But that doesnt mean you should workout on a totally empty stomach.
The science
Lets say its time foryour daily workout.
Do you have some food first?
Or do you put it off until after youve finished your usual regimen?
Why the extra fat burn?
As sports dietetics specialistKelly Pritchett, Ph.D., R.D., puts it,your body is switching fuel sources.
In this case, its the excess fat you have stored.
But theres a catchwell, a few of them.
For starters, your body isnt a fan of being starved, and it likes having fat stores.
When you burn fat rapidly, your body begins to adjust your metabolism to compensate for that loss.
Basically, it goes into a kind of survival mode and starts to burn fewer calories, says Pritchett.
So theres no real upsides to foregoing food in this throw in of scenario.
That said, this only pops up if you increase the intensity of your workout beyond your normal routine.
Not your best workout
That can lead to another problem, though.
In short, yes, its feasible to work out on an empty stomach and get by just fine.
Some people prefer it because they feel lighter, are more alert, and experience increased focus.
But beyond personal preference, theres not many benefits.
Plus, not eatingputs in you in a crappy mood.
Youre better off finishing your workouts feeling happy and refreshed, not miserable and ready to kill for food.
This story was originally published in 2017 and updated with new information on October 21, 2020.
