Does it matter or is it better to exercise before or after a meal?

I've heard arguments on both sides..

Before= It speeds up your metabolism and helps you burn the food faster.
After= Burns away the food you just ate..

What do you think?

If you are talking directly before, it doesn't matter. For me, that just gives me an upset stomach. What happens when you exercise is the glucose (I think that's the right sugar) that is stored in your liver is burned first. As that is being used, your body begins to convert available proteins and carbohydrates into sugar. Fat stores are then tapped and used in much the same way. This is somewhat a simplification, but you get the idea. It is important to eat either sometime before or shortly after so that your body does not start to use muscle as a protein source. This is why serious lifters and body builders eat about six small meals a day, so there is always available protein and carbs. But I think eating directly before a workout will not give your body time to digest food into a usable form.

i quit eatin anything before i walk,one day it was rainin,and i didnt think i was goin to walk,so i ate a light breakfast,it stopped rainin,so i took off and i felt like **** the whole time...ps: gynecologist,you should be very proud of yerself for takin responsibility and control of yer life,i mean that from the bottom of my heart,obesity is a mfer..just go out there every day,every other day,whatever,and DO WHAT YOU CAN,nothin more, nothin less...aint nothin like feelin good..'keep the continue'

I should of explained better my bad on that one. I meant 30 minutes after or before. But your reply was great nonetheless.

Thank you very much sir. There is about a million and one reasons not to be obese. I'm getting addicted to the energy I have now and the just the feeling of being happier. I've heard when you exercise it triggers endorphins in the brain, I think I'm feeling that.

Thanks again sir.

i love these threads, cause i ahve learned so much over the past 6 mos and i love to share. i prefer to eat a little something before i work out , nothing heavy and at least 30 min before working out. but in the AM i have to work out 1st ( i take synthroid and have to wait an hr before eating so i workout, shower then eat). in the grand scheme i dont think it matters all that much because once you workout, gets your metabolism up for a few hrs. when i workout in the afternoon i usually have a high protein, low cal snack 30-60 min before hand.

good job, ignorance is not bliss!!

If your time frame is only 30 minutes prior or post exercise, I would suggest after a workout. Eating that close to working out can upset the stomach and mess up your cardio time.

Eating is something you need discipline on with regards to time as well as choices. You need to eat something 30 minutes after you wake up. Your last food should be no less than 3 hours from bedtime. Same goes for drink but not as important.

The only thing I could eat 30 minutes before a workout would be half an energy bar. If you can't eat beforehand and your are pressed for time, you might consider getting a post-workout meal/energy drink like something from EAS.

While I can state countless reasons why before AND after can be viable options, exercising (regardless of when), is paramount. Now, it talking with catabolism, exercising AFTER you eat a well-planned meal is the way to go. Ideally, eating small meals every 2.5-3 hrs is the proper way to go, so exercising before/after that time-frame is somewhat irrelevant.

For those overweight/obese, exercising upon waking up, prior to your first meal is great. For those who are slightly overweight/normal, you should eat something when you wake up prior to exercise.

after so you get your body the nutrients to repair intself. dont worry about bruing what u just ate thats what metabolism is for. u cant workout after every meal so its kinda pointless to try and workoff one of oyur meals. just feed your body afterwards to get it replenished and so it can help repair the muscles you just broke down

I don't think its a big deal either way man, as long as you are exercising in the first place you are winning the battle. From my own personal view, all our bodies are unique and respond to things differently, try it both ways and eventually you'll probably find your body responds to one of the methods (eating before or after) better than the other, or maybe not. I have worked out for about 8 years and with no time constraints thru work or school, I find to have my best and most energetic workouts about 2 in the afternoon after lunch has digested. I've tried going earlier in the day between lunch and breakfast and for some reason my body just doesn't get up for it. When I finish my workouts between 3:30 and 4 one thing that is crucial is to have a snack afterwards containing protein (protein shake, bar, or whatever), to help replenish the muscles.