Exercise After Dinner: Is it Safe? Expert Opinion
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The timing of your meals in relation to your workout session has long been a topic of much consideration. Different people like to exercise at different times of the day. Some prefer to work out early in the morning, while others prefer a late-night workout after dinner when all their chores are done.
The question often arises, “Can we exercise immediately after dinner?”. In this discussion, we’ll attempt to answer this question so that you can time your exercises much better.
Meals and Exercise
Once you’ve had a meal, the food first enters your stomach and then is slowly passed bit by bit into your small intestine. The key point here is to avoid any strenuous activity when the food has just entered the stomach. Although that is not exactly harmful, it may potentially cause unwanted side effects or slow your workout down. It isn’t entirely necessary to wait for all the food to go into the small intestine, which may take 2 to 4 hours. Waiting for the food to settle into the stomach is enough. Most people can safely work out 30 minutes after a snack, or 1-2 hours after a moderately-sized meal.
Side Effects of Eating and Exercising
When you work out too soon after a meal, you put yourself at risk of some potential side effects. Not everyone may have these effects and it also depends on the type of meal and volume that you consume, and the nature of the exercise.
Immediate exercise after dinner may lead to digestive issues like:
- Bloating
- Stomach cramps
- Nausea
- Acid Reflux
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
These side effects are more common in high-intensity activities like running, swimming, cycling or heavy weight-lifting. Low-intensity workouts like yoga and walking soon after a meal may not lead to these effects.
When planning to work out after dinner, follow the short guide given below:
- After moderately sized meals: Wait 1-2 hours to work out.
- After snacks: Wait 30 minutes to work out.
Type and Size of Meal
What you’re eating and its volume also have a say in how soon you can start working out. The larger the meal, the longer it will take to digest and hence, you must wait for a longer period before exercising.
Foods rich in protein and fibre take longer to digest. So if you just had a lot of protein or fibre, exercising too soon after a meal may cause side effects. We recommend avoiding too large meals containing protein, fats and fibre before workouts. Move those foods to other meal times, like lunch if you’re planning to work out after dinner.
How Long Should You Wait?
To summarise, working out immediately after meals is not recommended for moderate to high-intensity workouts. It isn’t advisable to skip your meals altogether as well since your body needs the energy for effective exercise. For non-strenuous activities like walking, you may wait for a minimal time after eating. For running, swimming, cycling, and weight-lifting, it’s best to wait 30 minutes after a snack and 1-2 hours after a moderately-sized meal.
For more expert advice related to meals and exercise, download the FITPASS app and find out what to eat after your gym workout. You also get comprehensive fitness guidance with feature-rich tools like workout assistants, nutritionists, a calorie counter, HD instructional videos and expert opinions on post-workout nutrition that your body needs.
It’s safe to exercise after dinner, as long as you wait for 30 minutes after a small meal or 1-2 hours after a moderately-sized meal. Avoid protein and fat-heavy meals before exercise.
Exercising immediately after dinner can lead to potential side effects like bloating, stomach cramps, acid reflux, nausea or vomiting in some people.
There is no hard and fast rule as to the timing of your workout before or after dinner. Exercise requires energy, so it may benefit you to have a small snack before your workout. Others may prefer exercising on an empty stomach and then having a wholesome dinner. Either way, it’s important to ensure that you do not exercise immediately after a meal, but wait for 30 minutes to an hour.
Exercising after dinner is fine, as long as you wait for 1-2 hours for the food to settle in your stomach and move into the small intestine. This waiting period will help avoid abdominal discomfort and lead to more efficient workouts.
After dinner, wait at least 1-2 hours before exercising. This allows your body to digest the food, preventing discomfort and optimising energy levels for your workout.
Wait 1-2 hours after eating a meal before working out. This allows for digestion and helps prevent discomfort. For small snacks, 30 minutes to an hour may be sufficient.
After eating, wait 1-2 hours before exercising to allow for digestion and avoid discomfort. For small snacks, 30 minutes to an hour is usually sufficient.
You can workout 1-2 hours after dinner. This waiting period allows for digestion, reducing the risk of discomfort and ensuring you have sufficient energy for your workout.
Wait 1-2 hours after dinner to workout. This gives your body time to digest the food, preventing discomfort and optimising your energy levels for exercise.
You should wait 1-2 hours after eating a meal to exercise. For small snacks, 30 minutes to an hour is typically enough to avoid discomfort and maximise performance.
You can workout 1-2 hours after eating a meal. This allows for digestion and helps prevent discomfort. For snacks, 30 minutes to an hour is sufficient.
You can exercise 1-2 hours after eating a meal to allow for proper digestion. For smaller snacks, a wait of 30 minutes to an hour is recommended.
You should wait 1-2 hours after eating a meal before working out to ensure proper digestion and avoid discomfort. For small snacks, 30 minutes to an hour is usually enough.
You should exercise 1-2 hours after eating a meal. This time allows for digestion, reducing discomfort during your workout. For snacks, a 30-minute to 1-hour wait is typically sufficient.
You should wait 1-2 hours after eating a meal before exercising to allow for digestion. For smaller snacks, 30 minutes to an hour is generally adequate.
You should workout 1-2 hours after eating a meal to allow for digestion. For smaller snacks, 30 minutes to an hour is typically sufficient to avoid discomfort.
You can exercise 1-2 hours after eating a meal to ensure proper digestion and avoid discomfort. For small snacks, wait 30 minutes to an hour before exercising.
Wait 1-2 hours to workout after eating a meal to allow for proper digestion and avoid discomfort. For small snacks, 30 minutes to an hour is usually sufficient.
You should wait 1-2 hours after eating a meal to workout to ensure proper digestion and avoid discomfort. For small snacks, a 30-minute to 1-hour wait is adequate.
You should wait 1-2 hours after eating a meal to exercise. This allows for digestion, preventing discomfort. For small snacks, 30 minutes to an hour is usually enough.
Wait 1-2 hours to workout after eating a meal. This time allows for proper digestion and helps prevent discomfort. For snacks, 30 minutes to an hour is typically sufficient.
Wait 1-2 hours after eating a meal to workout. This ensures proper digestion and helps avoid discomfort. For small snacks, 30 minutes to an hour is usually enough.
Wait 1-2 hours after eating a meal to exercise. This allows for digestion and helps avoid discomfort during your workout. For small snacks, 30 minutes to an hour is sufficient.
Wait 1-2 hours to exercise after eating a meal. This time allows for digestion and helps prevent discomfort. For snacks, a 30-minute to 1-hour wait is generally adequate.
You should wait 1-2 hours to workout after eating a meal. This allows for digestion and helps avoid discomfort. For small snacks, 30 minutes to an hour is usually enough.
Wait 1-2 hours after eating a meal to exercise to allow for proper digestion. For small snacks, 30 minutes to an hour is typically sufficient to avoid discomfort.
You should wait 1-2 hours after eating a meal to work out to ensure proper digestion and avoid discomfort. For small snacks, 30 minutes to an hour is usually adequate.
Wait 1-2 hours after eating a meal to workout to allow for proper digestion. For smaller snacks, a 30-minute to 1-hour wait is typically sufficient.
Wait 1-2 hours after eating a meal to exercise. This time allows for digestion and helps avoid discomfort. For smaller snacks, 30 minutes to an hour is generally enough.
You should wait 1-2 hours to workout after eating a meal. This allows for proper digestion and helps avoid discomfort. For small snacks, 30 minutes to an hour is usually enough.
You should workout 1-2 hours after eating a meal to allow for digestion and avoid discomfort. For smaller snacks, 30 minutes to an hour is typically sufficient.
Wait 1-2 hours before working out after eating a meal to allow for proper digestion and avoid discomfort. For small snacks, 30 minutes to an hour is typically sufficient.
You can exercise 1-2 hours after eating a meal to allow for proper digestion. For smaller snacks, a 30-minute to 1-hour wait is usually enough to prevent discomfort.
After dinner, opt for low-intensity exercises like walking or gentle yoga to aid digestion without causing discomfort. Avoid high-intensity workouts immediately after eating.
After dinner, you can do low-intensity exercises such as a brisk walk, gentle yoga, or stretching. These activities promote digestion and prevent discomfort.
Working out immediately after eating can cause discomfort, nausea, and indigestion. It's best to wait 1-2 hours after a meal before engaging in intense physical activity.
Exercising right after eating can lead to indigestion, nausea, and stomach cramps. It's recommended to wait 1-2 hours after a meal for better performance and comfort.
Exercising immediately after eating can cause digestive discomfort, nausea, and cramps. Wait 1-2 hours after a meal to avoid these issues and optimise your workout.
You can exercise 1-2 hours after dinner. This waiting period allows for proper digestion, preventing discomfort and optimising your energy levels for exercise.
You can workout 1-2 hours after eating a meal. This waiting period allows for digestion and helps prevent discomfort during your exercise routine.
Exercise 1-2 hours after dinner to allow for proper digestion. This helps prevent discomfort and ensures you have sufficient energy for your workout.
Wait 1-2 hours after eating a meal before exercising to allow for digestion. For smaller snacks, 30 minutes to an hour is usually enough to avoid discomfort.
Workout 1-2 hours after eating a meal. This allows for digestion and helps avoid discomfort. For small snacks, 30 minutes to an hour is typically sufficient.
Exercising right after eating can cause indigestion, nausea, and cramps due to blood flow being directed towards digestion. Wait 1-2 hours after a meal for better comfort.
