If you exercise in the morning is it better to eat before or after exercise?
The answer depends on the following factors:
- Are you exercising within an hour of waking up?
- What type of exercise are you doing?
- How long does your workout last?
Are you exercising fairly soon after getting up? You could be more comfortable waiting to eat breakfast until after your workout. Some types of exercise aren’t affected by having a little snack first. Riding your bike, going for a walk, or to the gym, can be done after eating without any side effects. Exercise that lasts less than 90 minutes you should have enough fuel in the tank to get through it without breakfast.
Running, or other high intensity exercise, are often more comfortable on an empty stomach.
While many people exercise to maintain their weight, when you eat breakfast doesn’t have that much of an effect – unless you skip it.
People who eat breakfast weigh less.
Last Saturday I was planning on going to the gym for a 30 minute run on the treadmill followed by a 30 minute weight workout. I didn’t have breakfast. I don’t like running on the treadmill so 30 minutes is usually all I can tolerate. Except I have been listening to David Goggin’s audiobook, Can’t Hurt Me, and if nothing else it is motivating to keep exercising.
In fact, Goggin’s book is all about the punishment of pushing through the pain and he has had his share. If you don’t mind the numerous F bombs it can be just the thing to make you do just a little bit more, because you aren’t training for the Navy Seals with a broken knee cap or running an ultra with broken feet.
30 turned into 60.
With a little help from David, my 30 minute easy jog on the treadmill turned into 60 minutes, it was the least I could do after listening to his suffering.
I was 10 minutes into my weight workout and I realized I wasn’t going to make it. I was feeling a little wobbly and I really wanted to finish my routine. Luckily I am a bit of a Clif Bar hoarder. There is usually one in my bag – just in case.
There was. It expired in May 2016. Almost 3 years out of date. I opened it, it smelt fine. I tasted it. Stale, but still okay. So I ate it. It all worked out fine.
I finished my workout and went home for a snack.
Breakfast or not.
If you want to maintain, or lose weight, what and when, you eat matters. Running on empty for most of the day interferes with your ability to lose fat. If you want to lose weight, eat breakfast. To maintain your weight, eat breakfast.
If you do eat breakfast, and eat during your workout, eat less later. The total calories still count, but eating breakfast helps you maintain or lose weight.
In fact the conclusion from a study on more than 50,000 Seventh Day Adventists states,
“Eating less frequently, no snacking, consuming breakfast, and eating the largest meal in the morning may be effective methods for preventing long-term weight gain. Eating breakfast and lunch 5-6 hours apart and making the overnight fast last 18-19 hours may be a useful practical strategy.”
The American Heart Association (AHA) promotes eating breakfast. The AHA states that a healthy breakfast reduces the risk of heart disease and people who regularly eat breakfast have lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure. 20-30% of Americans skip breakfast, increasing their risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Should you eat breakfast?
Yes, you should. It could be before, or after a workout, but front-loading your calories, eating more earlier in the day, is a great way to improve your health, prevent weight gain and avoid chronic conditions.
What you eat matters too.
High fiber, whole foods, high in nutritional value make the best choices. While my personal favourite is whole grain toast with natural peanut butter here are three other choices for an easy breakfast.
Blueberry, Banana, Peanut Butter Smoothie
You don’t have to eat breakfast type foods, but you should eat whole, unprocessed foods and eat early in the day.
Change your mind, change your health,
Shayla
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