What to eat before hitting the treadmill?

[CMPunkBITW]

So I am wanting to get back running on my treadmill. I went through a phase last year of running for 30-40 mins every evening on it after work, however found myself stopping, mostly because of the time I am doing it. When I finish work I tend to do it straight away before eating a meal i.e around 6pm. Problem with this, I found myself starving by the time I get home therefore have little energy to put in a decent run, or even not bother at all.

The other problem is eating before going on it, which means I then feel full up and again the last thing I want to do is run on a full stomach. So my question is, what is the best time to eat before running, and what is the best thing to eat? I was thinking maybe a chocolate bar of some sort to get my sugar fix up, which won't leave me too full?

I want something that works so I stick at it more, rather than giving up and going back to the normal routine of eating dinner when I get in!

Thoughts please?

[944fan]

If you are only running for 30-40 mins then chocolate is probably not the best. You are taking a big hit of sugar for moderate amount of exercise.

If you can eat some carbs and protein about 30 mins to an hour before. Avoid anything with loads of fat or fibre.

I swim first thing in the morning (6:00 AM) so have little time to get a decent breakfast eaten and digested. I find some My Protein Instant Oats, whey protein and some milk works great. Gives me energy for the workout and after, doesn't feel heavy in the stomach and feeds me protein to help recovery after my workout.

[CMPunkBITW]

How would something like porridge do? Or is this too much of a big meal?

[Prof Prolapse]

Lard.

[Foliage]

Handful of peanuts or other similar nuts, maybe some seeds or berries too.

Your only running for 30-40mins, you will burn 300-400 calories, but you don't need to eat that many, you probably don't need anything as long as you've had lunch, and plan on having an evening meal after, just stay hydrated.

[CMPunkBITW]

When you say 'only' for 40 minutes, is this not deemed very long?

[Muzzer79]

What time do you eat lunch?

You may find that your hunger is a craving, rather than actually needing fuel for your workout.

If it is a craving simply battle through it rather than taking in additional food, offsetting the good work you're doing on the 'mill?

I run after work, but eat breakfast at 0630 and lunch at 2pm with fruit in between to stave off hunger pangs.

[CMPunkBITW]

Lunch is at 13.00 everyday, and I get home for 18.00 with nothing in between that.

If I was to eat after the treadmill, would you still advise a cooked meal after or just something small. Eating a big meal will feel as if I am offsetting all of my work I've just done on the treadmill.

Also - do you eat after your run, if so, as above really is it a big meal?

[okgo]

CMPunkBITW said:

When you say 'only' for 40 minutes, is this not deemed very long?

No.

Your body has reserves for fairly hard exercise up to around 80-90 mins, so you don't need to eat anything. Have an espresso.

[Foliage]

CMPunkBITW said:

When you say 'only' for 40 minutes, is this not deemed very long?

Nope not long, I run an hour on a sunday and do 10km+ and the hardest part of it is its very very boring.

40mins you probably cover 3-4miles (5-7km)

A marathon take about 3-4hours.

Back to eating, you'll be fine. Just make sure you eat and drink properly through out the day, maybe have an afternoon snack around 3-4pm.

I generally eat a light evening meal.

I usually run in the morning, have half a litre+ of water and porridge an hour or so before, but that's the same as I have everyday, my usual breakfast.

Edited by Foliage on Wednesday 25th February 16:09

Edited by Foliage on Wednesday 25th February 16:11

[SHutchinson]

What is your motivation for running?

[944fan]

I think the OP's concern about eating is more to do with the feeling of being hungry rather than bonking through lack of fuel.

You don't need to fuel up for 40 mins running so find something that makes you feel full but not bloated. The liquid meal I recommended early I think works really well.

[SpydieNut]

agree - you shouldn't need anything extra for a 30-40 min run, but on the treadmill i'd probably have a small water bottle and sip that a few times, as you do sweat more indoors.

today i did a 2 hr session on the treadmill at 9am and had eaten a normal breakfast of 1/2 cup porridge with raisins at 7 - i felt fine, but did get through about 1L water overall.

[Muzzer79]

CMPunkBITW said:

Lunch is at 13.00 everyday, and I get home for 18.00 with nothing in between that.

If I was to eat after the treadmill, would you still advise a cooked meal after or just something small. Eating a big meal will feel as if I am offsetting all of my work I've just done on the treadmill.

Also - do you eat after your run, if so, as above really is it a big meal?

Just eat normally. Doesn't have to be a 'big' meal or a 'small' meal.

Eat the same portion sizes as normal at (roughly) the same time each day - breakfast, lunch, dinner.

I eat after running. I am hungry, but I don't overeat.
I have a similar meal to that which I would have on a non-running day.

As others have said; you don't need to fuel for a 40 minute run, so anything you take in will be to appease a hunger craving rather than a need for fuel.

Try knocking your lunch back by 40 mins. Or your breakfast and lunch back by 20 mins each.
That will compensate for your being hungry before running

[CMPunkBITW]

SHutchinson said:

What is your motivation for running?

Just to keep fit really. I just get in a rut and find myself coming home from work hungry, eating my dinner then doing nothing all night apart from looking in the cupboards and eating! This is where I lose motivation I guess, as it becomes more of a chore than it does for enjoyment.

[CMPunkBITW]

Foliage said:

CMPunkBITW said:

When you say 'only' for 40 minutes, is this not deemed very long?

Nope not long, I run an hour on a sunday and do 10km+ and the hardest part of it is its very very boring.

40mins you probably cover 3-4miles (5-7km)

A marathon take about 3-4hours.

Back to eating, you'll be fine. Just make sure you eat and drink properly through out the day, maybe have an afternoon snack around 3-4pm.

I generally eat a light evening meal.

I usually run in the morning, have half a litre+ of water and porridge an hour or so before, but that's the same as I have everyday, my usual breakfast.

Edited by Foliage on Wednesday 25th February 16:09

Edited by Foliage on Wednesday 25th February 16:11

Well today for example, I didn't have breakfast, I had a corned beef roll for lunch and that was it until I get home at 18.00 (ish, give or take 10 mins).

[dave123456]

okgo said:

CMPunkBITW said:

When you say 'only' for 40 minutes, is this not deemed very long?

No.

Your body has reserves for fairly hard exercise up to around 80-90 mins, so you don't need to eat anything. Have an espresso.

this depends on what is being trained, lose weight and you have a point, aerobic exercise and I would say bks. I can't do much more than 20 mins in the morning, if that, without getting the shakes.

[okgo]

I do an hours cycle to work most mornings on no breakfast. What you think and what you actually are very different things regarding hunger.

Anyway, all null and void as he is talking about evening when he will have plenty of reserves.

[Muzzer79]

CMPunkBITW said:

Well today for example, I didn't have breakfast, I had a corned beef roll for lunch and that was it until I get home at 18.00 (ish, give or take 10 mins).

So between your evening meal yesterday and your hypothetical evening run, you've eaten the sum total of 1 corned beef roll

Stone me, no wonder you're hungry.......

Try this simple equation:

Eat sensible breakfast and sensible lunch = not hungry before treadmill run

[okgo]

CMPunkBITW said:

Well today for example, I didn't have breakfast, I had a corned beef roll for lunch and that was it until I get home at 18.00 (ish, give or take 10 mins).

Well sort your abysmal diet out and you'll be fine.