morning lifting?

[jsbrook]

I've noticed that a large number (maybe a majority) of people here lift midday or evening. I consistently lift after breakfast. Would I be better off trying to juggle my schedule and doing my workout later in the day?

[RTE]

The best time to exercise is first when you can consistantly, second when you have energy, and when you are not distracted.

I do best between 11pm and 3pm. But my grandson can not make it until after 3pm. I am retired and have no concerns from work. I am not a morning person, but a night person who doesn't want my nights tied up with exercise. So as long as I train with grandson 3:30pm is my workout time.

You have to do what fits you. Bill Pearl is 75 and works out at 4 am with neighbors. Boyer coe works out at 3 AM.

[Savyart]

Originally Posted by jsbrook

I've noticed that a large number (maybe a majority) of people here lift midday or evening. I consistently lift after breakfast. Would I be better off trying to juggle my schedule and doing my workout later in the day?

I agree - the best time to workout is when you WILL work out. If I put off my morning routine, getting to it becomes a chore. For me, I don't particularly enjoy the act of exercise for the most part. So it is most beneficial for me to do it before the sun is up. For me, it makes it seem as if it wasn't even part of my day (almost like it didn't happen?) and I don't have to dread getting to it later. I have a friend, however, who just can NOT get out of bed in the morning. He is much better off lifting later, after he has eaten, had coffee, and most of his day is out of the way. For him, it's distracting to think about everything he has to do later that day and would rather be done with the "life" stuff and into the training to "unwind" and "refocus".

So it's really all about you, in this instance.

[Bluestreak]

I've made my best strength and size gains lifting in the mornings. There's nothing wrong with what you're doing provided that your nutrition meets the needs of your lifting program. As the others above have said, if mornings are when you can get it done, keep doing it at that time.

[Chris]

Originally Posted by jsbrook

I've noticed that a large number (maybe a majority) of people here lift midday or evening. I consistently lift after breakfast. Would I be better off trying to juggle my schedule and doing my workout later in the day?

I think it's because most here work in the daytime and have to go afterwards, ideally, it's good to do some light early morning calisthenics & maybe some fasted cardio, followed by your resistance workout later on in the day.

Really though, do it when you feel you can give it your best effort and don't worry about scheduling it on what other people do.

[psuguy98]

Originally Posted by jsbrook

I've noticed that a large number (maybe a majority) of people here lift midday or evening. I consistently lift after breakfast. Would I be better off trying to juggle my schedule and doing my workout later in the day?

The only way I can lift in the morning is to consume pre-WO carbs and protein ( dex and whey). Otherwise, my glycogen stores are so depleted that I feel I get a subpar workout. I used to lift in the mornings on the weekends, but have changed it so I do all my lifting during the week after work. I only do cardio in the mornings. Great stress reliever and my glycogen stores are up. To each his own though. Some people get great workout in the morning.

[jsbrook]

I'm glad the general concensus is that it's ok. My main concern was that I wasn't getting enough nutrition before workouts. I eat a good carb-heavy breakfast (not fast-acting like dex and whey, but I don't lift directly after) of kashi go lean cereal with soy milk (sometimes oats instead). I also add turkey bacon because I feel the need for more protein. I feel energized, and my workouts go well. I'm a college student, and my days seem to get really busy. Working out at night doesn't often seem optimal either. So the best option right now seems to be working out before everything else but after having properly fueled. I seem to be maintaining mass while cutting, so I'll stick with it. If I feel like I'm not putting on the mass I'd like when I begin bulking, I'll consider changing it then. Thanks for all the responses

[JoeBiron]

Originally Posted by jsbrook

I've noticed that a large number (maybe a majority) of people here lift midday or evening. I consistently lift after breakfast. Would I be better off trying to juggle my schedule and doing my workout later in the day?

Out of neccessity, I lift very early in the AM, like 6am. It is certainly not the best option, On the occasions when I can delay until midday, say 10am - 2pm, I usually have a really great workout. For me, mid morning works best, but alas, my schedule does not permit it.

It's probably due to the calories consumed by midmorning. I usually get 800-1000 calories in before noon time. Obviously at 6am, I'm running on glycogen. One thing that helps the early morning workouts is to drink lots of water. If I forget that, my workout stinks.

[Kino]

It's been shown that people overall have a higher compliance to their training when they do it in the morning before work or school. There are just so many things that can come up during the day that can keep you away from the gym later on in the day. I do my training at 5:30AM, with my warm-ups beginning around 5:15. This works for me, and it has for a number of years. Sometimes, if I find I have some extra energy after work (which will definetly be the case once I jump back onto the Muscle Synergy) I'll knock out so core work. Something like woodchops, or other rotational movements. I love morning workouts because I get it done and don't have to worry about it through the day, and I just love going into work pumped up. It's just an awesome feeling.
As you get older, testosterone levels drop dramatically as the day progresses, so AM workouts may prove to be more productive as well.

[Skoorb]

I do it in the morning. I'd actually rather be tortured to death than work out after work, unless it's days I get home early (ie. never these days). I get home at 7:30 and the last thing in the world I want to do is put on gym clothes and hit the weights, so I instead go to bed between 8:30 and 10 and wake up at 5:30

[jsbrook]

Thanks for the continued replies. Those of you do life in the morning, how many calories do you get in before your workouts? I typically get in about 400 calories of healthy carbs (whole grains) and protein. Trace amount of fat as well-maybe 4-5 grams. Think this is enough? I feel like I have enough energy, but I've never tried morning workouts having eaten more, so I don't really have anything to compare it to. I would prefer not experimenting and eating more before workout so as not to throw off/have to rework the rest of my nutrition plan for the rest of the day unless people think there could be a real advantage to it.

[Skoorb]

I get zero calories. I just grab a bottle of water from the fridge to sip on while i work out in the garage, and eat breakfast afterwards!

[Kino]

I have what Mr Coffee says (it's actually a Cuisinart) is 4 cups of coffee in me, followed up with a 23g whey/33g dextrose pre/wo. So about 224 calories, plus the splenda, and light cream that was in my coffee. There's no science there, just getting some quick carbs in me. (the coffee is just there...no relation to the w/o ) That's all by 5:00AM, and warm-ups start at 5:15, for about 10-15 minutes. If I am training later in the day, I pay alittle more attention to whether I've eaten at least a couple of hours beforehand.

[Wamsutta]

This is a very subjectiev and personal thing.

That said, I find that for weight training, if I can arrive at the gym between 4:30 and 6:30, I'm most prodcutive. If I work late and don't start lifting until after 7-7:30, I start to get distracted and tired.

I've tried lifting first thing in the morning and the energy and intensity are just not there. Plus part of what I like about doing it in the PM is that I get to lift away all the aggressions and frustrations of the day. If it's 5 AM, I don't have any of those yet!

Cardio, on the other hand, I can do best earlier. Later in the day, I have food in me, water in me, am tired from the day, have been on my feet a lot already, etc.

[txitalian]

Morning lifter here. I do it for a number of reasons. Mainly, the gym is really crowded after around 4pm. When I go at 6am, there are usually the same 20 or so people there, makes getting in and out alot faster. I also like going because it really jump starts my day, when I lift at night, I'm beat from my hard day at work posting on JSF
My routine is to wake up at 5:45, drink 2 Monster low carb energy drinks and get to the gym by 6.
I don't mind doing cardio at night however. It gives me time to reflect on my day and seems to relax me.
Jason

[1FastGTX]

It doesn't matter. There are people here and all over the world who work out at every different time of day. I prefer evening, after the crowd dies at the gym. I have more energy and pour more intensity into my workout. That works for ME. You may have more energy and prefer it at 5am, or whenever. That'll work fine, especially if you structure your diet around it properly.

[LeftNut]

I'm up every morning at 4:30 and to the gym by 4:45. On the rare occasion that I miss my morning workout, I will go later in the day. I notice that I am usually stronger in the morning. I have no idea why. I have been doing this for a while, so maybe my body is just used to it.

I consume 16oz water, some creatine, and one scoop of whey protein as soon as I get out of bed. Then I drink more water as I work out.

[sparkym]

"Quote from an article on AST"

Most people train when it's convenient for them - when it best fits into their lifestyle. For the most part this is in the late afternoon. Usually after work. This is when you'll find most every gym to be the busiest. This is also the worst time to train if you are on a typical work or school schedule. When you train in the late afternoon you are immediately at a disadvantage from a nutritional support standpoint.

To get the absolute most from your training you have to create an optimal recovery atmosphere. This comes primarily from the nutrition you consume during the 23 hours and 20 minutes after you train. The closer the hours are after your workout the more important they are for feeding and recovery.

When you train in the morning you have the entire day remaining to nurture an optimum recovery through the important nutrient timing protocol directly after training and through the continuous stream of nutrition you are able to provide the rest of the day and on into the night.

[RTE]

I know we are talking about time of day. But I thought I would throw this out. How manys days of the week or hours in the day can you afford to put into exercise? or how many should we?

Work/school, family, relationships, recreation and etc. call for our attention. The program you choose can say how many hours and days you put into exercise. HIT says from an hour to 1.5 hours for week are the usual time you would spend on program. MAX-OT says about 3 hours a week. Those times do not include any cardio or other exercise. Now figure in driving times if you go to gym, showers and etc.

Would cutting down to the most efficient program help get you there at the time of day you choose? People with responibilities can miss a number of sessions if they have a 7 day program.

Think about that in the big picture.

[Barber]

People are really dedicated here.

I work out in the morning, unless i KNOW that i'll be getting off work early for SURE. I get up a 3-3:30am, study, 1L of water, glutamine, and fish oil. Then, I go running or lift weights. Then, off to work by 6am. I usually don't get off until past 8pm, lot of times after 9-10pm, so very little energy level after work.