I doubt it matters as much.

[thatkaruguy]

after food jumping around in your stomache is not pleasant. and if it digests fast you will get cramps easily

[Lisa24x]

Good point thanks!! :)

[kheserthorpe]

Depends on the workout type.

Basically though go with whichever makes you feel better and workout more effectively.

[Lisa24x]

Mostly Cardio

Yeah think I will wait till after to eat something :)

[TripleAce]

Depends what your trying to achieve. Wanna give a small description if you may... also what kind of work out are you doing?

[Lisa24x]

Trying to lose a good 2 stone that I've put on over the past little while really wana get back to my healthy weight :( but struggling to eat enough calories and unsure when is best to workout and wiether or not to take protein shakes if they would be of any help?

[TripleAce]

2 stones. So about 30 pounds. 1 stone is equal to 14 pounds

That's a lot, for a healthy wieght loss your looking at 1-2 pounds per week of body fat lose. For calories if you want to be exact. You need to check your rest rate calories count and reduce about 500 a day from that. If you tell me your height and weight and age. I'll check for you. If not, just wing it and eat properly, like lots of lean meat, veggies and fruits, whole grains. Eat as you get hungry. Maybe be a touch hungry before bed

Your probably doing cardio, so it's great to do it in the mornings. If you want to max your weight loss. No eating before. If that's not comfortable. Have something light and small

Protein shakes are to build muscles, your focusing on wieght loss so I wouldn't think you need those shakes. If you ant you can take amino acids in pill form to preserve your muscles but not important

Ask more if you want :)

[maiez]

Eat before, so you have energy and things to burn. You may end up burning off your muscle if you dont eat and also getting lightheaded.

[Lisa24x]

Thankss :)

[Dakota_The_Rota]

After the workout, you need the protein afterwards and not before. And it could hurt your stomach if you eat too much before a workout.

[Lisa24x]

I have bought protein shakes that says helps with weight loss etc but scared in case it bullks me up if that makes sense?

[Klaatu51]

basically you're supposed to eat breakfast once you wake up... no?

[jwhit]

Maybe eat like a piece of fruit or something before you workout, then eat your breakfast meal after. I wouldn't workout on a full stomach.

[GoldCobra]

Depends what you're trying to do. Burn fat or build muscle

[Dantheman101]

Both as long as ur burning it off

[Anonymous]

After. ---