This one is from the August 2011 issue of Shape magazine. Don’t exercise on an empty stomach in hopes of tapping into your fat stores. In a recent study, researchers at the University of Padua in Italy found that subjects who worked out after eating a healthy breakfast boosted their metabolism more than a group of fasting exercisers did. Even more surprising, those who fueled up first were still using more energy-especially from fat stores-a full 24 hours later, “People who eat before exercising perform better,” says Wayne Andersen, M.D., author of Dr. A’’s Habits of Health. In short, Andersen says that if you eat about 30 minutes pre-session, you’ll  be able to push yourself harder and your muscles will keep burning calories longer. Make sure to get a good mix of protein, carbs, and electrolytes. He recommends whole-grain cereal with lowfat milk, juice, and a banana (I personally don’t eat any of these things. I might go for lowfat greek yogurt with berries and a teaspoon of raw honey or a high protein shake or a veggie smoothie with protein powder.)

I found this to be interesting because I’ve heard the tapping into your fat stores thing a lot. I’ve felt guilty for years for not being able to exercise on an empty stomach. I’ve also noticed that I can do my best during a workout by eating 30 minutes prior to the session!