Posted: 9/23/2009 5:00:08 AM EDT
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I am in a quandry. I cannot figure out which is better for raising my metabolism and burning some extra calories. Do I eat breakfast first, then go for my morning walk, or do I walk then eat? I know it seems trivial but I am in a crunch to loose some weight and every little bit counts. Thanks CMarksman 
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It doesn't matter much which you do first, especially if you are exercising at low intensity.
The most recent research indicates that workout "afterburn" effect has probably been overstated and that the maximum calorie burn is probably 15% of the energy expended during the workout. As far as performance benefits, there is some research, not yet gospel, that training with depleted glycogen reserves may increase performance at lactate threshold. To achieve these benefits one would have to exercise at an intensity level near lactate threshold i.e. 10K run pace - probably much harder than your walk pace. OTOH, fueling an aerobic workout will enable one to go longer and harder than executing that workout in a glycogen-depleted state. The real answer is which order of exercise/breakfast causes you to eat less? For me the answer would be to have water, coffee, and a piece of fruit before my workout and lean protein and vegetables (small Eggbeater veggie omlette) and water after. |
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Quoted:
Does the "walk first" opinion have any science behind it?
Not trying to be anal, just curious. 
Exercising before eating in the morning will help you burn more calories. The reason is that your body has been fasting throughout the night, and your blood sugar is low. This forces the body to dip into fat stores for energy sooner than if the blood sugar had not been depleted. |
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Quoted:
I am in a quandry. I cannot figure out which is better for raising my metabolism and burning some extra calories. Do I eat breakfast first, then go for my morning walk, or do I walk then eat? I know it seems trivial but I am in a crunch to loose some weight and every little bit counts. Thanks CMarksman Walking before you eat is going to burn the fat that is already on your body because there is nothing in your system to burn up. However, your energy levels are going to be seriously low. What I do, personally, is take two tablespoon of coconut oil, then exercise, then eat. The oil gives me serious energy (do some research, I recommend Dr. Mary Enig and "The Coconut Diet" by Cherie Calbom) raises my metabolism, and just all around.......WOW! |
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I am in a quandry. I cannot figure out which is better for raising my metabolism and burning some extra calories. Do I eat breakfast first, then go for my morning walk, or do I walk then eat? I know it seems trivial but I am in a crunch to loose some weight and every little bit counts. Thanks CMarksman Walking before you eat is going to burn the fat that is already on your body because there is nothing in your system to burn up. However, your energy levels are going to be seriously low. What I do, personally, is take two tablespoon of coconut oil, then exercise, then eat. The oil gives me serious energy (do some research, I recommend Dr. Mary Enig and "The Coconut Diet" by Cherie Calbom) raises my metabolism, and just all around.......WOW! I don't know about the coconut oil (totally might work, I've just never tried it), but I definitely agree you need to take in something before you work out. Two reasons: 1. Your body goes into "fasting" mode overnight, so your metabolism slows down not wanting to use up your energy stores. Once you take in some calories, your body believes you aren't going to starve, and will boost your metabolism. 2. You'll get a far better workout with some fuel. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I am in a quandry. I cannot figure out which is better for raising my metabolism and burning some extra calories. Do I eat breakfast first, then go for my morning walk, or do I walk then eat? I know it seems trivial but I am in a crunch to loose some weight and every little bit counts. Thanks CMarksman Walking before you eat is going to burn the fat that is already on your body because there is nothing in your system to burn up. However, your energy levels are going to be seriously low. What I do, personally, is take two tablespoon of coconut oil, then exercise, then eat. The oil gives me serious energy (do some research, I recommend Dr. Mary Enig and "The Coconut Diet" by Cherie Calbom) raises my metabolism, and just all around.......WOW! I don't know about the coconut oil (totally might work, I've just never tried it), but I definitely agree you need to take in something before you work out. Two reasons: 1. Your body goes into "fasting" mode overnight, so your metabolism slows down not wanting to use up your energy stores. Once you take in some calories, your body believes you aren't going to starve, and will boost your metabolism. 2. You'll get a far better workout with some fuel. Sorry for my inattentiveness to my own topic over the weekend, there was a bachelor party that I had to attend. Anyway, I used to make sure that I took in a reasonable amount of simple sugars before I worked out when I was competing in sports in college. So, might that be something to stick with even though my activity level is lower?  |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Does the "walk first" opinion have any science behind it?
Not trying to be anal, just curious.
Exercising before eating in the morning will help you burn more calories. The reason is that your body has been fasting throughout the night, and your blood sugar is low. This forces the body to dip into fat stores for energy sooner than if the blood sugar had not been depleted. thats my vote, if its cardio related, no food, exercise your ass off. However, if I WORKOUT first thing in the morning, I at least take in some protein and creatine... |
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I am in a quandry. I cannot figure out which is better for raising my metabolism and burning some extra calories. Do I eat breakfast first, then go for my morning walk, or do I walk then eat? I know it seems trivial but I am in a crunch to loose some weight and every little bit counts. Thanks CMarksman Walking before you eat is going to burn the fat that is already on your body because there is nothing in your system to burn up. However, your energy levels are going to be seriously low. What I do, personally, is take two tablespoon of coconut oil, then exercise, then eat. The oil gives me serious energy (do some research, I recommend Dr. Mary Enig and "The Coconut Diet" by Cherie Calbom) raises my metabolism, and just all around.......WOW! I don't know about the coconut oil (totally might work, I've just never tried it), but I definitely agree you need to take in something before you work out. Two reasons: 1. Your body goes into "fasting" mode overnight, so your metabolism slows down not wanting to use up your energy stores. Once you take in some calories, your body believes you aren't going to starve, and will boost your metabolism. 2. You'll get a far better workout with some fuel. Sorry for my inattentiveness to my own topic over the weekend, there was a bachelor party that I had to attend. Anyway, I used to make sure that I took in a reasonable amount of simple sugars before I worked out when I was competing in sports in college. So, might that be something to stick with even though my activity level is lower?
No, that's going to spike insulin levels and make it very hard to lose fat (insulin causes you to hold onto fat) Okay, I like to "intermittently fast" people think I'm crazy, but I've seen the proof first hand. I will regularly fast for 15-18 hours- THEN workout. My energy levels are NOT depleted. I have run some crazy times on workouts and lifted heavy weight (for me) while at the end of a fast. You won't die. A 18 hour fast WILL NOT slow metabolism. It sucks at first, but after a while your body gets used to burning fat for fuel instead of sugar and you'll be gtg. I workout 6 days a week (sometimes 2 a days) like this and when I'm very careful about what I eat it can get me down below 10% body fat. |
Walk first and then eat. When you wake up in the morning your body is ready to soak up any nutrients possible because it has been fasting for at least eight hours (hence the name break fast, or breaking the fast), therefore if you walk first, and your body needs the energy it will pull from fat stores, and therefore be worth a bit more than if you ate first. Make your breakfast a low carb one, and high in protein too for a little extra kick. But it will all be worth nothing if your diet for the rest of the day sucks.
Good luck. |