By Tam Nguyen, Nguoi Viet
To eat or not to eat before a workout. Photo from Toneitup.com
Millions of Americans will vow next week to work out and lose weight in the new year.
Working out is more complicated, though, than putting on a pair of running shoes, popping an exercise tape into the DVD player or joining a gym. One key question any new exerciser asks is whether to eat before a workout.
Opinions differ.
Take, for instance, Betty Tran of Westminster, Calif., and her workout partner, her brother, Ben.
Betty eats breakfast every morning, then works out. “I eat a big breakfast and walk to the gym and work out,” she said. “I eat all the time before my workouts because I believe I have more energy to burn.”
Ben disagrees and skips breakfast.
“I believe we lose weight faster if we don’t eat before working out,” he said. “Back in high school, I would also skip eating lunch before going to the weight room and eat an energy bar before going to the field and practice. I would skip a meal when I knew I would be working out soon because I would be lazy if I ate beforehand and not go to the gym.”
Each of the methods has proved effective as they said they lose the same amount of weight, despite the differing workout routines.
Is one of them right and one of them wrong, though? The choice, apparently, is up to the exerciser.
Some workout experts advise exercisers to eat a light breakfast to give the body energy to waste instead of draining storage energy. Energy results in a better performance without feeling sluggish according to Dr. Michael A. Roussell, author of “The 6 Pillars of Nutrition.”
Roussell said working out on an empty stomach doesn’t lead to greater fat loss and instead it allows the muscles to break down. Exercisers are advised not to indulge in a big breakfast before a morning workout but instead to have a snack such as fruits and juice. Eating a big breakfast less than 90 minutes before a workout doesn’t give food time to digest in most cases.
A personal trainer, Rebecca Richards, agrees. “It is important to eat before any workout and have time to digest,” she said. It is not wise to exercise right after a meal as it can cause cramps and other minor injuries, she said.
Another personal trainer has a different point of view. “Eating before working out can slow you down and ‘make you’ not be in the mood to work out,” said Kenny Cunningham. “I am not saying it is right or wrong to eat before workouts, but I think not eating is best because your full stomach will mess with your routine.”
“I recommend drinking juice or sports drinks during the workout as it can restore energy quickly and won’t stop you from a good workout,” he said. “Personally, I grab a sports drink and take a quick sip between reps to keep me going.”
Dr. Joseph Mercola, a nationally known nutrition expert, agrees with the not-eating approach. He contends it is beneficial to not eat before a workout as the body sheds fat when exercising while fasting. Exercise and fasting together also yields acute oxidative stress, which actually benefits muscles.
However, all agree exercisers should always eat after a workout to get back the energy lost during the workout as well as build muscles. Carbohydrates and protein, such as a peanut butter sandwich, are recommended after a workout.
