Run Starving??

[endgreed]

I know that someone else or a few people have discussed the issue of running in the morning with or without food preworkout, but I'm still confused. I don't want to lose my muscles along with fat when I run in the morning without eating first.

I read this book and it explained that anytime you run in the day, your body uses three energy sources: fat, carbohydrates, and protein. It didn't really explain the three but it said that when you run at a steady pace for around 30 minutes, your body burns half fat and half carbs. So you see, you do burn fat whenever you run. The book also said that when you run first thing in the morning without eating, your run will definitely be less intense and you will feel lathargic and totally like crap. I did it today and it was pretty uncomfortable, but I made it. Any thoughts on this?

[IronFreakX]

I know that someone else or a few people have discussed the issue of running in the morning with or without food preworkout, but I'm still confused. I don't want to lose my muscles along with fat when I run in the morning without eating first.

I read this book and it explained that anytime you run in the day, your body uses three energy sources: fat, carbohydrates, and protein. It didn't really explain the three but it said that when you run at a steady pace for around 30 minutes, your body burns half fat and half carbs. So you see, you do burn fat whenever you run. The book also said that when you run first thing in the morning without eating, your run will definitely be less intense and you will feel lathargic and totally like crap. I did it today and it was pretty uncomfortable, but I made it. Any thoughts on this?

AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHH

[audis4]

AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHH

hahahahahahahah lol.

[C_Bino]

Well most people who do bodybuilding dont run anyways. They walk to just stay in the fatty acid oxidation zone. Yes you can burn carbs while you are exercising, hence why you would run on an empty stomach so there are none in reserve and you primarily hit fat.

There are really 4 levels of energy consumption. ATP, fast-glycolysis, slow-glycolysis and fatty acid oxidation. To put it simply they are used in order of duration of exercise and intensity. So quick hard movements are ATP (tennis player, powerlifter etc) Fast-glycolysis will kick in after ATP stores are depleted and this is usually around the 30 second mark (100m swimmer would start to dip into these) slow-glycolysis is similar and fatty acid oxidation is the last to use or the one used through most minimal work. So if you are walking for example your body will go into fatty acid oxidation.

[SMYL_GR8]

I know that someone else or a few people have discussed the issue of running in the morning with or without food preworkout, but I'm still confused. I don't want to lose my muscles along with fat when I run in the morning without eating first.

I read this book and it explained that anytime you run in the day, your body uses three energy sources: fat, carbohydrates, and protein. It didn't really explain the three but it said that when you run at a steady pace for around 30 minutes, your body burns half fat and half carbs. So you see, you do burn fat whenever you run. The book also said that when you run first thing in the morning without eating, your run will definitely be less intense and you will feel lathargic and totally like crap. I did it today and it was pretty uncomfortable, but I made it. Any thoughts on this?

Hmm, sounds like quite the comprehensive text you have got there. If I were you, I would at least take in 40-50g Whey protein, 5g glutamine and some small amount of carb (banana, for example) before running first thing in the morning.

[heavyhitter08]

I disagree, IMO you will reap the benefits from am cardio on a empty stomach. Like Bino said, doesn't mean you have to sit there for 1 hour running as fast as you can. Try increasing your incline to level 12-14 and keep your speed around 3-4. This will keep you on inclined brisk walk and try to target your HR at around 60-70 %

[SMYL_GR8]

I disagree, IMO you will reap the benefits from am cardio on a empty stomach. Like Bino said, doesn't mean you have to sit there for 1 hour running as fast as you can. Try increasing your incline to level 12-14 and keep your speed around 3-4. This will keep you on inclined brisk walk and try to target your HR at around 60-70 %

empty stomach=catabolism (not a benefit)

[C_Bino]

empty stomach=catabolism (not a benefit)

Take some BCAA's before you go or even one scoop of whey protein if you want to protect your muscles. But for fat loss I can tell you from personal experience empty stomach is THEE best way.

I mean its how most every bodybuilder does it that I have read/seen.

[cfiler]

Take some BCAA's before you go or even one scoop of whey protein if you want to protect your muscles. But for fat loss I can tell you from personal experience empty stomach is THEE best way.

I mean its how most every bodybuilder does it that I have read/seen.

Yup. When I'm cutting, I do loose quite abit more weight when doing am cardio on an empty stomach as opposed to after a meal.

[chest6]

Take some BCAA's before you go or even one scoop of whey protein if you want to protect your muscles. But for fat loss I can tell you from personal experience empty stomach is THEE best way.

I mean its how most every bodybuilder does it that I have read/seen.

agreed 100%. I have tried both ways a billion times and A.M. cardio just works much better..for me at least.

[C_Bino]

Oh ya man I have tried it both ways and for sure empty stomach is better. It sometimes gives me stomach discomfort and I feel a little gassy for some reason which I cant explain but I feel great for doing it afterwards and it sets the whole day off right as well.

I dont lose muscle doing it either so Ima stick to it.

[SMYL_GR8]

Oh ya man I have tried it both ways and for sure empty stomach is better. It sometimes gives me stomach discomfort and I feel a little gassy for some reason which I cant explain but I feel great for doing it afterwards and it sets the whole day off right as well.

I dont lose muscle doing it either so Ima stick to it.

You earlier suggested BCAA's or one scoop of whey. Is this your regimen or were you making a helpful suggestion? In other words, when you say empty above, you mean no nutrients at all. Just clarifying.

[C_Bino]

You earlier suggested BCAA's or one scoop of whey. Is this your regimen or were you making a helpful suggestion? In other words, when you say empty above, you mean no nutrients at all. Just clarifying.

Oh ya sorry bro. I do take about 10g BCAA's before I do my cardio. So ya I see your point, its not technically an empty stomach. But I dont eat any food or anything.

[zaggahamma]

think this one might have to be chalked up to what works for the individual again....i wonder if cardio has been done by bb's for a long time and what was some of the greats take on when/how to do cardio...like what did arnold say about cardio and how about ronnie?

[IBdmfkr]

I've retained almost all of my muscle and I do cardio AM without any aminos or BCAA's period.. follow AM cardio 15mins post cardio with BCAA's and 15mins later with first meal.. It's harder to burn muscle then you might think.. some ppl are a bit paranoid.

[endgreed]

You make a good point. Maybe it doesn't burn as much fat as people tend to worry about, but the other guy made a good point that burning more calories overall is a win-win situation. In order to do that I have to eat something first (hour before) because I won't run effectively without some fuel. Plus, it just ****ing sucks when you're running on an empty stomach early in the morning. At least this is my experience.

[Duke of Earl]

Theories & hypotheses are all well and good, but from my experience ( and the majority of people here ) AM cardio ( on an empty stomach ) is the most efficient way to loose fat.

[dreuxscott1]

if you keep your heart rate down you wont burn muscle...the demand on your body wont be great so energy will not be needed from muscle while doing cardio...i always do 50 minutes of low intensity cardio on the eliptical machine and it works great...