In general, for healthy individuals looking to lose weight or get fitter – morning workouts are perfectly fine. In most cases, they are even a great choice (see next section).
There is no problem with exercising right after waking up. As long as you have slept properly, you should wake up and feel with a lot of energy to start exercising immediately. It might be better than if you want to exercise in the evening after work, when you are already too tired to exercise.
Working out on an empty stomach in the morning can be beneficial for fat loss, as it taps into stored glycogen and promotes fat utilization. However, for muscle building, having a small meal with protein before may be more effective. Listen to your body, experiment, and find what works best for you.
When you exercise too soon after eating, it may cause gastrointestinal issues that hinder your workout. General guidelines suggest exercising 1 to 2 hours after a small meal and 30 to 60 minutes after a snack to fuel your workout and prevent stomach problems.
Studies suggest that eating or drinking carbohydrates before exercise can help you do better during your workout. And the carbohydrates may allow you to work out for a longer time or at a higher intensity. If you don't eat, you might feel slow-moving or lightheaded when you exercise.
When we asked our expert dietitians, “how long should you wait to exercise after eating?” they agreed that it varies based on the size and style of what you're consuming. As a general rule, follow these best practices: After eating a full meal: Wait 2 to 3 hours. After eating a snack: Wait 30 to 60 minutes.
So, morning workouts – good or bad? Don't worry, they are not bad for you. In most cases, they are as good as afternoon/evening workouts. And certainly better than no exercise at all!
Overall, the experts agree: Exercising in the morning is the best time of day to work out for logistical, effective and health reasons. When it comes to weight loss, a 2023 study published in the journal Obesity found exercising between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. could help.
It is not 'unhealthhy' as such. I would wake up, drink some water and eat something very light, such a handful of grapes or a banana, give yourself five minutes to wake up properly and then begin. With a bit of fuel and some water, there is nothing to say you shouldn't.
That plan is called the 30-30-30 rule. It's a simple but catchy idea that encourages you to eat 30 grams of protein within 30 minutes of waking up and then get 30 minutes of low-intensity exercise. The 30-30-30 rule now has millions of followers on TikTok.
However, exercising on an empty stomach will also cause you to lose lean muscle mass at the same time, which can hinder long-term weight loss. Exercising without eating first can cause dramatic shifts in your blood sugar, and when it drops quickly you can feel nauseous, light-headed or dizzy.
Your body uses stored fat and carbohydrates from food to fuel exercise. But when you haven't eaten for hours, there are fewer carbs available. So your body may rely on fat stores as a primary energy source, allowing you to burn more fat.
Is Working Out On an Empty Stomach Bad for You? According to Roper, fasted exercise is generally safe for most people, but it may lead to side effects. “Because blood glucose gets depleted during fasting cardio, you can experience some side effects including lightheadedness and dizziness,” she said.
Starting the day on an empty tank can leave you feeling drained and reaching for foods that may not be in your meal plan by mid-morning. Plan to eat breakfast within an hour of waking.
Fasted cardio sounds very fancy but some of you may already be doing this type of workout without realising it. Technically anytime you jump out of bed and head straight to your early morning workout without eating first, you are doing a fasted workout.
HIIT or interval training
Research shows that HIIT exercises for belly fat help control weight and improve your overall physical condition. These routines don't take a lot of time but still get your heart pumping and work your entire body.
You're depriving your muscles of the amino acids they need to rebuild and recover. You're not replenishing the stored glucose (glycogen) in your muscles which can lead to further muscle breakdown. You'll get hungry a few hours later and likely overeat at that later meal.
Traditionally, experts have recommended not exercising at night as part of good sleep hygiene. However, a small study, published in Sports Medicine suggests that some people can exercise in the evening as long as they avoid vigorous activity for at least one hour before bedtime.
It is when the timing pattern of our workout becomes erratic that elicits a negative response to a positive stressor like exercise. If you're going to make the early morning workout your routine, then waking up at least an hour before training is your best bet for your body to adjust to a new the circadian rhythm.
Make sure you warm up before doing anything strenuous, especially in the morning. Take it easy on your back for a few hours after rising. Don't hop out of bed and try for a deadlift personal best. Weight training in the morning on an empty stomach is not a good idea because blood glucose can be low.
Morning exercise can help you make healthier choices.
That early morning sense of accomplishment can also help you have a healthier day. “When you get up and exercise, you establish a healthier mindset, which makes you more mindful of what you eat during the day,” she explains.
Lifting and doing strength training without adequate nutrition, especially without enough protein, can actually lead to loss of muscle tissue. Furthermore, if you aren't eating right you won't have the energy to do the workouts that lead to muscle gain.
A small dinner meal might include: 3 ounces of beef tenderloin with a plain, small baked potato and 1 cup of steamed broccoli. Shrimp kebabs made with 3 ounces of shrimp and 1 cup of a mix of peppers, onions and mushrooms served with 1/2 cup of brown rice and 1 cup of mixed greens with 1 tablespoon of low-fat dressing.