Is it better for us to eat before or after work out.......?

[desidoll]

I used to eat few hours before working out but my friend just told me that it's better not to eat before workout.I checked out few articles about this and several studies suggest exercising while your body is low on food may be a good way to trim excess fat. I tried not eating before work out and my body get so weak and tired tho.I just need some foods before working out.What is your opinion on this?

[NotJustAnotherGuy]

Let me try to put this in perspective for you.. Say you eat 1,800 calories a day. Assuming you workout in the morning, and therefore have the choice of not eating before your workout, then the options look like this..

1.)

Before working out you eat 0 calories

After working out you eat 1800 calories

OR

2.)

Before: 500 calories (or however much you decide to consume)

After: 1300 calories

Now, if you don't take into consideration your workout... you still have consumed 1800 calories in the day and therefore your calorie intake - output is not affected by whether you eat before or after.

Now let's take in consideration your workout.. If you workout with 500 calories of carbs / energy / glycogen in your body, you will most definitely be able to do more reps, a longer time, or heavier weights thus burning MORE calories during your workout than if you came into the workout with no energy, no calorie consumption.

So assuming you eat the same amount of food in the day regardless of when you workout, it is better, healthier and safer to increase your sugar levels before a workout.

The only way not eating before would help you lose more weight, is if by not eating you starve yourself.. so for example

1.)

Before: 0 calories

After: 1300 calories

2.)

Before: 500 calories

After: 1300 calories

In this example, not eating before your workout results in losing more weight. But it is not because it's better for working out, it is simply because you're eating less.

It is always better / healthier / safer / more effective to go into your workout with energy than without. That is why even if you're trying to get that nice toned tummy, a preworkout formula or shake is always recommended.

[desidoll]

Thanks for your perspective,very detail :)

[1ibiz]

It depends on your goals. Everybody is all confused about health. The amount of calories you eat will just determine your weight. The ingredients you eat however will determine what your body will consist of. If your active and eating as many grams of protein to your weight a day, then you maintain muscle, any lower will burn muscle, 30 grams above your weight then you will build muscle. For any person, lower then 150 grams of carbs will burn fat, at 150 will maintain, and over 150 will make you store carbs as a type of body fat(glycogen)! Eating a little more carbs before a cardio or a endurance work out will help you burn off a little of that sugar. As eating some lean meat with plenty of fat on it will help you synthesize protein into muscle and help you burn fat. Eating lean meat a hour after a strength workout will help fill in all those tears of fibers in your muscles. So that's why it's good to eat meat after a workout. People workout when they're fasting too. It promotes autogaphy which is the transfer of nutrients between the the brain and stomach. This promotes neurogenesis!

[DSLexotic]

You have to eat before AND after. 2-3 hours before have a meal with lean proteins & some complex carbs, I.e. fish, eggs or chicken with broccoli, brown rice & an apple. After you workout you could have a protein shake to help you recover until your next meal, which should be similar to the prior meal I listed.

No food before workout = no energy

No food after workout = no energy or recovery

It is vital you give your cells the nutrients they need! You do more harm than good not eating before AND after! To get that nice toned look your cells need protein - a nutrient they don't natrually hold & burn easily! Don't give your cells protein before & after, then expect to flabby. There is a difference between losing weight, & getting a rockin bod. You can lose weight & still look very flabby & fat because you're not getting the proper nutrients. For added energy good Carb sources are just about any fruits, brown rice & oatmeal. Limit wheat intake, even if its brown.

[countrybelle]

both actually eating before a workout and after is good for you

by not eating before a workout you have less energy therefore you burn fewer cals and less fat so you do want to eat likefruits and yogurts prior to your workout after your workout you want to eat fruits and veggies as well as water to reviatlize your metabolism and keep it running

eat before and after you will see much better results trust me just don't eat junk food before you workout you want to eat the fat burning foods

[WeaponZero]

Depends on what you mean by workout. Cardio and resistance training are completely different in this regard.

For cardio (assuming your goal is fat loss), the body performs best when it is glycogen-depleted (which is a fancy way of saying you're on an empty stomach). It is not a bad idea to eat a small meal before your workout that consists entirely of protein (NO carbohydrates of any kind). This only applies for short high intensity cardio sessions, NOT long marathon cardio sessions. If you plan on going for more than a half hour, the no carb rule goes out the window.

For resistance training the body performs best when it has an abundant supply of both carbohydrates and protein in the system. And then approximately 30 minutes to an hour after completing your workout follow it up with another small meal that consists of both fast-absorbing protein and carbohydrate sources.

[desidoll]

What about toning workout?

[WeaponZero]

What exactly do you mean by "toning"?

[joshuadwa]

There is no such thing as a "toning" workout. There is weight training and there is cardio. If you're trying to tone up, that's primarily 100% diet.

[WeaponZero]

That is what I was wondering josh. Wtf is a toning workout? You have resistance and cardio.

[1ibiz]

their are toning workouts. When you lift weights you do heavy lifts to build mass and strength, for endurance workouts you lift lower weights for far more reps. This will give your more stamina and shape your muscles or condition it as you like to refer!

[Ecid67]

While it would be easier to burn fat and excess weight while working out having consumed anything before I don't find it to be the smartest way. You found out the reason why when you tried it. Having no food in your system causes your body to break down stored energy when you work out, which while it has a positive effect weight wise during the workout most wind up eating their workout away about twenty minutes later mainly because they fill starved. Or you feel so weak and tired that it discerns you from working out anymore. People don't like to do things they don't enjoy lol. I'd say eat a little carbs the day before and then some protein afterward. The carbs will burn off and the protein will help rebuild and repair muscles. It may take a little longer than the "don't eat before" route, but you sure won't be tired and wore out over a brisk workout.

[desidoll]

Thanks for your advise.Very helpful for me :)

[themastaplan]

eat things that will boost your enegery...

apples for example are great for that believe it or not...i'll usually try to eat one 30-45 min before I work out, just to have something in my stomach, because working out on a empty stomach isn't ideal...you need energy that we get from foods...

apples work, banana's, etc...dont do full blown meals, but it's def good to have something in your stomach while working out

check out google for other foods that will boost your energy.

[desidoll]

What about eating after work out.Does that gives any effect to our body?

[themastaplan]

well for me I'm trying to gain weight...so as soon as I'm done working out the best thing for me is to get my protein shake in my body ASAP because once you're done working out your muscles immediately start to repair themselves...basically you don't want to work out on an empty stomach at all, eat some type of simple protein...then after have a protein shake or fish or something with lots of protein so you can tone out your muscles...oh, tanning helps you look more tone as well lol

[komotion]

It's whatever your comfortable with. What you lose the most of during a work out is water weight. You can eat a bunch of twinkies and it'll take hours before they are broken down into fat cells, so I would just do whatever works for you. A lot of people wait till after they exercise since eating can make you tired (especially if you eat poultry as it releases meletonin). No one knows your body better than you.

[taster]

I have heard that eating a little food to start the day or before workout will actually ramp up your metabolism makeing it easier to burn fat and calories...whereas if you do not eat, your body will go into a conservation mode...(:

[desidoll]

=D

[taster]

<3<3<3=D

[curiouschica]

Have a small snack before...something light and healthy...it'll give you some fuel to endure a tough workout! Otherwise you won't be able to put your best effort! Or you'll be starving after and overeat anyway...

[heyitsdan]

Before and after is best imo. I drink protein shakes 45 min before I work out so I have energy and something to burn, since I workout after I wake up. Then after I'm done working out I'm usually hungry so I eat some breakfast.

[Anonymous]

Split between before and after. If you don't have the most balanced diet, then try to get carbs in before and protien after. People with balanced diets don't need to worry about that though.

[jimmy217]

i eat before and after. Red meat or fish with some vegies before and tons of fruit after.

[Love2Ball]

Split between before and after and lift heavy weights. If you don't lift heavy you won't stress the muscle= no gain

[froggyboy51]

you want to eat something..wait a half hour to an hour before working out. Eat after too..especially if you're lifting.

[Anonymous]

I eat after. I don't want a mass of food in my stomach sloshing around when I work out.

[kheserthorpe]

What's your goal and what type of workout?

[desidoll]

Toning.

[kheserthorpe]

Eat some carbs an hour or so before hand and lift heavy. Toning requires really working your muscles, and they need glycogen.

[desidoll]

Thanks for your opinion :)

[Konnour]

Should you get some fuel for your car before of after driving somewhere?

[halilmeral]

you can eat komplex carbohydrate and protein don't eat sugar and simple carbohydrates or derivatives thereof

[Longshot]

You should eat a little before you work out.