Eating before running

[JohnnyCash]

With the way my body is I HAVE to eat before I workout and/or run because if I don't, I get dizzy and my hands start to shake (Low blood sugar?). If I eat immediately before I do a run/ workout, I get sick to my stomach and worse of all, I get sleepy in the gym.

Question:

How long should I wait after I eat to go running/workout?

thank you.

[Joe159]

I read somewhere that it takes a minimum of 45 minutes to fully digest the food you eat.

[janda]

It's really something you have to train for. As a distance runner I know i need calories during my long runs. So I have trained myself to be able to run not long after eating and continue to ingest food on the run as well. You should look at the foods your eating before you head out. Quick carbs should be what your eating, things that are easy to digest. Don't go eating a big steak dinner and head out for a run, it wont work, but some juice and a bagel and you should be fine. there are also a ton of products made for this sort of thing. From powerbar type products to energy gels. both are designed to give you the right amount of energy you need in an easy to digest form.

Janda

[DJOHNSON954]

It all depends on the person and you will have to find what works best for you. With that said, I too have low blood sugar. For myself, as long as I have had a decent meal a few hours before a run, I am ok. I may, on occasion, eat like a tuna sandwich or something light just prior to a run.

As far as the gym, I don't recommend eating a big meal right before working out. I have heard that if you eat right before a work out that you will not get as much blood flow to the muscles because most of your blood will be focused on your stomach and digesting food. Again, I don't know how true this is.

[LongArm]

Originally posted by JohnnyCash
With the way my body is I HAVE to eat before I workout and/or run because if I don't, I get dizzy and my hands start to shake (Low blood sugar?).

In my humble opinion, this shouldn't be a question mark. You should consult with a doctor and determine exactly why you get dizzy and/or get the shakes when you work out.

That said, I usually wait at least an hour after eating--and vary that depending on the size of the meal ingested.

LongArm

[JohnnyCash]

I only get a little shaky when I haven't eaten for a very long time, then do strenuous exercise. I'm sure that many people experience that.

[Brindle]

You may also want to go to see a doctor. Your doctor will probably do a routine blood check, which you should do every year or so anyway, and give you a clean bill of health. Most standard medical health insurance plans include a routine (free, with small co-pay) physical (including blood check). I am no expert but your dizziness may be symptoms of diabetes. And if you are, then you need to be very careful about my comments below.

But in the absence of diabetes, here are some comments..

It is valuable that you do not experience low/depleted blood-sugar (glucose) while strength training. If you do this repeatedly/habitually, then you will not get strong as fast. This is because you muscles will burn muscles for energy. But as someone said, one glass of orange juice and a bagel will probably be fine. (I take most of my day's carbs for about one hour before my strength training or speed training workout.) And what you don’t want is to eat too much and, so to speak, have your body divert a little more blood/energy to your stomach to digest your food.

But, as some one mentioned, you should evaluate your workout goal. In the case where you are targeting fat burning (aka low intensity, long cardio), then you should shoot for low/depleted blood-sugar (glucose). Fat burning workouts are good first thing in the morning, that is before eating (but with plenty of water) because your blood sugar is already low and your body will deplete your blood sugar sooner, thus causing fat to burn sooner.

[MechMan]

A quick math lesson for the evening:

(Lasagna + green beans + sourdough bread) * 2 +1 hour to digest + 3 mile run = bad

[mikemac64]

It depends on how far you run. A short run would normally only require a small meal or snack (bagel???) a short time before the run. Probably 45 - 60 minutes.

The other thing which you don't mention is hydration. It is important to hydrate with water/sports drink, depending on the distance.

I would consult a doctor to find out why you are getting dizzy. If this is a new exersize routine, or you are just new to it, you need to see a doctor and evaluate you goals for working out (ie weight loss/strength, speed, marathon, etc)

[imabuvlaw]

Want some quick energy that will not upset your stomach. Take a piece of whole wheat bread and cover with honey. Eat the bread 30 minutes prior to a workout and you will feel the difference with the sugar from the honey. I don't get the out of gas feeling when I use the above snack prior to a workout.

[JohnnyCash]

sweet, I'll try that one.