eat: before or after gym

MargeS

I am starting in a gym soon and classes are at 6:30. I get in from work at 6pm. Should you eat before or after a 1 hour workout?

unreggd

Depends how much you're eating durin the day

even grab a piece of fruit before u go in, then have a clean dinner afterwards

Piste

I asked this question a few weeks ago, and over those weeks I learned what works for me.

If I have a small snack (piece of fruit, yoghurt) before the gym I have more energy, but if I eat a lot (a few slices of cheesecake and some chocolate- that was an especially bad day >.<) I just feel ill with the food all sloshing around in my stomach.

So your best bet is have something small before the gym, like a banana but have it just after work, then have your dinner after the gym.

c - 13

I go to the gym about 6.00 - 6.15 and I wont eat after 3.30 - 4.00, ill drink about 1 - 2 liter of water between 4.00 - 6.00 though.

If I do eat after that I can feel it still in my stomach and makes my gym time uncomfortable.

Ill eat properly when I get home.

Course thats only what I find works for me, everyone is different, change your times up a bit and see what works for you.

I mean I see some people skulling red bull before and during their workouts, that would make me very, very sick.

Hanley

c - 13 wrote: »

I go to the gym about 6.00 - 6.15 and I wont eat after 3.30 - 4.00, ill drink about 1 - 2 liter of water between 4.00 - 6.00 though.

If I do eat after that I can feel it still in my stomach and makes my gym time uncomfortable.

Ill eat properly when I get home.

Course thats only what I find works for me, everyone is different, change your times up a bit and see what works for you.

I mean I see some people skulling red bull before and during their workouts, that would make me very, very sick.

See I'm the complete opposite here... I can have a big dinner, get in the car, drive to the gym while drinking red bull and stil lhave a good workout. Like has already been said.... different strokes.

If you're not eating within say 2.5-3 hours of going to the gym I'd try to have something small beforehand.

MargeS

thanks - some good advice there. I thought that lots of food would be needed to get you through the session but I know myself I don't do much on a full stomach. So I was wondering what the 'norm' was.

hunnymonster

It also depends on what you're doing at the gym. For example, if I'm off to do weights or a speed session I need some descent calories in me. For a slow steady session, I could easily just have a piece of fruit or even occasionally fasting (when trying to drop weight).