Morning Cardio

Q. Some fat loss programs suggest doing cardio in the morning before breakfast. Does working out on an empty stomach burn more fat?

A. I think this question was answered brilliantly by Alan Aragon, nutritionist and Mens Health expert.

"It's not the fat burned during exercise that matters, it's the fat burned between your exercise sessions that really counts. Worrying about how much fat you burn during exercise makes as much sense as wondering how much muscle you're building while lifting. (You actually don't build muscle during training; you break it down to trigger growth.) Exercise is the catalyst for change, not the change itself. During a high-intensity workout, your body burns carbohydrate and creatine instead of fat. But-and this is a great "but"-it stimulates your metabolism, which in turn attacks your fat stores between workouts. So you go ahead and eat beforehand. You'll need the fuel to make it a worthwhile workout."


Rick Mayo