Eat then workout or workout then eat??

Having a disagreement at work over which way is the most healthy.

??

Well, you don't want to eat before you work out because exercising on a full stomach would likely upset it. I can't imagine wanting to exercise with a full pouch. I've also heard that after exercising you are likely to eat less and will burn more because of your body still being in active mode. Something like that.

Are you talking about fuel for a workout and recovery afterward?

First off... if the workout is less than 1 hour... no need for food before or after.  Just eat normally.  If it's more than an hour, then:

Carb snack 1 hour before
Protein snack within the first hour after

You should have something with carbs and protein a little while before working out.  I will have an apple with some peanut butter.  Then after working out, within an hour or so, you should have something very high in protein.  I will usually have a protein shake or protein bar. 

Was really just talking about in general.

This is what got the conversation started. We have an hour for lunch here and a lot of times I will eat my lunch then take a 30 min walk. My coworker says I should walk 1st then eat when I get back.

I take walks after every meal it helps me digest.  Howver if its a big workout ..even things like cleaning house....I have to have protein before and after or my blood sugar drops. 

I would say u have to do what works for you.  The less u have on your stomach before exercise the better but if u need it...u do what u have to do

What works best, is simply what works for you.  If you feel good taking a walk after you have lunch, then by all means keep doing it.  If you feel sick or nauseous, you may want to walk first, then eat. 

You are doing awesome.  Keep doing what you are doing.

James

If you are talking about a 30 minute walk, it does not matter. A casual 30 minute walk, while great for you health, is not of high enough intensity or long enough in duration to matter if you eat prior to or after activity. Do whatever you feel most comfortable with. If your stomach gets upset if you eat prior to walking, don't eat. If it doesn't bother your stomach, go ahead and eat if you feel like it. Again, it probably will not matter either way.
    
This issue is a bit different when exercise or activity is more intense or long in duration. There are a number of different issues that commonly arise.

1. If your exercise sessions are going to be relatively intense or long in duration, it makes zero sense NOT to eat pior to exercise. You will NOT burn more calories, you will NOT burn more fat and you will not lose more weight by NOT eating prior to exercise. You SHOULD generally eat 30-60 minutes prior to exercise depending on what you tolerate best. In many cases, if exercising for long periods of time it is suggested that you consume calories during exercise. If you are doing something like a casual walk, food is not really an issue.

2. Pre and post exercise carbohydrate is generally not stressed enough and protein is generally stressed too much. Protein is important both pre and post exercise but carboydrate should be consumed in larger quatities than protein prior to and after exercise. 

Here are a couple of links to message board  topics where i discuss similar questions.

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/fitness/3451488/Protein-dr inks/#26934449

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/LapBand/3554897/Exercise-a nd-Nausea/#27946869

Please let me know if you have any questions.