Sould I eat before or after a workout?

I have started working out first thing in the morning today. I plan to do it daily because right now, my surgery has done its' job in helping me lose the bulk of my weight... and now it is my turn to get myself to goal. I don't really like eating when I first wake up but if I should I will. What do you do? Should I eat something right after my workout or right before?

well, i must ask, because sometimes depending on what "type of workout" you are doing will depend on what you should intake

to answer your question: YES, you should eat anywhere from 30-45 minutes before AND after a workout.. But both of those will vary upon what you are doing....

so what does your workout consist of?

My morning workout is about 30 minutes of elliptical cardio. In the afternoons I do cardio and weights. The afternoon workout is shortly after my afternoon snack and then afterwards I have dinner.

I just started the morning workout today and ate nothing before and had a protein bar after.

well beforehand; i usually do 45 minutes.. try to eat like a cheese stick and/or a half a banana, or a Light and Fit yogurt (as an example) and a few almonds or cashews (this is my preference)

afterwards by about 25-30 minutes, i have a Zone bar, which has protein as well as carbs in it..

i am not a doctor, but i have inquired to numerous fitness coaches and nuts about this.. they all seem to agree mostly with my plan

My tummy isn't a fan of food in the morning so I do a protein shake in the car on the way to the gym. Afterwards, there is usually a bit left in my car (what will I do when its room out & I can't use my car as a fridge anymore! LOL.) so I finish that and then its not too long before I eat lunch. (My kids are little so we eat lunch early). Not sure mine is the best plan by any means but it works for me.

Amy

It's definitely goal dependent. What are your ultimate goals fitness related?

For me, I want to keep a balance of things going so what I do is circuit training every day Mon-Fri. Weekends are "rest" days for me. I do whatever around the house, cleaning can be exercise.

With the circuit training I usually don't eat before the workout, I eat lunch around 2, get off work at **** the gym and am stretching by 5:10. Once I'm done I mix a shake and down it within 20 minutes of workout ending. It's good for muscle recovery.

Personally it needs to be an hour or more in between my previous meal and my workout or I'm miserable and wanting to vomit the whole time I'm exercising

To me that sounds as if what you're eating before hand is too large a portion. You don't have to eat a lot to fuel a workout. A half a banana with a heaping tsp of peanut butter gets me through a several mile run when eaten about 30-40 minutes prior. Before working out you generally shouldn't consume a whole meal, but a light snack. 

I don't think it's a portion issue. Even if it's just a protein shake nothing sits well in my pouch if it's consumed right before a workout.

Not to be argumentative but that's precisely my point. Most phsyical fitness experts tell you NOT to consume protein heavy stuff before working out. Firstly, it sits in your stomach heavy (as you've noticed) PLUS it takes a lot of work for the body to convert protein to energy. If your body is working to try to convert protein to energy, it is spending significantly LESS time converting fat into energy. And as a general rule, when looking for calories the body goes to what is already in the digestive system first.

Before a workout snack is more heavy on the carb side (not junk food but maybe cheese, milk, yogurt or easy to digest fruit like bananas). Post-workout recovery is when protein can and should come in. Your muscles need it and your body utilizes and metabolizes it better AFTER a workout.

So if you've been trying to consume either a meal or a protein heavy snack pre-workout that may be why you are experiencing discomfort. It may not be. Have you tried eating something smaller and on the carby-er side before a workout?