To eat or not to eat that is the question!

[GrannyHelen57]

Just started the programme and am on day 4 and I am unsure what is a good breakfast to have? I run in the mornings as have more energy/enthusiasm. Not a spring chicken as I will be sixty in August and I have set myself a challenge to achieve 5K by the race for life in June . Any tips would be great

[Bazza1234 Graduate]

I am 70 and am also a morning runner/person. I find that I have to be careful about eating before a run - a banana around 1 hour before I start seems to work our about right for me.

[GrannyHelen57 Graduate in reply to Bazza1234]

Bananas seem quite popular ! So I think I I'll try this , and then have shower and proper breakfast when I get home !! Thanks everyone, great help

[Wizziewood]

Ditto Bazza1234. A banana and water I find suits me then I enjoy breakfast after my run/stretch/ shower. I go out before 7am if possible... nobody about to see me, no energy later in the day and it's done for the day!

[GoogleMe Graduate]

I am a big breakfast person... so I rise early, eat substantially and then can run a couple of hours after that.

[GrannyHelen57 Graduate in reply to GoogleMe]

I love breakfast but I have a cup of tea first thing ( trying to do the hot water and lemon thing and failing 😳) I don't think I would make my run if I had my usual poached egg, tomato, spinach toast breakfast 😂 So I'm going to try the banana before running . Not like I'm going very far yet and certainly not quickly 😳

[mixindave Graduate]

someone said peanut butter and jam on white bread is a good one. an hour or so before, or banana the obvious one.

[misswobble Graduate]

I eat my breakfast of porridge on running days, no matter what time I run 🙂

You will find out through trial and error what suits you. You don't need any extra food for C25k sorry to say 😛

[Rignold]

It does depend also whether you are running for weight loss or running just for fitness. If shedding fat is your goal, or part of it, then fasted cardio i the way to go. Overnight your body's carb stores become depleted so if you do steady state cardio first thing your system will dip in to your fat reserves for fuel. You can then replenish with a meal afterwards, but the calories from this will not be laid down as fat.

If weight loss is not your priority then a ligth meal of some readily available carb is a good bet, ideally half an hour to an hour before running. Banana as mentioned is good or a cup of overnight oats mad ewith coconut milk.

[Whatsapp Graduate]

I dont eat before my runs. Mainly because my midweek runs are before work and I dont have time to eat and wait before running.

However, I wonder as my runs get longer whether this will have an affect.