Workout Before Breakfast Leads to Significantly Improved Health

We’ve been taught that breakfast – the first meal of the day typically consisting of bacon, waffles, sugary syrups, and a tiny piece of fruit – is the healthiest meal of the day. We’re not really arguing with this point, but you need to watch what you’re putting into your stomach first thing in the morning.

However, if your goal is to drop weight, then perhaps skip the sugary mess and opt for something healthier. Oh, and only eat after you’ve put in at least 30 minutes of exercise.

Exercise then breakfast?

As it turns out, eating a hearty breakfast after exercise can help you burn more fat and manage blood sugar.  

A 6-week study was done to evaluate the amount of weight loss for overweight and obese men in England. In the end, the researchers found that those who exercised before eating were able to burn twice as much fat than their breakfast-first counterparts.

The Research

The participants ate their final meal of the day before 8 PM and getting a good amount of shut-eye. They were split into two different groups – one who ate breakfast before exercise and one who did it after. A control group was also formed to compare the results with those who made no lifestyle alterations.

Now, over the course of 6 weeks, the researchers didn’t find any significant drop in weight in any of the groups, but they found something more shocking: refraining from eating breakfast until after you’re worked out can help control blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease.

This new information paired with what we already know about intense morning exercise has some pretty astounding long-term ramifications. Essentially, because blood sugar is controlled, our bodies are better able to use insulin to draw energy from glucose, providing us with more power throughout the day.

No weight loss?

Not exactlu.

You see, with more energy, you’re able to remain physically active for longer before needing to munch on something sugary. So it’s pretty safe to say that weight loss, though not the main finding of this study, is a possible outcome of changing your morning ritual.

However, there are ways to be healthy without dropping weight. A skinnier person may have a wide range of different health risks whereas a person with a wider waist could possibly have a stronger heart, clearer mind, and fewer long-term health complications.