MIN calories to eat to get metabolism going in AM?

Posts: 11
6/24/12 3:04 P

Thanks everyone! SUPER helpful to read the sparkpeople article posted by UNIDENT. That cleared up a lot for me!

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6/20/12 3:13 P

I don't eat prior to working out...like others have said, it makes me nauseated if I'm doing high energy stuff and I feel food sloshing around in my belly. I DO drink 8-12 ounces of water prior to working out, though.

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Posts: 33,304
6/20/12 3:08 P

Actually, your metabolism never stops and never needs starting.

The word "metabolism" simply means "how many calories are you burning right now". You are always burning calories. Breathing burns calories.

You can't "kick start your metabolism" by feeding yourself.

If you have a pattern over weeks of not eating frequently or not eating enough, your body will start to use some survival strategies that lower metabolism - what you're burning at any one instant. But it doesn't just stop overnight and need restarting.

Read the article linked. The point of eating first in the morning is more about blood sugar than metabolism.

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6/20/12 2:23 P

maybe one of the coaches or somebody better with nutrition can verify this, but i've heard that putting lemon in water and drinking it first thing in the morning is enough to start your metabolism. do you have to eat, or is something this small enough? i'm definitely in the camp that doesn't like to eat right when i wake up - sometimes it's hours before i'm ready for a meal.

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6/20/12 10:03 A

I get up a 5am a few days a week to run a couple miles. I've tried eating before, but it kinda upsets me on my run and doesn't make me any less hungry later, so I just drink water before hand and then eat breakfast after I shower, before I head off to work for the day.

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6/19/12 4:33 P

I agree that a banana is usually good for me, but like you, i get up at 5am and am not ready to eat anything yet! as long as you find you're making it through your workouts fine, then i would say you're ok if you do not eat something before. you could also try a piece of toast with PB or a 1/2 cup of cottage cheese.

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6/19/12 3:21 P

Here is a sparkpeople article on this:

www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_art
icles.asp?id=1074

Posts: 51,639
6/19/12 10:40 A

It's good to eat something if you can, but if it makes you feel sick or you just don't want to, it's not going to negatively affect your weight loss progress. I find that eating something small like a banana is enough food to give me a little energy boost for an early morning workout.

Hope that helps,

Coach Jen

Posts: 11
6/19/12 9:53 A

Anyone know what the minimal amount you need to eat in the morning (before working out) to get your metabolism going? I can't eat much before working out but don't want to wait until after I workout or it will be upwards of an hour or more. (I DO eat a good recovery breakfast after) Thanks!

Pounds lost: 34.0

0 18.25 36.5 54.75

73