What do you eat before an early morning workout?

[jonahmerchant12]

Switching work schedules soon and am planning on being in the gym early. I don’t want to go in with no fuel but the idea of eating anything at 6-7AM makes me nauseous tbh.

Are there any hearty/easily digestible foods I can use to get some fuel in me? I’ve heard some people say dates, maybe applesauce but I’m not sure that’s enough substance…

What do y’all do?

 

[dawn16]

@jonahmerchant12 A banana? Smoothie/shake? I personally just work out fasted and then eat after.

 

[jonahmerchant12]

@dawn16 I’ve done that with mixed success - feels like I run out of energy rather quickly, but definitely worth giving a shot.

 

[abba74]

@jonahmerchant12 I can only do coffee with some soy milk in the early morning before working out. But having a relatively large, carb heavy meal (pasta usually) the night before seems to keep me energized the next morning until my first meal

 

[anonymous88]

@abba74 This is a really awesome suggestion.

I seldom think about it, but carb-loading can make a massive difference. Thanks for the reminder, kind stranger

 

[abba74]

@anonymous88 May we all achieve our vegan fitness goals

 

[katie4469]

@jonahmerchant12 I think that the best thing to eat pre-workout is something high in easily digestible carbs and low in fat and fiber. Things that work well for me are bananas, rice cakes, pretzels, toast, and clif bars.

 

[jonahmerchant12]

@katie4469 I love clif bars as a pre but not crazy about that being the first thing I eat at 630

 

[katie4469]

@jonahmerchant12 Why not?

 

[ezek1234]

@jonahmerchant12 i used to try eating those before high school conditioning at 8-9AM and i almost vomited each and every time. my stomach is closed the first few hours i’m awake

 

[andi777777]

@jonahmerchant12 I am up at 05:00 each day and in the gym by 05:30.

I’ve never eaten anything before training as its too early and I have no appetite at that point.

I’ll take 40g of maltodextrin in my pre-workout to give me some extra carbs otherwise I feel like I am going to hypo by the end of a session.

I try to make my dinners a fairly decent size as this is effectively your pre-workout meal that is fuelling your session.

 

[jonahmerchant12]

@andi777777 This and rice cakes are the best suggestions so far. Just making sure to eat enough the night before or nibbling on something small like that. Thank you!

 

[rochapabloricardo]

@jonahmerchant12 I workout fasted. Eat immediately after. Seeing pretty good gains this way.

Disclaimer: I don’t have 3 hr sessions early morning. More like 1h.

 

[anonymous88]

@jonahmerchant12 Second the great suggestions above of banana, some kind of smoothie/protein shake, or rice cakes.

(Also second that training fasted is awesome, and preferable for me personally!)

Otherwise, things with increased surface area can be digested/broken down more quickly... so powders, butters or gels, basically.

Ultra-fine oats mixed with water (tastes like bland oatmeal milkshake), for example, or a big spoon of nut butter.

If you're not against more synthetic stuff, you could experiment with energy gels just before/during the workout, and then crack on with some proper food once you're done

 

[bittersweet99]

@jonahmerchant12 Whole fat coconut milk and coconut water and chia seed. It's the best

 

[nancy4jc]

@jonahmerchant12 I don’t

 

[ngole]

@jonahmerchant12 I struggle with this too. I used to do a protein bar but I hate starting my day off with something ultra processed and full of sugar. I started having toast and a banana and that seems to be enough!

 

[dawn16]

@jonahmerchant12 I used to do Ezekiel bread, toasted with almond butter, sliced bananas, a little organic agave and a tablespoon (total between both slices) of cacao nibs

 

[bernadettestar]

@jonahmerchant12 I practice intermittent fasting and eat 2pm-8/10pm.

I drink water and black coffee in the AM.

 

[dawn16]

@jonahmerchant12 OATMEAL! For the win! Overnight oats; quick oats, steel cut oats; whatever kind of oats. It’s low on glycemic index - so you’ll have slow digestion, a constant flow of wholesome carbs. It’s got protein too! Maybe throw chia seeds in there. Blueberries are my jam