How Long Should I Wait to Workout after Eating

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The majority of us want to follow a healthy lifestyle and workout consistently. However, it might be difficult to organize your day to fit in a workout and sometimes it seems like there is just not enough time to do it all.

Not only that, many struggles to plan out their meals during the day: when is it best to eat to feel strong and energized but without feeling sick during the workout?

Of course, none wants to hit the gym or go for a run feeling weak and hungry. The information available is sometimes contradictive and maybe you are still wondering “How long should I wait to workout after eating?”. If you’re looking for an answer, you’ve come to the right place since this article is all about it.

First of all, let’s start by saying that timing is important when it comes to maximize or improve your performance when exercising. Eating too much might be of hindrance and it is important to find the right timing for a good, nutritious meal before working out.

How Long Should I Wait To Workout After a Meal?

The simple answer to this question is that you have to wait at least two to three hours. Working out might impact and slow down your digestion process. Additionally, eating too close to your workout will make your stomach feel discomfort, negatively impacting your performance.

Many people might experience nausea, vomiting, and reflux when working out on a full stomach.

The trick is to have a good meal 2-3 hours before and a small snack 1 hour before your exercise session to ensure enough fuel for your body. A small snack of around 200 calories that will bring a mix of proteins and carbohydrates to your body is ideal for having the necessary nutrients during your workout.

If you’re working out early in the morning, try not to skip breakfast, it would be detrimental to your performance. Instead, eat something small. Not only it will help you during your workout, but studies have should that it will increase the speed of your metabolism for your post-workout meal.

What Happens When I Exercise Directly After Eating?

The body needs a bit of time to digest the food you fuel it with. The digestion process takes energy and working out will interfere with that process, leaving you with digestive problems and cramping. Other common side effects of eating a meal before a workout are nausea and vomiting. Depending on the size of the meal, you should rest for a certain amount of time to give your body enough time to initiate the digestion process.

The Bottomline

As previously mentioned, having enough power for a good workout session is all about timing and personal organization. Not everyone is the same in terms of the consequences of working out on a full stomach and some might need a bit more time for digestion. However, you shouldn’t wait too long to avoid drops in blood sugar levels and a feeling of weakness. Try to experiment yourself with pre-workout meals and snacks and find the solution that best suits your metabolism.