I am one of those strange people that prefer to workout on an empty stomach, always have been. I know many recommend eating before a workout, but this is just what has always felt best to me until just recently.
I have noticed the last few weeks that my stomach is growling like crazy during my runs and I have that empty pit of my stomach feeling. Today it was so bad, I had to stop and eat a granola bar and then continue, which helped with the growling, but I didn't like the feeling of food in my stomach either, which is why I usually don't eat prior to a run. There have been a few days that I didn't feel this way, but overall it has been getting worse. I also have lower energy when I am feeling ravenous.
So I have a few questions, first, why do you think I am now having trouble with this since I have been running since December? I am not a high mileage runner, typically between 2 and 4 miles, highest so far is 8 and I run 4-6 days a week. I did weigh a lot more back then obviously, I started at 230 and am now down in the low 180s, but still at the higher end of overweight at around a 28 BMI, so I should still have a lot of fat stores to burn. I have recently increased the calories I am taking in, especially on my running days to help with the increased appetite, but even with the increased calories, I still feel this way many (but not all) of my workout days.
Second, what are your favorite pre and post workout snacks? Am I looking for more carb type things before and protein after?
Oh, and I should probably add that I walk outside for an hour with a friend prior to my run on the weekdays, so I would probably be eating an hour and fifteen minutes before I get on the treadmill (I'm a treadmill runner).
Any thoughts or suggestions sure would be appreciated!