Which comes first, eating or exercising?

[Moo3]

Should you eat before you exercise?  or exercise before you eat?  Which is healthier?

[Barb135]

twehner5 - you're just jealous because I thought of the right answer first!!  

You're right - it DOES depend on the time of day, duration and intensity.

Everyone has to use their judgment and pretty much do what works best.  Remember, everyone is different and what works for me, might not work for twehner (or for you).  But really recommend that you not exercise on empty stomach.  

[twehner5]

Once again, Ladies, THE COMPUTER HACKER has stolen MY ANSWER right off my screen!!!  Let me tell it to ya straight!  WATCH BARB135!

No, her son has had diabetes since he was a youngster, so she knows her nutrition stuff.

From experience, I can verify that you definitely do NOT want to exercise on a completely empty stomach.  A light snack, especially if you are talking about exercise early in the day, is a must.  

Of course, it all depends on WHAT TIME OF DAY you are exercising and the DURARION of your exercise and the INTENSITY of your exercise.  

[Barb135]

Eating a light snack prior to exercising will provide the energy you need for the work out.  Both fiber (complex carbs) and protein will give you lasting energy, no matter what type of exercise you are doing.  

Avoid simple carbs, like candy bars, cookies, sodas.  Though they will give you a "burst of energy", they will cause your blood sugar levels to spike.  Insulin controls blood sugar levels so when your blood sugar levels spike, so do your insulin levels.  The simple carbs are used up quickly, which will leave insulin levels high and you will get the feeling that you "crashed" (weak, shaky, lightheaded etc).  It will then be necessary to eat more sugar to bring your blood sugar levels up again and it becomes a vicious cycle: sugar, increased insulin, requiring more sugar, on and on!!  

It's a good idea to eat a meal within 45 minutes of completing the workout.  You will restore your energy levels and your metabolism will continue to be "speeded up" for a period of time following the work out.  

Try to include a protein and fiber in every meal and snack to keep blood sugar levels steady and to keep you feeling fuller for longer periods.  Also make sure you take in enough fluids (water, unsweetened tea, etc - no sodas) to keep hydrated.  Don't forget that some fruits and veggies also have a lot of water in them so they can count as some of your fluid intake.  

[Got_To_Do_It]

As I understand it  -  it depends what exercise you are doing -

Dont do any exerise on an empty stomach. Your body will be feeling depleted and instead of burning fat it attacks muscle. Then you will tire during your exerices -  due to lack of 'body fuel'

BUT don't do any exerices on a full stomach. The likely hood is your will be sick, feel sick, be sluggish, less productive etc...

This was interesting: http://health.msn.com/fitness/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100146039

The Post-Exercise Energy Window

If you had a high-intensity workout lasting 60 to 90 minutes or longer, then it’s crucial to eat afterwards. Within the first 45 minutes post-exercise, there is a “metabolic window.” This means that enzymes that replenish muscle carbs are at their highest levels. Plus, insulin, which rebuilds protein stores, is at peak levels. So eating a carb-and-protein mix (peanut butter sandwich, yogurt with fruit, bagel with cream cheese, or a handful of nuts) at this point will maintain muscle, replenish glycogen stores and reduce the amount of fat your body  stores. Even a sport drink or a piece fruit are a good idea if you don’t have something more complex available. (These calories are needed to recover, so they are less likely to be stored as excess fat.)



Cardio requires complex carbs -  Weight training requires protein...

[elaine1961]

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