Lots of people exercise hungry. They figure that if their stomach is empty while they work out, their body will start to burn fat and they’ll lose weight.

So they wait until after they exercise to eat.

A new study shows this strategy is a mistake.

Several colleges in the U.K. recently conducted research into the effects of eating in the morning before exercising. The universities of Bath, Birmingham, Newcastle, and Stirling participated.1

Dr. Javier Gonzalez was co-lead researcher. “This is the first study to examine the ways in which breakfast before exercise influences our responses to meals after exercise,” he said.

The study followed 12 healthy men. Researchers had them do a cycling workout on an empty stomach and again after eating a breakfast of oatmeal and milk.2
The subjects’ muscle glycogen levels and blood glucose levels were taken after both workouts.

It turns out that when the subjects ate before exercising, they burned more carbohydrates. And their metabolism and digestion was sped up in the hours after they finished exercising. For the rest of the day, they had better blood sugar control.

Dr. Rob Edinburgh co-led the study. He points out that the increased carbohydrates burned during exercise didn’t come solely from the food that had just been eaten. Stored carbohydrates were also burned at a higher rate. The increased glycogen use could explain “why there was more rapid clearance of blood sugar,” he said.

The Right Pre-Workout Foods Boost Your Metabolism

The takeaway? It’s better to eat before exercising than to work out while hungry. But be sure to eat the right foods…

Don’t eat: Sugary or starchy foods. Avoid potatoes, pancakes, waffles, hash browns, French toast, biscuits, etc.

Do eat: Proteins, healthy oils and fibers. Eggs, steak, avocado, yogurt (unsweetened), fruits, nuts, quinoa, vegetables.

Smoothies using full-fat, Greek yogurt and fruits are a great idea.

It turns out breakfast really is the most important meal of the day, so don’t skip it before a workout.

Editor’s Note: There are other easy ways to be thinner without going hungry…

Like the secret “switch” you can flip that tells your body to burn fat instead of store it… The little-known chemical one doctor says makes your body demand unhealthy high-calorie foods… And how to shed pounds of body fat—without cutting back on the foods you love.

Discover how to unlock your fat-burning potential HERE.

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References:
1 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322785.php
2 https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-08-breakfast-carbs-metabolism-meal.html