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Originally Posted by luckymommy
Can someone please tell me once and for all what the scientific data says regarding eating before or after exercise? Also, what is best to eat?
I don't really like to eat before or after meals and I've been losing weight alright but I kind of feel like I don't know what I"m doing in this area and maybe I could be more efficient? Overall, I eat enough protein throughout the day but I typically workout first thing in the morning and I don't like to eat until mid morning or even until lunchtime, depending on how I'm feeling.
Any advice or experience you can share would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. 
Edit to add this interesting article on the subject of eating before working out: http://www.nbcnews.com/id/37492881/n.../#.UeF-ST771uU |
There was a post about something similar recently, I think. The detailed science of it says that if you eat or fuel before a workout that you are going to be using that source for energy rather than what the body has stored. I was taught many years ago that the body first uses its glycogen stores then moves to other sources such as fat and if you eat prior to working out then, like I said, the body will first use the glocose from what you just ate prior to its back up sources....
All that aside, I have never heard of someone losing more or less weight because they ate something prior to working out. For me when I was running before this pregnancy, I started out not eating in the morning then going for a run. I noticed that was fine for a few miles, but when I started doing like 5-6 mile trail runs, I was dragging...then I started eating a half banana when i got up. By the time I got dressed and drove to the trail, I felt much better. That small bit of food made a huge difference! So for me, I was getting in better, longer workouts when I ate even a small snack before. But some people may be fine with out it.
As for after, I remember reading something like you want to eat within an hour of running...but I forget why...I probably should look it up, or maybe someone will know. I also remember that eating protien after working out helps muscle repairing which happens after a workout, especially strength training. Maybe that's the one hour rule I was thinking of, that you should eat some protien source within an hour of running...but honestly sometimes I did NOT want to eat anything after running, at least not within an hour. I would go home, shower, get dressed, get the kids up and dressed and ususally by the time I made breakfast it was a good two hours and by then I was pretty hungry.
And like the other poster said, I didn't notice any issue with my weight loss because of it. I really just did what my body wanted, and what helped me workout better, and I was fine. I definitely used to get very wrapped up in when and what I should eat. Now I havent been running this pregnancy, but I got to the point before stopping running that I just didn't want the stress of what and when to eat. I try to make the choices that are kind of what she be my choice, like breakfast I enclude a protien, but I dont go crazy over it anymore.
I honestly wouldnt worry about it. Do what works for you.
Food before/after workout?
