When exercising, do you burn more calories on a full or empty stomach

[CHRIST1NE]

I can't remember where I read this, but it said that if you exercise on a full stomach you'll burn up to 30% more calories tahn on a full stomach. Is there any truth to that?

Since I'm not a morning person by any stretch of the imaginatiion, I do my treadmill in the evening. Sometimes I do it before dinner (while dinner is cooking) and other times I'll do it an hour or so after dinner. Is there really a difference in when you do it?

[bossy]

DON'T exercise on a full stomach. It could have very bad effects - there is a lot of blood rushing to your stomach to help in digestion and it will also want to be rushing to the muscles to help out on your exercising - not a good idea at all. Working out on a completely empty stomach isn't much better - it's hard to get a good workout without much energy. Don't worry about a little bit of a difference in calorie burning - it will be far outweighed by getting a GOOD workout (that's what will really get the calories burned) - so have a banana or something about an hour before exercising so you aren't starving when you do it! And don't forget to keep hydrated - before, during and after!

[sneezles]

When I had gestational diabetes the dietician and my doctor both said to walk right after I had eaten lunch or dinner, not to wait until after the dishes were done. I did that, walking 5 miles each day and actually lost 16 pounds during my last trimester. Now I usually walk after breakfast but it's not a big meal but I still wait to do the dishes after I'm done walking.

[Karen from VA]

AaHa. I, too, walk 5-6 miles each day after a light breakfast. But I ALWAYS clean up my kitchen BEFORE walking. But I am not losing weight. Now I know what my problem is!!
Karen

[MrsReber]

Okay, walking is one thing. It's easy to walk on a full stomach and alot of times it's nice to walk after a meal, but running or any kind of impact cardio workout- I would think that would be very very bad.

[BarbaraL]

I had the opposite problem -- I'm an evening person, and once I decided to exercise first thing Saturday morning. I didn't eat breakfast (didn't want to exercise on a full stomach), and began my exercise tape. I felt horrible! My body was running on empty, I couldn't finish my workout, and I felt sick! There's a reason they call it break fast!

[sneezles]

Well, I walk a 12 min mile so it's really more of a workout than you might think.

[goldilocks]

I am just amazed at all of you who can fit in a 5-6 mile walk everyday. How do you do it? Find the time? Any tips are appreciated!

[emilycat]

goldilocks,

For me at least, I look at exercise as a top priority...you can't think of it as something you "fit in"... it's just something that you do. You have to make your workouts an absolute, just like brushing your teeth (I will admit that I'm a runner who revolves her schedule around running, rather than vice-versa, but everyone can do it). I know people who get up at 4:00 to work out because they have no other time...people who run during lunch breaks, who go to the gym after work.

My first year of college, I ran in the afternoons...then I discovered the beauty of the 6:00 a.m. alarm and realized how much more time I had left over if I ran in the morning. I really feel like there's no excuse not to take care of your body by exercising -- unless you're an investment banker working 100 hour weeks, you can find time for it.

Okay, sorry if I sound preachy...I'll hop off the pulpit now -- I just want everyone to be in shape and I like to lecture about it (because I love you guys so much http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif )

Emily

[RunnerKim]

I'll add my 2 cents to this. I normally run first thing in the morning. Once, when I had the day off, I didn't run until the afternoon, a couple of hours after eating lunch. I could barely run and just felt horrible. I hadn't waited long enough for my food to digest. You'll be able to workout better if you're stomach isn't full. and I agree with the physiological things that Bossy said. Additionally I think most exercise curbs your appetite and you'll eat less (swimming often has the opposite affect since your body doesn't heat up in the water).

Kim

[MrsReber]

Ugh, never on a full stomach. I like to exercise first thing in the morning, but when that isn't possible, I will exercise before dinner. I hear lots of different things on which is better (before or after you eat). I generally hear that it should be at least 2 hours after eating or an hour before. But remember, your body continues to burn calories after your workout, too.

[sneezles]

Taking a walk beats cleaning toilets any day!!