When to exercise in morning?

[alijangra]

My boyfriend has recently bought a great rowing machine. I would like to give it a quick blast every morning. At what point in my routine should I put the exercise ie before or after breakfast ?(obviously before my shower lol)

[The Wanderer]

I would say, defo after breakfast but give it half an hour or so. Your body needs food for energy so it can burn it. Like a car - it wont run without fuel.

[whiskeysheri]

I asked my boyfriend this a little while ago ali, (he's a fitness instructor), when I bought one. He said before your breakfast- it might be wrong though x

[alijangra]

I think I would be more inclined to do it before brekkie. I like to eat mine after my shower, I cant eat as soon as I get up. I guess what I really want to know is if there is a reason not to exercise first. Wanderer I get your point, but your body has a store of energy so Im not expecting to conk out without brekkie! I must admit I often skip breakfast (tut tut)

[whiskeysheri]

I think you're meant to do it before so that your body will burn it's reserve (fat) and then use your brekkie for the rest of the day. (That's how he explained it to me anyway) x

[JustSia]

Exersising is recommended to be done at least a couple of hours after meal. No real reason why it can't be done before breakfast as long as you have plenty of fluids. The best thing is to see how your body reacts to it as everyone is different. First thing morning exersise doesn't work for all people.

Good luck with it.

S.

[The Wanderer]

Tut Tut thats naughty alijandra. I'm not an insructor or anything like that but i do work out 5 times a week Mon-Fri and without breakfast i just cant do as much as i do when i do have breakfast even if its just a Bannana it helps. Each to there own though!

[stylinsam]

i dont think you are meant to eat before you excercise but you can eat after excercisexxi think

[alijangra]

I just find it hard to stomach food first thing :( maybe I will try a yoghurt and glass of water. I go swimming every other day in the evening, so the rowing is just for a little boost really as I do breaststroke in the pool I feel I need something a bit more physical too.

[Gevs1966]

You should not exercise within two hours of eating a meal. There are two reasons for this.

Firstly, blood carrying oxygen will be diverted away from the stomach to the working muscles that have the greater need for it, this means that the food will not be digested properly and can cause indegestion (commonly known as a stitch)

Secondly, your performance in the exercise will be reduced as some of the oxygen will still go to the stomach depriving the aforementioned working muscles of valuable oxygen etc.

I would recommend exercising as soon as you get up then have a nice refreshing shower before having your breakfast. Your body will be nice and awake by then and the brakkie will be just what it needs by that time.

[alijangra]

Thanks Gevs thats exactly what I was looking for!

[Belle Fast]

Some people recommend having a black coffee before exercise to encourage fat-burning. It is also a good idea to eat within about 30 minutes of stopping your exercises, as this is the ideal time for your body to take in calories and stock up your muscle's supply of glycogen (fuel for your muscles) which means that you do a better work-out the next time. Good luck with it, getting out of bed and making a cup of tea is all I can face in the morning!