Eating & exercise

OK, so my question to all of you that have a regular work out schedule is.... what and when do you eat?  Let me be more specific... if you run or do any kind of cardio, is it before work or after?  Do you eat before or after?  I'm just getting back into my work out routine and am wondering what you do for fuel before work outs.  The running or intense cardio thing is the hard part.  Cant eat to soon before, but have to eat to have some energy!

We are buying an eliptical trainer at the end of this month and Im so excited I can hardly stand it!  I had a treadmill back home and sold it before moving here. 

Any comments/advice is greatly appreciated!!! 

I have to have something in my tummy before I work out otherwise I get really faint, always have since I was a teenager.

If I am running first thing in the morning, I have a glass of juice and a piece of toast or a ryvita about 15 minutes before I go.
If I am going to the gym at lunch time, I eat my lunch or a large snack at least 30 minutes before I head over.
If I am going to the gym in the evening, I tend to eat dinner early and go to the gym about 8-8:30.  So probably an hour between eating and the gym.

I do tend not to eat anything real heavy before working out, otherwise I get sick to my stomach.

Good luck getting back into it. 

I like to exercise on an almost empty stomach, otherwise I feel a bit ill.  Although I'd prefer to work out before work, since moving here I am doing most of it in the evenings due to the way the classes are scheduled.

If you have a healthy diet, and you're not a professional athlete, I don't think that what you eat before a workout is going to make much difference. Your body converts food to glycogen, which is stored in the muscles and most of us have plenty to get through a workout. Are you planning to train for an event or is this more casual?

This site has some technical info of the physiology involved: http://www.nismat.org/physcor/energy_supply.html

If you can't be bother to pick through the page, here's part of it:

As in anaerobic metabolism, glucose may be obtained from stored glycogen. Glycogen stores are plentiful, and therefore glycogen depletion is only a concern for athletes who are continuously exercising for more than 90 minutes or intermittent exercise over substantially longer periods of time. For example, it is not uncommon for endurance athletes to become glycogen depleted. In marathon races this is referred to as "hitting the wall". In order to reduce the chances of depleting glycogen reserves during a contest, athletes often "carbo load" prior to the event. This involves manipulating the carbohydrate content of one's diet in order to maximize glycogen stores

I do my work-out right after work at 5:30. Around 4:30, I have a little snack like an apple, an energy bar or a handful of nuts and dates. I am usually hungry around this time anyway and if I don't have something I tend to get pre-occupied with thoughts of supper while I am working out.

I work out in the mornings, and it's always at least 30 minutes after a light breakfast.  If I eat something heavier, I wait longer.  I just judge it by how I feel, whether I feel like my tummy's up to cardio or needs to digest more.

I've always eaten breakfast - I can't function without it...the morning exercise is just a matter of convenience, as I have done it at all times of day in my life, but usually shortly after a meal/snack.

Courtney, no marathons just getting back to my old routine! 

Karin, I'm the same as you with having to have something small in my stomach or I feel faint.

The thing is, the last ten years I was able to work out whenever because I was self employed.  Now going back to a real job here (working 8:30-5:30) I dont think I can swing getting up at 5:30am to work out.  Its gonna have to be in the evenings.

If only we could work 6 hours and be paid for 8!!!!!!

I can dream, cant I??!!!

Thanks everyone for the replies!!! 

I'm a morning person so I get up quite early and do the treadmill first thing - we just bought one so no more excuses!  I roll out of bed and into my workout clothes, get it done with and then have toast and coffee after I shower. I just know that I wouldn't do it if I waited until the end of the day....

Congrats on your new toy Jenn - having a treadmill in the house has made a HUGE difference in my commitment - I LOVE IT!

I exercise first thing in the morning, have a light breakfast  after (usually cereal and soy milk) and then walk to work (about 1 1/2 miles, I think).

I can't do any floor exercises with food in my stomach. It makes me feel like I am suffocating. And push-ups tend to trigger my gag reflex, so I definitely have to keep an empty stomach for those. I also would probably throw up if I did aerobics/circuit training with food in my stomach.


edit: Wanted to clarify that I exercise at home.

And to add that I've found that my method is the most time-efficient. If I ate breakfast first, and then waited 1/2 hour, I would either have to get up 1/2 hour earlier or get into work 1/2 hour later every day. And because I exercise in the morning, I can work as late as I want or do whatever I want to after work without having to miss exercise time. I never have an excuse not to exercise unless I am feeling poorly.

I'm not naturally a morning person, but I've conditioned myself to get up at 5:45. 

I prefer to run in the morning (been injured the last few weeks so not running at the moment) and do gym work-outs in the evening.  I think this all depends on the individual and the intensity of their work-outs and how you normally digest.  I find when my training gets more intense I have trouble digesting certain foods.

I probably should preface this by saying I am a long distance runner.
I rarely eat before I run, unless it's a long training run 8+ miles.  I get queasy because the intensity of the work-out is harder during a shorter run.  Long runs, I get up 90 minutes earlier to have toast with Peanut Butter.  Carbs/Protein are good to eat and easibly digestable.  Juice can be acidic and cause some reflux once you get your heart-rate up. I'm just speaking from my own experience.  Juice could work for you.

Officially, I eat 6 times a day.  Breakfast, mid-morning snack, Lunch, afternoon snack, snack before gym and then dinner. Sometimes dinner isn't until 8-9 when I get home from the gym and then I walk my dog to help digest before bed.  My meals are small, but very well balanced.  I tend to eat more carbs at night to help me store up for the morning run.  This may not be the best plan, but it has worked for me for the last 5 years.

Have fun on your new eliptical!

Well i rode into work this morning......and usually I don't eat before.  today I had my muesli with skim milk and bluberries and the ride was SO much easier....i felt full of energy!

I work out at 5.00 most evenings. I have a glass of water and a handful of cereal or a bit of bread with a tablespoon of peanut butter or a glass of smoothie or something before I start. I definitely must have the water and at least a little bite of something--but not much. After the workout, I start dinner and we usually eat around 8.00.