Cardio on an empty stomach

[Rex]

I've read that doing cardio first thing in the morning before you've eaten anything trims fat much faster than doing it regularly but it shouldn't be overdone or you will lose muscle mass as well.

What's everyone's take on this?

 

[Telstra]

What is cardio anyway?
Is all types of active exercise considered cardio ?

 

[KaraBulut]

No, it just makes you more prone to injury and hypoglycemia.

You should have a snack before cardio- especially in the morning when you probably eaten in 6-8 hours.

Have a regular breakfast after cardio.

 

[Rex]

No, it just makes you more prone to injury and hypoglycemia.

You should have a snack before cardio- especially in the morning when you probably eaten in 6-8 hours.

Have a regular breakfast after cardio.

I've read lots of things online from people who use this method and found it worked.

Oh, and crisco, you still eat breakfast but AFTER your workout.

 

[quicklash]

Yeah ive read the same thing in severa l mens fitness magazines ie that cardio will be more effective straight after waking up or after working with weights as that way your current energy store from food isnt there so its straight to the fat supply.

 

[KaraBulut]

You have to be very careful about things your read in Men's Fitness magazines or what other people say based upon their belief about what works for them.

I've seen more than one case where I read research studies and then saw the same study written up in a magazine with an incorrect conclusion about the contents of the study.

There's two things that make me recommend against working out when you're hungry- particularly first thing in the morning.

• Hypoglycemia - most people have the last meal well in advance of bedtime. After a good night of sleep, your body has been without nutrition for at least 6 hours, sometimes longer.
  
  
  From the Mayo Clinic website:
  

  Eat a healthy breakfast. Wake up early enough to eat breakfast. Most of the energy you got from dinner last night is used up by morning. Your blood sugar may be low. If you don't eat, you may feel sluggish or lightheaded while exercising. If you plan to exercise within an hour after breakfast, eat a smaller breakfast or drink something to raise your blood sugar, such as a sports drink

  .

• Blood sugar swings - research has shown that swings in blood sugar levels and periods of starvation trigger the body to increase fat stores or retain previously stored fat. The theory is that our bodies have been conditioned by generations of feast-famine cycles and any period where the body is stressed while hypoglycemic triggers the body to store fat. For this reason, many researchers are recommending that you eat a light snack before a workout followed by a full meal after the workout. Some researchers are going as far as recommending that you consume amino acids and carbohydrates during strenuous workouts.

 

[Rex]

If you do it, you should only do 20-30 min of light cardio. You should never go overboard and push yourself to limits because then you run the risk of injury or burning off muscle mass as well as fat. Like 30 min of riding a bike is good and it's not for everyone but I think it does help you trim fat at a faster rate.

 

[Newbie_69]

where's pwrbarboy when you need him