If you exercise first thing in the morning, when do you eat?

[Anonymous]

My 13 year old son has been running in the morning. He's not sure whether to eat breakfast before or after or half and half? Are there food groups he should be emphasizing (e.g. eat carbs before or after the run)?

Weight loss isn't a goal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 13 year old son has been running in the morning. He's not sure whether to eat breakfast before or after or half and half? Are there food groups he should be emphasizing (e.g. eat carbs before or after the run)?

Weight loss isn't a goal.

I workout on coffee but if it doesn't bother him, have some carbs & protein. Banana, peanut butter toast.

[Anonymous]

Depends on the person and how they feel. Is he hungry? How do his runs feel?

The only time I ever ate in the morning before a run was if I was running 6+ miles/for more than an hour. For a regular 3 mile run I never ate and when I go to the gym to lift I don't eat before hand.

Not running but my son has very early morning swim practice and eats a few fig newtons on the way there.

[Anonymous]

I cannot workout with anything in my stomach, even water, or I'll get cramps and feel gross. Once I start running, I don't feel hungry or thirsty or anything.

[Anonymous]

I feel sick when I eat before running. Post morning runs I eat eggs, turkey bacon, and fruit.

[Anonymous]

Definitely eat after an early morning. Eating before is asking for a cramp. And at 13 he should be eating whatever for feels like eating afterwards.

[Anonymous]

Agree with 12:22 - if less than 6 miles, don't worry about it, if more, some light carb and protein is a good idea (piece of toast with some turkey breast)

I work out a 6:00am and don't eat until 10 or 11, but am a mid-50s woman staying to stave of thickening I'm the middle due to menopause

[Anonymous]

I eat after. If I eat before, I have to eat something very light and be finished an hour before working out.

[Anonymous]

I have a coffee and oatmeal before I run. It's certainly trial and error and though and he can see what works for him.

[Anonymous]

I might have half a banana before. Then have whatever I would ordinarily eat afterward. (Oatmeal, scrambled eggs, toast with pb and the other half of the banana, etc.)

[Anonymous]

I can't eat or drink anything for two hours before running or I get cramps. I often run first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.

[Anonymous]

Pedialyte during, 2 aloha bars after.

[Anonymous]

I don't run, but I strength train or do yoga first thing in the morning. I can't do either with anything in my stomach - but I'm a middle-aged woman. Your teenage son can experiment and find what's best for him.

[Anonymous]

I have a protein shake after working out in the morning for building/maintaining muscle.

[Anonymous]

I eat before a 5+ mile run - either a protein bar or oatmeal with blueberries.

Less than 5 miles, I eat after the run.

But either way, I ALWAYS eat some good protein and carbs after a run, and a big glass of milk.