Morning training/weight loss question.
 

I've read many a time that if you want to bun fat and kick start your metabolism, train in teh morning without having eaten. It;s a blood suger thing, right?
My question, does drinking fruit juice before training alter your blood suger, and negate the process?

I'm no expert, but here are a couple links with some info. I would say that a small snack/meal helps increase your blood sugar level, and gives you energy to sustain your workout...since if it's in the morning, you probably haven't eaten for 6 to 10 hours depending when you eat/go to bed, etc. From what I know, fruit juice has a higher glycemic index than say a piece of fruit itself, and would spike your blood sugar level higher, temporarily. But it may give you energy to sustain a longer workout, or training at a higher intensity level than if you haven't eaten at all.

http://www.apexfitness.com/html/nutr...rticles/toeat/

http://www.health24.com/dietnfood/We...1-83,30762.asp

I'll be anxious as well to see what others have to say.

If you're going to be on the road for a few hours, large brekky of complex carbs is a must.

Sorry, should have explained, this is just for a 10 mile spin on a trainer.

10 miles = 16km = 1/2 hour effort.

You probably don't need to eat at all beforehand. Maybe a banana or something so you're not completely depleted.

It's a myth. If you want to burn fat, eat less and ride more.

The point of not eating before morning exercise is because you have less carbs available to use as energy so you burn more fat instead. Take a scoop of whey, which is carb(sugar) free, a half our before the workout so you have something in your stomach.

Yes, that's the point. But the body doesn't work that way. If you have fewer carbs on board, the body slows down to prevent running out its precious fule. Fat metabolism stays the same, or goes down.

That makes no sense. The body has at least 1500 calories from carbs in reserve. If you don't eat before a quick workout to cut down on calories, fine. But don't think that you are burning more fat because you didn't eat.

+1

aka:

hitting the wall
bonking
man with the hammer

Exercising with low blood sugar isn't going to kick start your metabolism. It's just going to make you feel tired.

I find that a tiny bit of carb - say, 70 calories - helps kick start my metabolism.

I can pull the studies if you need to read the science, but you can preferentially burn fat in the morning provided it's low intensity non-panting cardio, and it's a half hour or less.

If you're getting on the bike, ya gotta eat or you're burning muscle and not fat.