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I am considering lifting in the morning before work. Is it advisable to eat something before hand? I have heard yes and no. A few friends lift at 6 AM with nothing other than water in their stomach. What is optimal?
I have the same exact issue. The only time I can hit the gym is before work. I keep reading about a pre-workout meal or shake, but it just isn't doable for me. I mix up a bottle of N.O. Xplode and hit the door. Gulp it down while I am on the cross country machine for 10 minutes as a warmup.
Anyone else have ideas? Should I gulp down a protein shake right before I hit the gym. Or will having it that close to the workout not really benefit. When I get home from the gym I have breakfast (somekinda omelett) and a protein shake.
Why isn't a shake doable? Instead of mixing NOX, mix up protein powder. It doesn't need to taste good. People think "shake" and they think "tasty," like a delicious chocolate malt or something. The use of the word "shake" is just a coincidence.
That being said, many people don't eat anything before they train in the morning. It's not optimal, but it's also no the end of the world. I need to have something before I workout. 20g of protein powder is about my minimum requirement.
i can eat or not eat before training in the morning. if i don't i need something to keep me going throughout my workout b/c i burn out quickly. Just down a shake and a banana or something before you workout. Or, take caffeine. hahaha!
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All the professionals always say, work out first thing in thr morning before you eat. I agree that's it difficult to do though. If I work out in the morning, I drink a protein shake if I feel like I have to put something on my stomach.
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All the professionals always say, work out first thing in thr morning before you eat. I agree that's it difficult to do though. If I work out in the morning, I drink a protein shake if I feel like I have to put something on my stomach.
as far as i know, there's no concrete evidence that this really leads to increased fat loss.
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I work out at 5:30 with just a small sip of OJ and a cup of coffee, then a shake right after. The shake is just 20g protein (choc MD) and 5g creatine. If I tried to eat or even drink something beforehand I'd just be sick and unable to work out anyway, which would less optimal than not eating first, I guess.
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"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." --Benjamin Franklin, 1759
All the professionals always say, work out first thing in thr morning before you eat. I agree that's it difficult to do though. If I work out in the morning, I drink a protein shake if I feel like I have to put something on my stomach.
Not all the professionals. IIRC, Lou Schuler specifically states in NROL4W that working out on an empty stomach is a bad idea.
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"If 'toning' is the goal, strength is the method." ~ Mark Rippetoe
For me perosnally, I wouldn't even try working out on an empty stomach. I know my performance would suck after about one or two demanding lifts. Your body needs some kind of fuel to run on I think. Try a protien shake, piece of fruit, and a glass of milk....something at the least.
I thought of something else I sometimes do if i work out in the morning. Sometimes, I'm just not in the mood for a shake in the a.m. If that's the case, I eat a piece of celery with light cream cheese on it. It small enough but still put some substance on your stomach besides liquid.
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Working out on an empty stomach is possible, but it ain't smart as you're running on adrenaline rather than on real food. And cortisol, your stress hormone is going through the roof. And by now, you should know that cortisol limits fat loss. .
So, take that shake, or if you can't even do that, take BCAA before and a carb drink for during a WO.
Excerpt:
2) FASTED CARDIO
Are you f****** kidding me? Seriously, are you f****** kidding me? Why are we even talking about this?
Let's take two twins, both 200lbs, both doing the same training program, taking the same supplements, and following the same nutrition plan in the hopes of getting lean.
One difference, though: one of them eats 2 eggs and does 30 minutes of cardio three days per week. The other does 30 minutes of cardio, three days per week and THEN eats 2 eggs.
So what's the magical difference in terms of fat loss after six months? Drum roll please...
I'll tell you — no f****** difference.
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While I know there are very many professionals and non-professionals who advocate fasted cardio, it is definitely not all and I believe the number who advocate fasted weight training are even less.
The original intent of my post was about lifting (might not have made that clear?) but the replies have seem to go alongside the way of cardio...
Not really. It's more important to eat before lifting than cardio, but in general, the same basic rules apply. You want to prepare yourself to have the best workout you can. For me, that means eating or drinking something.
I can walk or run or lift without food, but there's no benefit to doing so, so I don't.
Not really. It's more important to eat before lifting than cardio, but in general, the same basic rules apply. You want to prepare yourself to have the best workout you can. For me, that means eating or drinking something.
I can walk or run or lift without food, but there's no benefit to doing so, so I don't.
I second this point - If you are doing a cardio workout that lasts less than 45 minutes, you can skip eating. But if you would like to eat, there will be no harm to your weight loss.
For weights, you really have to have something in your stomach first. If you don't have time for a meal beforehand, I recommend mixing up a scoop of protein powder with around 16 oz of gatorade (doesnt have to be gatorade, this is just a convenient and popular way to mix the drink). Start sipping on it 10 minutes before your workout, and finish it by the time you finish your workout. At the very least, grab a big glass of skim milk when you wake up.
Do whatever works. Some people can't manage a workout if they've eaten recently. Some can't manage if they haven't. It's like every damn debate about which is frickin better, morning or evening workouts, eating or fasted, blah blah blah. Which will you do, which works for you, which will you stick with? Pick that one. The nuances are only important to people who are only nuances away from their ultimate goal.
as far as i know, there's no concrete evidence that this really leads to increased fat loss.
Come to think of it, I haven't really heard any evidence of increased fat loss either (by working out on an empty stomach.) I've been told, for optimum weight-loss, don't eat before you work out, but it really doesn't make much sense that it would lead to more fat loss. Good point.
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Do whatever works. Some people can't manage a workout if they've eaten recently. Some can't manage if they haven't. It's like every damn debate about which is frickin better, morning or evening workouts, eating or fasted, blah blah blah. Which will you do, which works for you, which will you stick with? Pick that one. The nuances are only important to people who are only nuances away from their ultimate goal.
Whoa! Common sense! Slow down. I was about to just give up working out, since I'm obviously wasting my time.
If I'm going to lift, it's going to be at 5:30 am on an empty stomach. I don't drink milk ever, so I'm sure as hell not going to do it just before I work out in the morning. I drink a PWO shake afterwards, but it *gasp* has no carbs.
I'm surprised I have any muscle mass at all.
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"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." --Benjamin Franklin, 1759
If someone has a hard time eating anything at all , even a shake, then eat a LOT of food the night before. This is an approach I'm actually recommending to most people that train in the morning. Since even that shake won't be feeding your musklez until about 60-90 minutes later. Fast carbs will help to maintain a steady blood sugar level and prevent overproduction of cortisol.
I have been on TNT for 11weeks. M-F, I pop up, make a N.O. Xplode drink and head out the door. MWF i am doing the tnt workouts, TTH I doing HIIT and abs. I have been happy will my results. However, lately I think I am losing muscle mass, my biceps are actually looking smaller and I have been working harder than ever. The week 9-12 workouts have been a lot of work and blast. I come home and have a protein shake right after and meal involving a scramble of 2 eggs, some cut up meat and veggies. I always assumed that loading up on the protein post workout would be good enough. So my questions are:
Could I be eating muscle by working my tale off with nothing really in my stomach?
Others have pointed out that I shouldn't be drinking the n.o. xplode. The only reason i drink it is for a low-carb energy rush first thing in the morning. Anyone have any ideas for some energy in the morning?
I am kinda discouraged, I thought I would be putting muscle on now and looks like I am losing it.
I would second getting rid of the N.O. Xplode. If you just need a low-carb energy rush try Spike Shooters from Biotest, they are great. Also, if losing muscle mass and you can't eat early in the morning I would at least recommend taking some BCAA first thing in the morning. You can get BCAA in pill form from Biotest (AKA T-nation) or in the powdered form from Superior Nutraceuticals. The powdered form is much cheaper in the long run but it takes a little more to get it mixed up and it doesn't exactly taste good...
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"I mean, hell, if you have a belly and need to lose 20 pounds AND you've been training over 6 or 7 years, then why do you still have a belly? Something is out of whack.
The short answer is that while you're an animal in the gym, you're a p*ssy in the kitchen." - Chris Shugart
Eat Before Early AM Workout?
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