Lifting weights on a full stomach is a stupid mistake.
You see, the food you eat now will be available for metabolism after hours of digestion, absorption, assimilation.
Say 6 hours.
The energy you now have comes from the food you ate yesterday, the fats you have been storing and the free glucose flowing in your blood.
You don’t need to eat before going to the gym. It is actually dangerous and counterproductive.
Why?
- Diverted Blood Flow
When you eat, blood rushes to your digestive system.
When you lift, blood is needed in your muscles.
If you do both at the same time, you compromise both digestion and performance.
You’ll lose both, like a stupid politician who allocates funds to so many projects only to finish none.
- Sluggishness & Weakness
A full stomach makes you feel heavy, slow, and less explosive.
Lifting demands focus, power, and speed—none of which are at their peak when your body is busy digesting food.
- Nausea & Vomiting
Squat or deadlift with a stomach full of ugali and meat, and you might see your meal again—on the gym floor.
You’ll be forced by Jay Fitness Gym staff to clean your vomit.
Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Heavy lifts compress your core, and if your gut is full, discomfort is guaranteed.
Even your hydration should be in sips not gulping three glasses at once.
- Reduced Hormonal Response
Training in a fasted or semi-fasted state increases growth hormone and testosterone.
A belly full of food blunts this natural hormonal boost, reducing the benefits of your workout.
- Suboptimal Fat Burning
If you train early, working out on an empty stomach (or just black coffee and salted water) enhances fat oxidation.
But if you eat before lifting, your body prioritizes burning that food instead of stored fat.
The Ideal Approach
Train at least 6 hours after a meal to avoid digestive conflicts.
If you need a pre-workout boost, take black coffee, salt water, or a small amount of bone soup—not carbs.
These will give you enough electrolytes and water for your nervous and muscular systems to function optimally and caffeine to keep you from sensing fatigue.
Eat your biggest meal after lifting, when your body is primed to absorb nutrients for recovery.
You also feel the sweetness of breaking the fast.
