Is working out empty stomach beneficial?
Jun 4, 2019, 18:28 IST
If you enjoy a morning workout, chances are you are doing it on an empty stomach. While lack of time is the most common reason for people choosing not to eat before a workout, some actually do it on purpose. Celebrity fitness expert Kayla Itsines recently took to Instagram to share a blog where she talks about working out in an empty stomach, and how it affects your body. According to Kayla, to eat or not to eat before a workout depends on what suits your body.
Fasted cardio, or doing your cardio on an empty stomach is a common phenomenon. But does it necessarily help you lose weight faster? Kayla explains in her blog, "The idea stems from the fact that glycogen, a stored carbohydrate, is often depleted in the morning. So after a night without eating, your body could potentially burn a greater percentage of fat working out on an empty stomach as your store of carbohydrates (your body's preferred energy source) is not easily available."
This, however, may not be as good for your health as the body is at risk of losing a lot of glycogen. After a point of time, you may begin to lose muscle. This situation is most likely to happen in extreme cases. Many people eat their last meal a few hours before sleep and don't get a full 8 hours of sleep. Thus, workout on an empty stomach may not necessarily use all the glycogen and you can burn more fat.
According to Kayla, there is no significant difference between working out on an empty stomach and working out after eating a light meal. In case the former makes you feel low on energy and sick, it is better to listen to your body and eat something that makes you feel energized and keeps you going throughout your workout.
Fasted cardio, or doing your cardio on an empty stomach is a common phenomenon. But does it necessarily help you lose weight faster? Kayla explains in her blog, "The idea stems from the fact that glycogen, a stored carbohydrate, is often depleted in the morning. So after a night without eating, your body could potentially burn a greater percentage of fat working out on an empty stomach as your store of carbohydrates (your body's preferred energy source) is not easily available."
This, however, may not be as good for your health as the body is at risk of losing a lot of glycogen. After a point of time, you may begin to lose muscle. This situation is most likely to happen in extreme cases. Many people eat their last meal a few hours before sleep and don't get a full 8 hours of sleep. Thus, workout on an empty stomach may not necessarily use all the glycogen and you can burn more fat.
According to Kayla, there is no significant difference between working out on an empty stomach and working out after eating a light meal. In case the former makes you feel low on energy and sick, it is better to listen to your body and eat something that makes you feel energized and keeps you going throughout your workout.