Should You Eat Before or After Workout to Lose Weight?

If you eat more than your body’s energy, you’ll gain weight; the opposite is true. That’s why weight management entails a mix of workouts and dieting. You know what to eat or avoid as you strive to maintain a healthy weight range. You’ve also narrowed down the best portion sizes for weight management. You also follow a practical plan like the popular 16/8 intermittent fasting strategy.

What most people struggle to demystify, which is likely your main problem, is whether you should exercise before or after eating. Let’s look at what eating before or after exercise could mean for your weight loss quests.

Should I eat before or after I work out?

There is no straightforward answer to whether you should eat before or after a workout to lose weight. The answer depends on varying factors, mainly your fitness level, type of exercise, and personal preference. Fitness levels impact how much you can endure. If you are fit, you could work out more on an empty stomach than someone just getting started.

The type of exercise you intend to make determines the energy levels needed. Intense workouts’ energy demands are higher than light exercises. It means you may need to eat before such workouts. This doesn’t mean you need a heavy meal. A light snack could give you the energy you need to exercise more, burn calories and lose weight. You can exercise on an empty stomach when undertaking light exercises without affecting weight loss efforts.

Best time to exercise: before or after eating?

Personal preferences and schedule count as you determine whether to eat before or after exercise. For instance, if you’re wondering whether you should exercise before or after breakfast to lose weight, you could check your schedule. If you have a jammed schedule, exercising before breakfast may be easier. The approach means you won’t have to worry about finding the time to eat, which could force you to skip the workout.

Personal preference also affects when you should eat and exercise to lose weight. Due to digestion issues, some people find it harder to exercise after a meal. If your metabolism is slow, even a light snack could make you feel full and make your workouts uncomfortable.

The trick here is to try exercising on an empty stomach and after a snack to establish how your body feels, then pick a strategy that enhances your productivity. If you struggle to manage your timing, you can kick your efforts a notch higher and enlist professional help.

Join Fasting Kompanion now to start your journey with a personalized fasting plan. Having a custom plan will make it easier to master the energy needed to keep exercising, lose and maintain a healthy weight.

To sum up: how to eat when exercising for weight loss

Your weight loss efforts deliver the best results when you create a calorie deficit. This means you need to burn more calories than you consume but don’t ignore your overall wellness. The key is to ensure you consistently take a balanced diet. This allows the body to get the essential nutrients for optimal performance, including burning calories.

A light snack before exercise can help you keep going and burn more calories. You can then take a post-workout recovery meal to refuel the body. This is more so a meal loaded with carbohydrates and protein to replenish your body and improve muscle repair. While loading up with carbs and other nutrients, remember to keep the portion size and nutritional value in mind. This helps ensure you stick to snacks and meals within your weight loss goals.

A healthy diet complemented by practical exercise goes a long way in your weight management journey. Frustrations can get the better of you, especially when results don’t seem to come in or are hardly desirable. Don’t let it derail you; you can personalize your strategy through professional support. Fasting Kompanion is here to help you find a diet best suited for your situation and goals.