What's a better time to lift weights and workout?

Question

Is it better to come home from work and eat a decent sized dinner and relax for a half hour to an hour then go to the gym to lift, do cardio, sauna, and swim or would I burn more calories if I went to the gym straight after work then came home and ate dinner?

I always believed if I ate first, I could go to the gym and burn off those calories and come home and relax. But some ppl are telling me that it is better to workout first because when you come home to eat, your metabolism is very high and your body burns the calories quicker than if you ate before your worked out. But then I'm thinking, I would eat when I got home and then sit down and relax and those calories aren't being burned but just sitting there.

So which is better for burning calories in general...please give me your insight. Thanks.

Answer 1

There are conflicting views on this, but my understanding is that the best time to do cardio is first thing in the morning and weightlifting in the early afternoon. Chances are that might not fit your schedule, so to answer your specific question, before dinner is the better time for various reasons. Eating after a meal will mean you are indeed burning up calories you just ate, but that's not the goal. Eating before the meal will mean you're burning off calories from stored reserves in your body (during cardio anyway). Also, excercise does increase your metabolism, meaning you're burning more calories no matter what you're doing for a period of time, even just sitting around after you eat. Besides upset stomach, it's widely considered to be best to do cardio before eating if your goal is burning calories.
When it comes to weight lifting, it doesn't really matter as much. You aren't going to burn a lot of calories with weightlifting, but it will also help by increasing metabolism and more muscle mass means more healthy body weight, thereby your body burns more calories on its own day to day. The ideal time to do weight lifting is whenever you have the most energy, and chances are that's before you've sat down to relax at dinner.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

THE REAL PRobelm is that you are doing all this after work!!! If it was somehow possible for you to begin doing this early in the day everyday. Because it's true that you shuld exercise first and eat later but if you watch the show The Biggest Losser you will realize they don't eat anyting except drink water early in the morning before start exercising and eat every 2-3 hours for the rest of the day untill 6:30 The latest so that the food doesn't stay in your stomach over night and begin processing the food when it's spoiled and unhealthy anymore. It's alot difficult to stay in shape when you have a job to go to everyday.

Answer 4

Your metobolism stays up for about 4 hours after an hour workout (depending on intensity) so you are burning fat and calories that entire time - even if you aren't moving. You should have a small snack high in protein about an hour before your workout and also something afterwards to replenish the body. Really it's whatever works best for your schedule. Personally I workout before I eat.

Answer 5

I've read in many books and magazines it really doesn't matter when you go to the gym. It does matter when you eat and of course what. The main factor is what is your goal? If you want to gain muscle then eat before and after. Lose wait its best to work out on a empty stomach some people say. I think personaly this plays a veru small role I think its more imporant on just going and maintaining a good diet. Do what works for you because in the long run thats what matters if it keeps you motivated and maintained.

Answer 6

Boost your metabolism then eat. Some people eat grapefruit 10 minutes before eating a meal because grapefruit boosts your metabolism. Once boosted, it takes your metabolism time to slow back down. In the evening, your body is slowing down anyway. Eating before workout is putting food in a slow time. Eating after working out is putting food in a sped up metabolism. Think about the laws of physics and figure that one out. Which is better? I figured it was work out then eat.

Answer 7

The best time to do your workouts is 10AM OR 2PM!!!!!