[T77911S]

there are obviously different levels and lengths of exercise. short low intensity you can survive on what you have stored, BTW I had to laugh at the comment about a marathon runner surviving on their body FAT. show me a fat marathon runner.

like I said, you have to figure out what works for you.
if you don't eat properly you WILL receive what we call "the bonk" all of a sudden you have no energy. if you want and you can do your exercise routine and feel good after, then do it.
if your body thinks it is getting starved, when you do eat it will store that food as fat for reserves when you do eat.

I offer this challenge to those that say you don't need to eat before or that carbs are down on the list,
go ride a bike 100 miles at an average of 25mph and let me know if you need to eat.
you will not only eat before, you will take food with you.

you have to provide your body with the fuel it needs to do the job.
on short fast (30mph) races, about 30min, no I would limit what I would eat but I would still eat something for energy.
most people that exercise don't stress their bodies enough to get into requiring food before they exercise.

I have a friend that thinks she "exercises" hard. she went with a friend to do a "boot camp" at a gym. (my daughter use to do it so I had an idea of what it was). even though she thinks she is great shape I told she is going to suffer because her workout is not that intensive.
I talked to her the day after and she said she was hurting and how hard it was and get this (for those that don't think you need to eat) she ran out of energy.
I asked what she ate, she said EGGS!! I told her that's why she ran out of energy, NO CARBS!!

learn your body. but have to really stress it learn it. try 9 hours on bike in the mountains with leg cramps, you will learn what to eat, and what to drink. most people that exercise don't really stress their bodies.