To Eat Before or Not to Eat Before...that is the question!

[kitkat13]

Hello!

As a new member ot this forum I'm super excited to start this program. It's been a while since I've had a program to follow.

Anyway, I have two questions before I begin:

1) I'll be away in two weeks for a vacation. Should I wait until I return to start? I was thinking of using the next two weeks to figure out meals, diets, etc. so I'll be more successful when I do start. Any thoughts on workouts to "prep" for this program?

2) I'm thinking of changing my workout routine and moving my workouts to the morning. I used to do the Body for Life program. That program suggests eating AFTER a workout (immediatly after resistance/1hr after cardio.) so your body taps into fat. Is NROL4W the same?
I'm confused about the pre-workout program. Are you supposed to eat before these morning workouts? If so, how soon before? And once you're done, how soon after? (For example, if I wake up at eat at 6am, go to gym, finish my workout at 7:30am...should I be eating again at 7:30?)

Thank you in advance for your help. I want to do this right and appreciate the support!

[Bytsi]

If you can't workout on vacation, I'd just keep doing SOME exercise until you get back - maybe try out a few of the exercises but don't actually do the program yet... but that's totally up to you...

You definitely should eat before NROLW - you need fuel to lift those heavy weights! It can be a light meal (mine is often just 200 kcal of carb/protein) - but be sure to get your PWO shake RIGHT after you lift too. I sometimes take it to the gym and start drinking while I walk or stretch, but definitely within 30 minutes.

[Fang]

I second Bytsi--you have to eat to fuel these workouts. The "exercise on an empty stomach" thing seems to be pretty marginal from everything I've read. Sometimes I have no appetite in the morning and I force myself to have a protein shake at least, or I will be dizzy and ineffective working out.
On the vacation, personally, I would work out for two weeks and then just resume when I got back. But the reason for that is that my health is somewhat fragile and I have to work out when I can handle it; a week or a few days off don't cause you to turn into a quivering pile of fat. Unless you were one to begin with. : ) I work out when I can and my body seems to have figured it out and made progress anyway. But, again, it's up to you. Good luck in any case! THis is a great program!

[kitkat13]

Thanks for the advice! I think I'm going to continue doing cardio and working out. After my vacation I'll start the program so that I can really focus.

[fengshway]

alwyn cosgrove's workouts are definitely NOT empty stomach workouts. I agree with all of the above posters.

I workout at around 545am, so at 430a, I sip my proteini (eggbeaters, apple juice, frozen pineapple and mango)