Should You Eat Before You Work Out?
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I’m an early morning person—I roll out of bed at 6AM and head to the gym half asleep, which is part of the reason I’ve been working out on an empty stomach for years. But I recently started working with a trainer who insisted I eat a granola bar “or something, anything!” before I jumped on the treadmill. The thought made me nauseous. So I asked Dr. Brooke Kalanick, a New York-based naturapathic doctor who specializes in women’s health, if I was hurting or helping my body by eating post-run (and shower). Spoiler alert: I was right (sort of)!
“The research is definitely mixed on whether or not you burn more fat on an empty stomach or after a pre-workout meal,” Dr. Kalanick says. “But theoretically, if you are working out within an hour of eating you have fuel from the food in your system and are more likely to be burning that than dipping into your own fat stores.” Of course, everyone’s body is different and it’s best to listen to your gut (literally), but if you’re working out to lose weight, it’ll be easier if you eat after instead of before. Dr. Kalanick recommends trying it both ways to see how your body feels, and if you notice a difference in weight loss.
If you are going to eat pre-exercise, avoid carbs or anything high in fat. Dr. Kalanick recommends a pre-cooked protein like a hard-boiled egg, smoked salmon, or a handful of raw veggies. If you must reach for a bar, she favors Quest, a low-carb, gluten free version bursting with protein. But the bottom line is to feel it out. “Everyone has different goals, different biochemistry, varying adrenal status and blood sugar control, and “rules” are something women get hung up on,” says Dr. Kalanick. “They forget to listen to their body and their results. If it’s not working for you, it’s time to try something different!”
I listened to my gut, and it told me that it did not want to eat anything before working out, or else it would rebel and not come with me to the gym. However, now I try to eat some good protein within an hour after my run, instead of just a smoothie. And my body is thanking me.
