Pre-workout chocolate: Good or bad idea?

I’ve been hitting the gym six days a week for about an hour at a time. A couple of weeks back, I pushed myself way too hard and ended up throwing up twice in a single week—once after the session because I just wasn't eating enough; I don't get hungry easily, and since I have this habit of chewing my food about a hundred times before swallowing, I'm usually exhausted halfway through a meal anyway. The other time was right in the middle of my workout. However, a few days ago, I caught an ad for a new King Size Snickers on my way out, so I grabbed one and ate it on my walk to the gym. To my surprise, I crushed the entire workout without feeling nauseous or even slightly unwell. Yesterday, I tried drinking a small carton of Dukakis before training, and again, I breezed through it like it was nothing—honestly, I felt like I could have gone out for another run immediately after. Today, though, I skipped the chocolatey stuff entirely and paid the price; I struggled through the whole thing and had to cut some exercises short. I've read somewhere that consuming chocolate right before exercise is supposed to be a bad idea.

But honestly, if it works, what am I supposed to do?😕

So far, I haven't dealt with any cramps, even though I'm pushing myself pretty hard.

Hey, if that's what works for you, go for it.

Personally, I get nauseous if I even think about eating anything before a workout; I'm much better off training on an empty stomach.
The thing is, if you fuel up right before hitting the gym, your body isn't going to tap into those fat stores—it's just going to burn through whatever food you just put in your system.

Jonathan Miller7 said:If that’s what works for you, go for it.

Personally, the mere thought of eating anything before a workout makes me want to gag; I find training on an empty stomach much more manageable.
The logic is simple: if you fuel up beforehand, your body is just going to burn off those calories from your snack rather than tapping into your fat stores.

Look, that Dukakis bar is only about 86 calories, which is basically nothing, especially since my workouts are brutal—I end up sweating like crazy, with my hair soaked as if I’d just stepped out of a heavy rainstorm.

That said, I can't handle training on an empty stomach myself. I tried going for a run first thing in the morning without eating once, and it was so miserable I honestly thought I was going to throw up. Since then, I've made sure to grab a quick bite beforehand, and it makes getting through my routine a whole lot smoother.

Hey there, go for it. Six times a week sounds like a lot to me, unless you're already training like a Navy SEAL. 😁

I hit the gym six days a week myself, but I’m feeling stronger than ever. 😁

placidmarlin3 said:Anyway, I just can't do anything on an empty stomach. I tried going for a run first thing in the morning once without eating anything, and honestly, I felt so sick I thought I was going to throw up right there on the sidewalk. Since then, I always make sure to grab a snack beforehand, and my workout goes perfectly fine.

Then just keep doing whatever works best for your stomach, seriously.😁

It’s only 86 calories, and sure, it might take a bit to digest and technically slow down fat loss for a tiny window, but who cares? It doesn't matter. It's way better than feeling like you're going to vomit mid-run. Those few extra calories and the negligible amount of fat you "might" not lose aren't worth the misery.

Fine, then we're all set🙂

Honestly, doing it six times a week doesn't seem excessive to me. It’s actually a great way to blow off some steam, which generally makes me a lot less argumentative😁.

Sometimes food, especially chocolate, hits your head way harder than your body. It’s common knowledge—when I stick to a strict diet and cut out carbs, my focus tanks and I get super irritable, plus my sleep goes to hell. That might be why you're feeling nauseous during your workouts. If a candy bar or a Dukakis helps you power through a better session, it's probably worth the calories. You can easily make up that difference with a higher-quality workout, so honestly, it might even be a net positive.

When I first started diving into all those health and nutrition blogs, the standard advice was always the same: cut out simple carbs immediately. But honestly, looking at my own build—being an ectomorph—I realized I don’t exactly struggle with weight gain from quick carbs. In fact, they actually work great for me in certain windows, like first thing in the morning... So, if they suit your body and your energy levels, there's really no reason to skip them.

I usually grab a banana before I hit the gym, just to help with the climb... 😁

I usually grab some glucose right before my workout, and it honestly feels like I've got jet fuel in the tank. Being an ecto-mesomorph makes a huge difference.

Paul Vaughn71 said:I also grab some bananas before training just to give myself an extra boost during the climb. 😁

Oof, bananas feel way too heavy for me.

I’ve actually spent quite a bit of time experimenting and testing different foods to see how my body reacts, and honestly, what I’ve landed on seems to sit best with me. I’m totally with you on the principle, though—it's much better to spend a little more on some Dukakis or whatever high-quality fuel you need for a solid workout, rather than settling for cheap, empty calories and trying to cheat your way through half the session.🤣

In my estimation, training six times a week isn't excessive, provided that the woman in question is rotating through various types of exercise rather than engaging in grueling heavy weightlifting sessions six days on end.
For ten years, I dedicated about six to seven hours weekly to a regimen consisting of step aerobics, kickboxing, body toning, and Callanetics...
However, over the last three years, I have transitioned exclusively to the gym because I felt a sudden urge for change; currently, that amounts to four sessions a week—two focusing on the lower body and two on the upper body—while I forgo traditional cardio in favor of vigorous daily hikes with my dog through the woods and up steep trails.
I believe this is quite sufficient for someone my age (38), and frankly, one ought to respect their own physical limits, pausing occasionally to consider whether a specific exercise volume remains beneficial or has crossed the line into being detrimental.
Regarding nutrition, I maintain that eating regular, high-quality meals is paramount—and I suspect everyone here understands what constitutes an appropriate diet for an active individual—but one should absolutely never work out while hungry.
It is always wise to assemble a small pre-workout snack containing a decent balance of protein and carbohydrates to sustain you through the session without making your stomach feel overly heavy.
If I were in your shoes, instead of reaching for that Dukakis, I would much rather opt for a bottle of whole milk yogurt or kefir—unless, of course, you are dieting, in which case low-fat would be the choice—simply because the protein-to-carb ratio is superior; alternatively, perhaps a protein shake and a banana, or some cottage cheese and fruit. Something along those lines.
Of course, this assumes you have eaten a proper lunch that day, as such a light snack is certainly no substitute for a full meal.

Ethan Garcia8 said:I usually knock back some glucose right before my workout, and honestly, I feel like I can just take flight during my sets. Being an ecto-mesomorph definitely helps.

As for me, if I were to consume nothing but pure glucose, I’d likely crash into such a brutal case of reactive hypoglycemia after about an hour that the paramedics would be hauling me out of the gym on a stretcher; I find I absolutely have to eat a more balanced, complex meal to stay upright.

amberfox4 said:I don't think working out six times a week is excessive, provided the woman isn't doing heavy weightlifting every single session and is instead mixing up her training styles.
For about ten years, I was hitting the gym for six or seven hours a week, but my routine was a rotating door of step aerobics, kickboxing, body toning, and Callanetics...
Over the last three years, I’ve pivoted exclusively to the weight room because I felt the itch for a change, though I've dialed it back to four times a week—splitting it into two lower body and two upper body days. As for cardio, I skip the treadmill entirely in favor of long, steep hikes through the woods with my dog every day.
At thirty-eight, this feels like the sweet spot; you really have to respect your body's limits and periodically evaluate whether your fitness volume is actually serving you or just becoming counterproductive.
Regarding nutrition, eating consistently and high-quality meals is paramount (and we all know what that looks like for someone with an active lifestyle)—you should never be training on an empty stomach.
It’s always better to prep a pre-workout snack rich in proteins and carbs to fuel the session without making your stomach feel like a lead weight.
If I were in your shoes, rather than grabbing that gold coin, I’d opt for a bottle of whole milk yogurt or kefir—unless you're cutting, then go low-fat—since the protein-to-carb ratio is much more functional. Or maybe a protein shake and a banana, or some cottage cheese and fruit. Something like that.
Of course, that assumes you’ve had a decent lunch, because a little snack isn't meant to be a meal replacement.

I mentioned earlier that bananas make me feel a bit nauseous, and I could really use a sugar boost right now... I’ve experimented with various fruits and even yogurt (though yogurt tends to send me running to the restroom, which is a disaster mid-workout😁), so that works for me.

As for my training schedule, I'm planning to add three hours of swimming to the mix starting next week.
I absolutely love being in the pool, whereas I can't stand running; I'll take a swim over a jog any day of the week.
So, the plan is one hour of lifting followed by three hours of swimming. And no, I'm not trying to drop massive amounts of weight. I suspect I might be a bit too "substantial" compared to those runway models who are 5'10" and only 125 pounds😁, but I’m happy with how I look. My history is a bit of a mishmash—tennis, swimming, volleyball, then eventually moving into mixed aerobics.
Honestly, if I didn't stay active, I think I'd just wither away!