I work out at 5:30 am and don't eat until I get home from the gym. Breakfast is my reward!
It's really a matter of personal preference. Some people need a little something before they work out. Others, like me, get queasy with food in their stomachs. Regardless, I wouldn't eat a big meal within a few hours of working out.
I either have a small bowl of cereal or a piece of toast. I personally need something carb-y in my stomach in the morning. But it's always something small so I don't feel sick during my workout.
If I exercise inside, it's as soon as I get up in the morning and I don't eat anything. If I take a power walk outside, I have to eat something so my blood sugar doesn't drop while I'm out. I'll usually have string cheese and a couple of crackers with soymilk. Just something light to keep me going.
I am extremely prone to hypoglycemia, so I always eat right after getting up, prior to working out. I have 4 oz blueberries, 4 oz nonfat plain yogurt, 4 oz nonfat cottage cheese, and a sprinkle of ground ginger on top. Then after I work out, I have a pretty big "second breakfast" which contains a lot of protein and good carbs, to prevent reactive hypoglycemia.
I am extremely prone to hypoglycemia, so I always eat right after getting up, prior to working out. I have 4 oz blueberries, 4 oz nonfat plain yogurt, 4 oz nonfat cottage cheese, and a sprinkle of ground ginger on top. Then after I work out, I have a pretty big "second breakfast" which contains a lot of protein and good carbs, to prevent reactive hypoglycemia.
Sarah- I just PMed you with a question about your reactive hypo.
If I'm hungry before I go to the gym at 6:00am (about 50% of the time), I'll have half of a banana or a few wheat crackers. Otherwise, I hold off until I get home and have my normal breakfast.
I wake up at 6:30am and work out at 9am. Around 7am, I eat a bowl of high fiber oatmeal. By 9am, my stomach is empty enough that I can work out without getting sick but full enough that I don't get hungry during my workout.
If I'm doing lots of cardio, I have a glass of V8 (small glass) before workout, but usually I just eat breakfast after I am done working out, otherwise I feel sick.
I don't eat before I work out if I'm working out in the morning. However, I do NEED to chew a piece of sugarfree gum otherwise I get super dizzy. I've never been able to figure out why, since there's no sugar in the gum, but I've tested this time and time again and it holds true.
I can't have anything before working out, either. Only coffee My stomach might be growling, but if I eat anything I feel it sitting in there. And like Meg, it makes me look forward to breakfast
Thanks guys! Lately I've been trying to get into the routine of working out right in the morning but wasn't sure how much I should be eating beforehand. So far, I've stuck to eating an apple and a small yogurt. However, I do feel it sitting there when I work out. I guess the best thing is trial and error. Try different foods or no foods until I'm comfortable. The reason I'm asking is because one time I had a really small breakfast, I believe just a piece of toast before working out, and i blacked out at the gym. They had to revive me with yogurt! I just don't want that happening again.