Timing of exercise

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-29-2003
Timing of exercise
6
Fri, 08-29-2003 - 5:41am
I would like to know when is the best time to exercise/workout for maximum weight loss? Is it better to exercise & then eat within 20 minutes after or is it better to exercise after an hour or two after meals. I heard that it is critical when it comes to where you fit in your workout in order to really optimize fat burning in shorter time. Thank you for any input.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Fri, 08-29-2003 - 7:05am
Hi tigrepaw,

Welcome to our board :)

>>I would like to know when is the best time to exercise/workout for maximum weight loss? Is it better to exercise & then eat within 20 minutes after or is it better to exercise after an hour or two after meals. I heard that it is critical when it comes to where you fit in your workout in order to really optimize fat burning in shorter time

**To be honest hon, I think it depends on the person.

Everyone is different and does what works best for them.

I think whatever time you choose that works will be most beneficial to you.

Also, I have heard similar in the how much time to eat before you exercise ..

It has been said to eat a little something before you exercise ..

As opposed to waiting a couple of hours til after you have eaten to exercise ..

I am sure others here will give you there thoughts as well .. So check back often.

Hope to see you again soon :)

~Hugs~

          Click & Join the fun!
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-22-2002
Fri, 08-29-2003 - 8:51am
Overall I'd say the best time to exercise is when you feel most like doing it! If you pick a time that you don't feel like exercising, regardless of where it is in relation to eating, you're not going to do as well at achieving your goals.

Personally, I eat a little something (like half an energy bar) before I work out because I work out in the evenings, when it's already been 6 hours past lunch and I need some fuel. I can't eat anything substantial before I work out because it will slow me down, that may be some people's reason for not working out until 2-3 hours after meals. Working out will increase your metabolism, at least temporarily, so it may be better to wait an actual meal until after you've worked out, plus your body can use that meal to help rebuild itself from the workout, if you're using weights. For me, I work out the only time of day I have available, so I haven't really researched it!

Really it all comes down to calories in vs. calories out, regardless of where the calories come from or when they're consumed. If you burn more calories than you eat, you're going to lose weight.

Good luck!

Judie

Judie Image hosted by Photobucket.com

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Fri, 08-29-2003 - 10:05am


Hi Tigrepaws and welcome. :)

I see others have given you some input. :)

For me it's a personal choice as to when I exercise. Lol more like when I get it in.

Sometimes it's broken up into several small segments.

I do like to have had a small meal (like breakfast) awhile before I do though. If it's in the evening, I try to do it at least an hour after I've eaten.

Hope we see you again. :)

~Golly



iVillage Member
Registered: 08-19-2003
Fri, 08-29-2003 - 10:58am
Well, I was always told to exercise in the morning, after I wake up, on a pretty much empty stomach (I'd eat like 1 Stella Doro breakfast stick, drink water but not too much, then walk for about an hour). I made the mistake one day of eating a bowl of cereal before walking one morning and got sick on the trail...that was unpleasant...and whatever you do, if you're a smoker, do NOT smoke a cig in the morning before walking in the AM. It's a horror beyond all horrors...LOL

But, there was a reason that my gym teachers used to say that exercising in the morning is better than any other time, and I think it had to do with your body going so long without ingesting food and so-forth. Not to mention the whole whole "adrenneline-pumping" thing that you really don't wanna get before going to bed, you know? LOL

I am NOT a morning person, but, what can you do? I gotta be up for work and school in the morning every day anyway. This will give me a boost and maybe my coffee addiction can be calmed and replaced by the adrenneline. :-P

I will say though that walking I like doing in the morning, but aerobics, for some reason, I like doing at night. *Shrug* Can't say why, really.

Anybody here do Pilates?? I wanna try that really bad. *BG* :-D

~Ri

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-04-2002
Fri, 08-29-2003 - 2:39pm
I don't think it matters what time of day you do any form of cardio exercise but for weight training you need to be warmed up so unless you are able to do this, it is probably better to wait until later in the day.

As far as eating goes. Once again I think it depends entirely on the intensity of your exercising. I for one, go to the gym early a.m. and at the level I participate could not eat beforehand or I would be ill. It takes about an hour afterwards to "feel hungry". I should imagine that eating on a full stomach would not be the way to go, perhaps eat something light at least an hour beforehand if you are training at night. Hilary

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Fri, 08-29-2003 - 4:26pm


>>I gotta be up for work and school in the morning every day anyway. This will give me a boost and maybe my coffee addiction can be calmed and replaced by the adrenneline. :-P

**Sounds like a plan as well as what you say you eat/drink before. :)Then after your walk, perhaps you could get in a little more or take a little extra for your midday snack.

>>I am NOT a morning person

**I hear you, me either. ;)

~Golly