Question on eating prior to working out.

[Bullwinkle925]

Do you eat an energy/protein bar just before working out - or an hour or so prior to the workout?
I had a Slimfast and 1/2 bottle of water about 5 hrs. before my workout tonite and found myself becoming nauseated and a bit dizzy doing the circuit training.

:shrug:

[wildeyed]

1. Depends on what I am doing and how hungry I am.

I try to eat and then wait an hour or two before working out, but sometimes it doesn't work out. If I am really hungry, I just go ahead and eat right before I exercise. Also, I keep a bar in my bag so I can grab a snack after if I need it.

Slimfast and water 5 hours before is probably not adequate fuel for a real workout, especially if you are not used to the exercise. I find that when I start a harder training program, my blood sugar tends to be a little unstable at first. I will start to workout, and get really hungry and edgy part way through. After a few weeks, my body adapts, and I can tolerate the longer sessions with out extra fuel. I also never restrict calories, so if you started a diet and exercise at the same time, that is probably magnifying the problem.

[MemphisTiger]

2. There is too much fat in those meal replacement drinks for me

I usually eat a bowl of oatmeal and protein powder with water an hour before my workout. This will give you good energy without being heavy on your stomach.

[Obamanaut]

6. I do this also - but I mix my protein powder with either skim or 2%

milk. Sometimes I add an egg white, makes the mixture fluffier. For added flavor I add one drop of vanilla extract. All this about an hour before a scheduled workout. During workout I have a sip of water after every 3rd set, keeping a bottle nearby so the exercise flow is not interrupted too much.

[MemphisTiger]

11. The water is good but the milk preworkout is a bad idea

you want a fast absorbing protien like whey. Milk is 80%casien and 20%whey, casien is a very slow absorbing protien that is a bad idea preworkout. Consider a 100% whey protien powder preworkout. I'm a big fan of Champion Nutrition Chocolate. This is the best tasting, mixing and amino acid profile I've found yet in a protien powder.

[Obamanaut]

12. Thanks. My open container is soy protein, the new one not yet

opened is whey. I'll try the whey with water, and if it's as gaggy with water as the soy I have open, I'll get some of the Champion. I tried a dealer search on the Champion site, and there is nothing near me so I'll need to order.

Edited to add - BTW, do you supplement with glutamine before or after workout? Is it worthwhile from healthy body point of view? I've heard/read good things, but I'm 63 and will not enter any competitions of any sort, I just wanna be healthy and look half-way decent in a T-shirt (read, vanity.)

[MemphisTiger]

15. I've tried Glutamine and saw no significant results with it

it's a fairly expensive supplement so I used what I had and never bought more. Consider buying yor supplements online, they are much cheaper. I'm a big fan of supplementcentral.com. You can't beat their prices.

[flamingyouth]

3. I eat about 90 minutes to two hours before working out

I usually have some edmame (soy beans) or some oatmeal or an energy bar and a banana or something. :)

[vikegirl]

4. I exercise on an empty stomach.

I read somewhere that when you do that, you burn fat rather than glycogen. And if you eat afterwards, your metabolism is further raised as its inflated from the exercise in addition to digesting the food.

Don't know if that's true or if it's a bunch of hooey, though. :shrug:

[MemphisTiger]

5. There is alot of argument on this topic

I have found that if I don't eat my workouts suffer. I think some people mistake eat before with eating "right" before. I give my food about an hour to digest. I have plenty of energy to give it 110%. See what works for you.

[vikegirl]

8. I'll have to try that!

Although, I work out at 4:30 in the morning, and it'd be pretty difficult to get up at 3:30 am to have a protein bar.

[MemphisTiger]

10. I would avoid protien bars like the plauge

too much saturate fat. They are glorified candy bars

[crispini]

14. When I do my "workout"

(yoga) in the morning, I drink some vegetable juice on the way to work out. I find that it is very easily digestible and still gives me the carb boost that I need to be able to have a strong workout. I feel like fruit juices have a little TOO much carb and simple sugars and I have been trying to stay away from them.

[flvegan]

7. Somewhat true.

You'll burn fat and muscle, not glycogen. I can't be any more detailed without hitting the books.

Also, it depends what you eat afterwards in addition to what your workout consisted of.

[vikegirl]

9. AND muscle?

Dang, that's not good!

[crispini]

13. What should we eat afterwards?

I have read so many different things -- protein to build muscle, carb to replace glycogen... I'm confused! :crazy:

[MemphisTiger]

16. Both, I take a protein shake immediatly after weight training

with simple carbs. About an hour after training cardio or weights I then eat a high protien high complex carb meal. Something like oatmeal with tuna or chicken.