Should I eat a breakfast before my morning workout? I've heard that not eating before exercise will help me burn and lose more body fat.
– Leah
One of the biggest fitness misconceptions is that if you want to burn more fat you need to exercise on an empty stomach, but one kilo of fat contains 8000 calories, which means it will take much more than a workout or a skipped meal to burn 8000 calories of fat from your body.
It’s your overall diet that really matters, one kilo of fat just won’t disappear unless you create a weeklong calorie deficit. If you are just off for a walk or a short weight session, then it’s OK to train on an empty stomach as long as you are up out of bed straight away and you have a carbohydrate and protein rich meal as soon as you’ve finished.
If you are training intensely for an hour or more its probably best to have a small meal at least an hour before you train. When it comes to eating and exercise, everyone is different so pay attention to how you feel during your workout. Let your experience guide you on which eating habits work best for you.
Don’t forget to keep hydrated, water is an athlete’s number one nutrient. Finally, if fat burning is your goal, your daily nutrition habits will determine whether or not you will lose fat. Eat small nutritious meals through out the day and don’t skip meals.
- Jacquie