Common Question

A frequently asked question I have received is should I eat before I work out in the morning? If so, what?

My answer - do what works best for you. An empty stomach doesn't equal a bigger fat burn so it won't help your results. Some people exercise just fine in the morning with out eating first because they find it makes them sick if they eat before - it isn't ideal however it is fine as long as it doesn't hold your intensity back or make you lightheaded. The reason I say it is not ideal is because you want to wake up your metabolism as soon as you can in the morning. After fasting all night (while you sleep) your glycogen (or carb) stores are low. When you exercise your body will decide to hold on to fat if your glycogen levels are low because the body is paranoid and thinks a famine might occur.It holds on to the fat as emergency reserve and burns muscle for energy as an alternative. Not good. You want to be building lean muscle to help the body's metabolism increase.

The good news is that you don't need to have a 5 course breakfast - you just need a small amount to let the body know that fuel is on its way and you are not entering a famine. Just 100 to 200 calories will do. Quick suggestions? Banana (add a little bit of peanut butter if you want), yogurt, handful of nuts.

At the end of the day everyBODY is different - the key is finding what works for you. Try a few foods, figure out the right timing (i.e. eating 30 minutes before or an hour before). Fitness is a lifestyle - it takes time and effort to find what works best for you.