Is it better to do cardio (e.g. running) in the morning before eating anything? I read somewhere that since it's likely there'll be no carbohydrate resources in your system in the morning, providing you don't eat right before you go to bed, then fat resources will be used since that's what will be available. Is it true?
I am trying to lose fat from tummy. It's the only place I am tubby, nowhere else, so I'm really expecting to see this fat beginning to go away soon (hopefully).
Cardio in the morning
Moderators: Boss Man, cassiegose
I wrote an article in e book about this. Research shows that when doing cardio before breakfast a very small amount more fat is burned than when eating first. However, research also shows that those who do cardio before eating tend to be hungrier throughout the day and end up eating more. Your cardio is going to be less efficient if you don't fuel yourself (exercising without eating is like driving a car without gas). Also as Swanso said you could burn muscle.
If you choose to do cardio without eating it's a good idea to have some food easily accessible. Low blood sugar episodes, including dizziness, can occur even if you don't normally have them.
Sarah
If you choose to do cardio without eating it's a good idea to have some food easily accessible. Low blood sugar episodes, including dizziness, can occur even if you don't normally have them.
Sarah
Thanks.SarahPT wrote:I wrote an article in e book about this. Research shows that when doing cardio before breakfast a very small amount more fat is burned than when eating first. However, research also shows that those who do cardio before eating tend to be hungrier throughout the day and end up eating more. Your cardio is going to be less efficient if you don't fuel yourself (exercising without eating is like driving a car without gas). Also as Swanso said you could burn muscle.
If you choose to do cardio without eating it's a good idea to have some food easily accessible. Low blood sugar episodes, including dizziness, can occur even if you don't normally have them.
Sarah
I've tried out morning cardio without eating and to be honest I find it difficult. It's quite ineffective in the way I can't continue for very long and I feel exhausted too. And you're absolutely right, I feel A LOT hungrier afterwards so I think I'm going to abandon that type of cardio.
I actually read something on the net written by Tom Venuto, which claimed the eating beforehand increases Glucose levels, true, but also increases Insulin that again interferes with Fat Metabolisation as well.
Neither point I'm questioning, despite not being aware of the second one.
Strangely though he neglected to mention anything about dizzy spells, or Muscle loss.
Then it said Chris Aceto, (Bodybuilder), was sort of subscribing to the same theory, but started mentioning about the Muscle loss, and saying maybe keep Cardio down to 30 minutes, then said it would be "highly unlikely that amino acids will be burned as fuel"
2 problems
1. He said highly unlikely, but not why.
2. He never stated what kind of Cardio it should be. Could have been steady state for all we know.
Then he started throwing in interesting variables, like a Cup of Coffee, and then finally even a Protein shake was mentioned.
The bottom line here is two interesting things.
1. Venuto bangs on about the Fat Metabolisation aspect, but not other things like potential dizziness, muscle sacrifice etc etc.
2. Another bodybuilder starts giving good praise about it, then ends up saying if you're worried about muscle loss, have a shake first, or at least a Coffee.
Then again Venuto has a Fat burning book out, so maybe saying a potentially high fat burning technique, could yield things like muscle loss dizziness etc etc, might be detrimental for sales.
I have a lot of respect for people like him, but sometimes I think such people, "may" use a few controversial, or scientifically questionable ideas, to promote their ways of thinking, or promote results in clients.
Neither point I'm questioning, despite not being aware of the second one.
Strangely though he neglected to mention anything about dizzy spells, or Muscle loss.
Then it said Chris Aceto, (Bodybuilder), was sort of subscribing to the same theory, but started mentioning about the Muscle loss, and saying maybe keep Cardio down to 30 minutes, then said it would be "highly unlikely that amino acids will be burned as fuel"
2 problems
1. He said highly unlikely, but not why.
2. He never stated what kind of Cardio it should be. Could have been steady state for all we know.
Then he started throwing in interesting variables, like a Cup of Coffee, and then finally even a Protein shake was mentioned.
The bottom line here is two interesting things.
1. Venuto bangs on about the Fat Metabolisation aspect, but not other things like potential dizziness, muscle sacrifice etc etc.
2. Another bodybuilder starts giving good praise about it, then ends up saying if you're worried about muscle loss, have a shake first, or at least a Coffee.
Then again Venuto has a Fat burning book out, so maybe saying a potentially high fat burning technique, could yield things like muscle loss dizziness etc etc, might be detrimental for sales.
I have a lot of respect for people like him, but sometimes I think such people, "may" use a few controversial, or scientifically questionable ideas, to promote their ways of thinking, or promote results in clients.
I wonder if he'd have a Coffee first though 
That's something I never ever do drink Tea or Coffee, I also don't used energy drinks either, the belief being that it's kind of like cheating your own results, boosting your performance to where it's not normally capable of being at.
That's not to say people shouldn't do it, but good old water's never done me any harm, and if it means sacrificing a rep on something to save the money, I'll keep money.
That's something I never ever do drink Tea or Coffee, I also don't used energy drinks either, the belief being that it's kind of like cheating your own results, boosting your performance to where it's not normally capable of being at.
That's not to say people shouldn't do it, but good old water's never done me any harm, and if it means sacrificing a rep on something to save the money, I'll keep money.