Exercise then eat, or eat then exercise?

[xxmusical]

Sorry in advance if this question has been posted before.

 

Do you usually:

 

A) exercise then eat afterwards (presuming you exercise at night, after work), or

 

B) eat then exercise (and eat nothing afterwards and just go to sleep)

 

Would love your opinions!

[Emilia]

Both. I have big, late lunch on the day of my training sessions (in the evening) and have big dinner afterwards too.

[regine_phalange]

If I eat and then exercise, food will be out, in no time. I pefer to eat afterwards.

[Toddbt12y1]

Definitely should have something after exercising. Otherwise, you'll do more harm than good. Your muscles require energy to rebuild. Without that supplied energy, they will enter into a state of ketosis.

 

In short, what are your plans? If to burn body fat, and weight, it is best to exercise with little food in your system. Eat something like a banana, then exercise. You give your body carbs, but, not a whole lot. Will help with lifting or whatever it is you do.

 

If you want to bulk up, eat like a madman.

[jba10582]

I mostly agree with the above poster.

 

For fat loss: for me personally, best time to do aerobic exercise is on empty stomach in the morning, the next best thing is after at least 4 hours without eating anything.

 

For muscle gain: funnel your nutrients (food, supplements ect) and even some carbs around training time (before and after), and especially get protein within the first 0-30 minutes following anerobic activity (weight training) and probably another high protein meal within 2 hours following.

[ctxinfl]

Usually both. If I'm hungry I eat before I exercise; usually not much, though enough to fuel my workout. Afterward I drink some chocolate milk to help my body recover. If I'm lifting then I'll also get some protein in my body quickly.

[EasyHeart]

Some people have problems digesting and get cramps if they eat before exercise. If that's a problem, then obviously don't eat before exercise.

 

My general rule is to eat about 2-3 hours before weight training and to do cardio on an empty stomach.

[Eternal Sunshine]

I eat a medium sized meal before and a ton of food after. Sometimes meals like family sized pizza after. I know

My weight has been steady for last few months and I was losing before.

[Harradin]

I can't eat before exercising, it upsets my stomach and I don't perform as well. If I have to, I find a pasta salad or food with a majority of fruit/veg is the only thing that doesn't upset my stomach!

 

Weirdly I could eat a massive lunch and then do judo and get thrown around without feeling anything. But in a inter-club comp in kickboxing, I took a kick to the stomach and instantly threw my breakfast up! I still get teased about that.

 

But I eat after I exercise!

[gaius]

Eating afterward makes throwing up more pleasant if you have to. Plus I've found I have more energy if my stomachs empty and not busy churning up food.

[Shepp]

I dont often work put in the evening but - Banana first then eat properly after.

 

Exception being evening football games in which case I'll have pasta or something at lunch time, banana just before and then a sandwich after!

[FitChick]

I work out when I get home from work so I try to have yogurt usually about 2 hrs before. Otherwise, I will be too hungry so likely to skip the workout. Then I have dinner with some protein afterward.

 

I don't see how people can eat a bowl of oatmeal in the morning and immediately workout before going to work. I need time to digest.

[Phoe]

I eat before my workout, and especially will probably be eating a granola bar or banana as I'm walking in the gym door.

 

I cannot workout hungry. I will pass out. I must eat before to fuel myself.

 

 

I know a lot of people feel sick if they eat beforehand and give me strange looks when I want to eat right before going to the gym. I just don't get sick from it, I just get energy.

[xxmusical]

Thank you for the replies everyone!

 

I'm just trying to lose a bit of flabby fat in my arms, not exactly building muscles. I'm currently doing boxing lessons, and then dinner afterwards, so I'm just wondering if eating afterwards would affect losing that flab lol.

[Phoe]

Thank you for the replies everyone!

 

I'm just trying to lose a bit of flabby fat in my arms, not exactly building muscles. I'm currently doing boxing lessons, and then dinner afterwards, so I'm just wondering if eating afterwards would affect losing that flab lol.

 

I'm sure some people have opinions on what is the ideal for fat loss, but I personally don't believe in any of that.

 

 

Fat loss is simply burning more calories than you consume. It does not matter at what time of the day you consume those calories. Eat when you are comfortable with eating.

[jba10582]

 

I'm just wondering if eating afterwards would affect losing that flab lol.

 

Your metabolism is raised not only during exercise but a short time after, and eating following your exercise is a good thing. It's unlikely to get spot reductions anywhere without things like lipo, and then, it will be temporary. Change things up and find what works for you. Good luck!

[Emilia]

Thank you for the replies everyone!

 

I'm just trying to lose a bit of flabby fat in my arms, not exactly building muscles. I'm currently doing boxing lessons, and then dinner afterwards, so I'm just wondering if eating afterwards would affect losing that flab lol.

It depends on what you eat in a very general way without knowing specifics. Anaerobic exercise usually means loss of body fat all over your body, especially if you increase protein and greens in your diet and decrease carbs.

[JDPT]

Right after a cardio workout. Isopure zero carb protein shake is sufficient.

[Ninjainpajamas]

If you aren't hungry after a work-out then you aren't working hard enough, because I'm absolutely starving and need to refuel, plus that's when your muscles are doing all the repair work.

 

So it's pretty imperative you eat something after a work-out, or that would be straining mentally and physically.

[SoonMyFriend]

I can't work out on an empty stomach (as I just mentioned in another thread, I have low iron so I get weak real quick when I am hungry).

 

I usually eat about 1-2 hours before a run/work out. I usually eat within 20 - 30 minutes of completing a workout.

 

I try to eat lighter foods before a run, or if I am eating a meal I wait longer to run to ensure my food is digested, and then after exercising I stick to protein and some carbs.

 

I avoid dairy or "junk" food before workouts. Or and fruit juice. I get cramps if I drink it too close to a run.

[pink_sugar]

I do both, but it's bad to eat on an empty stomach, so I'll never work out if I'm hungry, because I tire out too soon.

[rocketman122]

as a bodybuilder who invests a lot in his diet, eating before and after is very important. you can skip before, but your glycogen reserves wont help you put the intensity you need.

 

and women should train like men for the fastest results. meaning, heavy (as heavy as each person can) short and intense (intense can mean a lot of things and doesnt only mean state of mind). weights first aerobics after for a double effect. if you do your weights first, youve used your glycogen for the immediate energy when working out, then you do the aerobics so the body starts using fat reserves much faster. basic exercises like squats deadlifts, lunges, military press, pulldowns, rows, straight bar barbell curls, skull crushers and others. people are looking for fashinable excersises but nothing will morph your body faster than the basics. all those fad equipment are created so you dont get bored, but you dont need to do endless sets and reps. short quick and intense and youll get your shape faster than anything. most people dont want to do these above exercises because theyre lazy and cant put the proper mindset and intensity. many fitness girls train this way and they have amazing figures.

 

an easily absorbed meal withon 30 minutes if good with simple sugars for the body to replenish its glycogen. a protein shake and half a banana is great. you can even eat a regular meal an hour after this. proteins: chicken/turkey, beef, fish, cottage cheese, eggs, tuna in a can,powder. carbs: pasta/potato/rice/oatmeal/bread/ couscous/burgoul. not getting into specifics but more a or less the best way to go. keep it simple.

 

for women specifically its very important to consume protein. it will help with fat loss and keep you fimer than just a dumb salad.

 

a lot of misleading information regarding proper diet and training. and the mindset of mediocrity seems to take the spot light. dont be better, be you is the mindset people have when theyre at the gym. people are lazy and dont put in the effort for the change. they dont improve in the gym, get fed up and leave.

 

over and over we see new faces all the time. not many stay more than a year consisitently. when its raining buckets out, I drive my bike and do my heavy squats.

Edited March 14, 2014 by rocketman122