Getting Fit

[IndieSinger]

I have a couple of questions about a healthier life.

1) If I'm going to go out for a jog, is it better to do it first thing in the morning or last thing at night?

2) When's best to eat? Before exercise so you have something to burn off, or after exercise to fill you up?

[nedflanders]

1) Probably better to go as early as you can make it as exercise increases your metabolism and get keep you awake. 2) As per the above you would be better to eat after you go out as you might end up barfing in the park. Have something light before you go out. P.S. I have just went back to the Gym after 4 years of vegitating and i suggest you walk before you can run (literally) if you haven't exercised in a while.

[Soulstar]

If you're going to eat before running, make sure it's nothing more than a banana or one slice of toast - but ideally that should be one hour before going out. Also important is eating when you get back. The first 45 minutes after activity is known as the "window of opportunity" - wanky, I know, but it means you have to replace your glycogen stores which have been depleted by exercise. To make it easy, have a banana or something about half an hour after stopping. Oh yeah, don't start or stop too quickly - walk to start and to end. Have just read this back - No, I don't work for the banana marketing board!

[quattro]

1)If you go for a jog in the morning you could be limited to how long you run for especially if you are working after your run .You may not be properly warmed up as you have been asleep for several hours.The best time for me is early evening as it tends to give me a lift if I've been working and its something to look forward to while I'm in work running last thing at night might get me too wound up and then stop me from sleeping. 2)Make sure that you have eaten something even if its a small as a bar of chocolate or piece of fruit before your run so that you don't run out of energy .If you run early evening you can postpone your tea/dinner until after you finish your run

[IndieSinger]

These are all great answers, just what I was looking for. So thanks a lot nedflanders, Soulstar and quattro! I'm off to bulk buy some bananas now... :)

[snaykz]

(PART 1 OF 2) I'm not sure that I'd agree with some of these answers. It's best if you don't exercise first thing in the morning as the blood thickens when you sleep and exercising at this time puts unnecessary extra strain on the heart. This is why most heart attacks occur in the morning. Therefore, it is best to have been awake for a few hours at least before exercising, as your blood will thin out when you're awake. Exercising last thing before you go to bed will probably keep you awake at night. If I remember correctly, your metabolism is best geared up for exercise at around 11am and then again between 4-6pm, assuming you have pretty standard sleep patterns (11pm-7am or something like that). It's ok to eat a reasonable sized meal if you have it between 4-6 hours before you exercise (nothing huge obviously). The exception is if you are doing serious exercise like running a marathon or competing in the university boat race or something like that. In cases like that, scrambled eggs on toast is the maximum you should be eating in the morning. As has been said, eat something small but high in energy about 30-60 minutes before you exercise; a banana, a chocolate bar etc. Energy drinks such as Lucozade before and during exercise can also help increase your energy levels.

[snaykz]

(PART 2 of 2) If you are doing aerobic exercise such as running, try to keep well hydrated. Keep water with you during your exercise if you can, and drink small amounts regularly. Don't wait until you are thirsty to drink, do it throughout the exercise, but only small amounts at a time. There's nothing worse than running when you can hear and feel pints of water sloshing about in your stomach. Don't push yourself to exhaustion. You should feel slightly out of breath during the exercise but should be able to conduct a conversation with somebody at the same time, so not so breathless that you can't speak. If you are training for a specific event, you will be able to push yourself harder over time. It may be a good idea to have a routine check-up with your GP before you start a regular exercise programme, to check that your heart beat and blood pressure are normal. Finally, well done for making the decision to pursue a healthier life, your body will thank you and reward you for it in the long run, and you should start to feel the benefits pretty quickly. Good luck.