Is it healthier to workout before or after I eat and why?

[MizzKay]

I'm working out trying to lose weight to be healthy again because I've gained some of the weight back and I'm back in the 200s again. So I just want to know which is healthier. Honest answers please. Thank you.

Before

After

[Anonymous]

The metabolic impacts of eating before or after exist but are minor.

However, it probably impacts how you feel during the workout. Some people hate feeling food, others need some food a few hours before hand. It does depend on the intensity level of the exercise.

Basically time your food so you feel best and can work out most effectively. A better workout will have more impact than the metabolic impact of fasted vs. non fasted exercise.

[akadatank44]

I've been working out on an empty stomach for years. Some say that's better for fat burn others say no you should eat before. Basically it's a toss up on if you can preform at 100% and push yourself without eating before working out. Im just used to it probably because of two a days in football. I just feel bogged down if I eat before but thats just me.

[Xfitchick]

Depends what you eat. If you want to initiate fat burning and don't eat carbs before, it will start sooner. But: training will be heavier because you lack instant fuel and you will need proteins because you may induce muscle burning.

[cheeseysouffle]

It doesn't matter when you eat vs when you work out. Losing weight is about calorie intake only. If you consume less calories than you need, you lose weight.

[MizzKay]

Oh ok. You make a good point

[Yeahno12]

Work out first thing in the morning before breakfast; this has been proven to really contribute to weight loss. Then eat your evening meal early and avoid eating anything after about 8pm, and work out again after that.

[outmyroom]

Always eat after. Just don't eat after 8 it's unhealthy

[PlzJustDie]

What I do :
Before - I drink my coffee and eat oats and fruits

Wait an hour or two. Go to the gym.

Right after - Protein shake

Then, I eat my dinner a couple hours after that.

[Yourshadow]

For men its after but for women its before workout. Seen in documentary.

[MizzKay]

Oh. Maybe I should check it out

[KittieCat]

I workout when I wake up after a glass of water.. seems to work for me :) I wouldn't work out and jump around with a bunch if food in you.. probably would upset your GI track

[amarahorrorstory]

I get stomach pain and side stitches if I eat first. I tucker out faster, so I like to do it before or wait for a bit.

[Anonymous]

You work out after you eat, because the work out prevents the calories from being converted to glucose and glycogen. You want the food to be used as fuel, during the workout, none of it to be converted in your gut to something else.

[posted]

Probably before since it takes so long to digest, a lot of people eat after as well.

[frozenhorizon]

I doubt it impacts your health either way, but it just feels better to eat after. Maybe drink a small smoothie or juice or something beforehand.

[Words_and_Wisdom]

Not sure. But if I know anything, in anime, the protagonists always feasts after great battles and exercises so... guess it's better to eat after working out.

[wolfie12]

Eat an hour or 2 before workout and as soon as you can later (assuming you lift weights).

For caloric deficit it makes no difference, all that counts is calorie intake through a week (or day).

[Decentguy]

i do break fast and lunch and then at 7:00 pm i go to gym and after working out i do my dinner so i would suggest you the same

[MizzKay]

Oh okay.

[Decentguy]

by the way i do my dinner at 2:00 pm

[Decentguy]

and you can eat a banana or an apple before an hour of workout of before an half an hour of workout

[MizzKay]

Wow, that's pretty early but ok.

[Hollywood-Glam]

From experience I'll say prior because after a workout I tend to crave unhealthy food, I don't know if it's just me or the case of most people.

[John_Doesnt]

It doesn't matter. Medical science has proved your body doesn't give a shit about when you eat or workout. Your body can't tell time.

[samhradh_leannan]

I wouldn't go quite that far. It's true that your body can't tell time, and it doesn't matter exactly when you eat, but that doesn't mean it's a great idea to gulp down your breakfast and then immediately go for a run.

[John_Doesnt]

@samhradh_leannan it makes 0 difference. I trust science not a chick's personal experience.

[samhradh_leannan]

Just because it won't kill you doesn't mean it will make you feel great. If you want to eat a full meal and then immediately jump on a treadmill, go right ahead, but it doesn't sound like a great experience to me.

[John_Doesnt]

@samhradh_leannan I never said it would feel great or not kill you. I said it wouldn't make any difference at all. Science has already proved it. Your own personal experiences are not science.

[samhradh_leannan]

I'm not sure what your definition of making a difference is, but it is clearly not the same as mine. And I'm not claiming that my own experiences are science- nor am I even referring to my own personal experiences in the first place. But if you think science has "proven" that when you eat "makes no difference" in any way, you have even less of a grasp of science than you apparently think I do.

[John_Doesnt]

@samhradh_leannan I'm going based on medical text books. Not based on your crazy chick magazines or whatever you get your info from. Sorry chick, but I'm done hearing your crazy pseudoscience.

[Octavius]

Your body can't tell time but it can tell when food is in your body and specific chemical reactions set off which can affect your weight loss or muscle growth. www.humankinetics.com/.../how-our-bodies-use-protein
For someone who claims to trust science you haven't researched it very well.

[John_Doesnt]

@Octavius thanks for criticising a 6 day old post. Don't you have something better to do?

[Tarnygosh]

You get winded exercising after a big meal. And I just can't run after dinner

[Hjominbonrun]

Losing weight has far less to do with exercise and far more to do with how often you fill the tank.

[samhradh_leannan]

It has a lot to do with both. What you eat is important, but exercising can play a huge role in weight loss too.

[TheButterfly]

I would eat a small snack before and a healthy meal after. Good luck with your weight loss!

[Other_Tommy_Wiseau]

Eat breakfast before you workout. For lunch and dinner, eat after so you don't get sick

[IVoidWarranties]

I eat 2 cups of Organic steal cut oats , with Vanilla protein powder! Then around 10:30 it goes into the sewer pipe connected to my house!

[Joesyyyywhales]

Your workout probably consist of cardio. Doesn't really matter just don't eat 2 hours before or you'll cramp

[chc0009]

Before, since I feel like I'm going to pass out if I work out on a full stomach.

[Anonymous]

Don't work out on a full stomach or an empty one. Have a banana Or a shake before hands

[Anonymous]

it makes no difference in terms of how effective the workout will be,, itll be effective either way..

however, you'll probably have a better workout if you have energy which comes from food

[Hunterb]

just eat 1500 calories a day and run almost every day you will be losing weight really fast

[Anonymous]

I prefer after since it works off being bloated somtimes from eating.

[Thora1]

Probably before, because it's not good to workout on an empty stomach.

[jamesdegod]

fasting and low carb, not healthy to lose weight but neither is being 200lbs female.

[Fearless_banana]

Need to eat before and after.

[bbch25]

How much before and after? Is it like, a small snack before to give you a boost then normal breakfast after or breakfast before and small snack after?

[Fearless_banana]

@bbch25 Want to eat an hour before.. nothing too heavy. You want sustained energy. After.. eat as much as you can post workout.

[Scared_Banana]

It's best to eat while you're working out

[Puppylove94]

Before

[blondfrog]

Before you eat fill.