I was talking to a client today and she mentioned that she sometimes gets dizzy during her 11:00 am work out. Immediately I asked her what she eats in the morning and she replied “nothing.” Well, no wonder she felt like she was going to pass out!
It is a common misconception that you will burn more fat if you work out on an empty stomach, however that isn’t really true. Of course you don’t want to eat a heavy meal right before you work out because your body will be attempting to digest the food and all of your blood flow will be going to your stomach instead of your hard working muscles. On the other hand, working out without any food at all is like trying to drive a car without gas – you aren’t going to get very far!
For an 11:00 am workout, I would suggest an early breakfast of a mix of carbohydrates and protein like 1 egg and lowfat cheese on a whole grain english muffin or a protein smoothie mixed with fresh fruit. If you eat breakfast really early you may want a small snack about an hour before your workout, like an apple with 1 tbsp peanut butter or a yogurt with fresh fruit. This way your body will have the fuel it needs to power up your workout and burn the most fat possible without undoing all of your hard work in the gym.