A dietitian has suggested that LeBron James’ workout routine might not be the best way to go after the NBA veteran revealed he trains on an empty stomach.
The Los Angeles Lakers forward shared his daily training routine on his ‘Mind the Game’ podcast with Steve Nash, disclosing that he does not consume a full meal until afternoon, after his training.
James told Nash he supplements with fruit or green juice but doesn’t have a proper meal until he’s back home after practice.
“I have either a green juice or some fruit or whatever the case may be, but I don’t eat a full meal until I get back home after practice,” he explained. “My first meal is usually around 1:30, 2 o’clock.”
Late First Meal Might Work For LeBron James, But It Might Not Work For You
While this clearly works for LBJ, given that he has been at the top of his game for the entirety of his lengthy career, Melissa Mitri, a registered dietitian at Wlltech, advises that it’s not the best practice and could promote adverse effects for the average Joe.
“This type of nutrition routine is not ideal for most active individuals,” Mitri noted, per the New York Times. “A large body of research suggests that fueling both before and after exercise is beneficial for optimal performance, recovery, and muscle-building benefits.”
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Mitri added that such a strategy leads to a fasted state that forces the body to pull carbohydrates from the muscle and brain for energy, which can cause fatigue, brain fog, and weakness.
The resulting low blood sugar can also lead to mood swings and a cortisol response that can cause anxiety.
“There is a small subset of people like LeBron that may perform well under fasting conditions, such as those who have a large amount of glycogen stores to pull from for energy,” Mitri continued, explaining that it probably took James a long time to get his body adjusted to such a routine and he likely experienced a dip in performance during the adjustment period.
Of course, training on an empty stomach is typical for most people who work out in the morning. Still, they probably don’t wait until after midday to have their first meal.
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