Is it okay to lift weights on a mostly empty stomach?

[Meowsers]

I am a petite female looking to tone up a bit more. I always exercise in the morning alternating days of cardio with dumbbell exercises. I always drink a coffee a half hour before my workout. Do I actually need to eat something solid before doing the weights?

[John612]

If you can stand being hungry go for it

[Omi]

some people may begin to feel dizzy while working out if they don't have any food in there stomachs..others feel sick if they eat before they workout. try eating something about an hour or so before working out

[Kel050]

It's best not to do that.. you need food energy, otherwise you'll mess up blood pressure and all that.. plus, it's hard to tone if there is no protein. eat a banana or something first.. it has no fat.

[dsntmater]

You need protein before any type of workout. And dont forget the fluids before, during and after!!

[ArmyWifeofaDeployedSoldier122]

I thought you are supposed to eat carbs before you work out. I think it would be a good idea to eat something first.

[RobbyK]

You do not need to...actually eating after you work out helps your muscles but you should eat mainly proteins. If you eat carbos or fats you could gain weight. You should also wait about 2 hours after your workout to eat. So if you dont think you could make it those two hours then just eat an energy bar or something before. But otherwise your coffee should give you enough energy.

[MrAndyk]

I too used to weight lift on an empty stomach, and everytime I'd get under the bar on the bench or squat I'd always tire out pretty quick. Then one day I got really hungry before going to the gym, so my buddies and I went to a local 7/11 to get a snack, and half an hour after we went by the gym and I saw a huge improvement on my overall strength and stamina.

It may be different for you, but definitely eating before a workout can only help. Especially if your doing cardio; you want to be totally awake and energetic, and food definitely helps.

[mcdpauline]

It's okay but you really should eat something, especially if it's your time of the month. Caffeine with nothing else causes you to be light headed even if you're just walking, and for some reason when you're on your period, caffeine is not your friend. It effects your blood-flow, or something like that, by thinning it. So, please, even when you're not on your period, don't just drink caffeine. It's much more healthier to eat something solid, because you could end up fainting or your health gets worse even though you're trying to make it better. The effects on me are a lot worse because I'm slightly anemic, which means I don't have enough iron in my system, but you still get the same effects, just not as bad. Also, if you have heart conditions do not just drink coffee, especially just coffee, before you exercise.

Hope I helped.


Oh, and obviously if you have diabetes you can't do that.. my mother has diabetes.

Also, make sure that you eat enough so that your blood sugar is not low. I suggest a bowl of cereal.. cereal bar.. nutrigrain.. banana... apple ( apples give you more energy than coffee can! )..