Should you run on an empty stomach????

[aliciarun77]

Hi everyone,

Not managed to start my couch to 5k just yet - juggling work, kids and hubby lol. Just looking for some advice on whether to have food prior to a run or is it better to eat after a run. Thanks in advance x

[Hidden]

Hi,

Welcome to the team, your going to have a great time!

I run first thing in the morning and have nothing to eat before I start. Just a glass of water, and I haven't had any problems so far, touch wood.

Make sure you tell us how you're getting on!

[birdistheword Graduate]

Hi! I usually run in the evenings before my tea, gets work stresses out plus I need all my energy for work!

I have tried running on semi full but I do feel a bit better when I'm running on empty, I feel the positive effects a bit more!

[running_joke Graduate]

Yes, I only ever run ‘on empty’ too, and wait till I get back before having breakfast. I like to think that’ll mean I’m burning fat as I run, but not sure whether this is true!

[Appleanday Graduate]

I run at tea time after work and I run on an empty stomach. If I eat first I tend to get heart burn or feel a bit sick and have to stop earlier. I also feel as if I have somehow earnt my tea if I run first.

[Cookiedooodle Graduate]

I run first thing too (on an empty stomach). I try and get out before the children are awake (easier said than done) as I think if I left it later then there would be too many distractions and I would never get out of the door.

The good thing about the programme is that for the first weeks you are back home again in 30 minutes, so it doesn't take a huge chunk of time, and its a great way of having some 'me' time too!

[Donk]

Looks like I'm the odd one out here.

I'm at week 5, run 2 (which is tonight) and have ran all the previous runs after my tea.

I usually allow a minimum of an hour break, but this depends upon how full I feel. So far I've noticed no adverse effects.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Welcome to the life changing world of C25k.

Half a banana and half a pint of water first thing in the morning is my favourite formula for a run. Even if I wait a couple of hours after eating a meal, I feel heavy and bloated, so avoid it if I can.

Good luck with the running and keep us posted.

[must_be_mad Graduate]

Hi

I try to run first thing on an empty stomach. If I have to run later in the day then I make sure I haven't eaten anything for a long while. Eating anything before a run makes me feel bloated and heavy and I'll end up feeling sick or with a stomach pain. I have run a maximum of about 10.7k like this and been ok.

But horses for courses so just have a go and see.

[Sarah-A Graduate]

I do tend to run on an empty stomach too. I have eaten before a run (1 hour +) and ended up with stomach cramps or even worse -regurgitation (ewww!- sorry).

[nomoresloth Graduate]

I used to run on an empty stomach because I always got sick when I had eaten something before. I don't run that early in the morning (I'll go for a run soon and it's almost 11.30 am) so it got hard to wait with my breakfast. I started to eat a fruit before a run. Then I was forced due to work to run in the evenings and found out that I could also do very good runs an hour after a huge plate of pasta I still try not to eat too much before a run but somehow got used to a semi-full stomach. If you chose to eat before a run, make sure it's not something intensive like garlic etc... I usually have to burp (sorry) a few times on a run and it's better not to have had garlic or anything similar before...