Some Please Help!!! Need advice from peeps who work out first thing in the morning!

[Slyder190]

I'd at least try and get in some kind of meal a half hour before your workout, even if it's a MRP. I workout an or so after breakfast all the time. I hate working out after work if I'm working lunch. I feel I have more energy earlier in the day. Besides, if I work out early, I get my work out out of the way for the day. My only exception is if I'm doing cardio first thing in the morning. then I work out an hour after my 2nd meal, which is about 4-5 hours after my cardio session. Still not too bad, although I never do cardio and legs on the same day. You might be happier training early on in the day, it's the best way to go IMO.

 

[TheRide]

Hey Mavy,

I've been training in the AM for 3 years... 7 prior to that in the evening... here's my take on it for you.


1. I'm up @ 5:15 and train from 5:45 to 7:15-7:30 typically (cardio included)
2. In terms of eating, I rarely eat much past 10pm @ night. I have a shake before bed (11-11:30pm) and a shake aroun 5:30am before leaving my house.
3. "Also, how long until you wake up are fully awake and start your workouts? Is there any unwritten rule here? Or can I role out of bed, grab a shake, and hit the gym?"

That's pretty much what I do. I hit cardio first to get my blood flowing and my heart rate up. By the time I'm done, I am wide awake and lossened up by the time I hit weights.

Your workouts will be a bit iffy @ first, but you'll also see some solid gains from the "shock value" of the switch (from PM to AM) Three years into it, I have as much if not more intensity in the AM then I did in the PM. Don't become overly dependednt on stimulants to get you up and going. Once in a while they help, but I know some folks who "need" them b4 training in the AM.

Like anything, it takes some getting use to but after a few weeks I think you'll really start to enjoy it.

Good Luck!

 

[Mavy]

Thanks guys, greatly appreciated advice. Well just got back from my last evening workout (its 12:00am), you see this is why I need to change this, I will be wired now for another good hour or so before going to bed. So ... tomorrow will be my first day doing the am routine. Leg day too! Fuck! I am a little skeptical about this.

theride: Thanks for the info. I am thinking that my schedule is going to follow very closely to yours. I would like to be getting back from the gym around 7:30am. THis will give me time to cook my big breakfast and get ready for work. I am curious as to what you have in your shake pre-workout? Carbs and protien? My "temp" plan for tomorrow is to wake up, take 1 r-ala, and 1 t-rex. 15mins later, I will take a shake consisting of fast carbs (dextrose drink) and whey isolate. I will be drinking a dextrose drink throughout the workout. Return, and have my big breakfast (eggs, black beans, turkey links), and another whey shake in milk. Thanks again for the info bro .. your always full of helpfull information.

I spoke to a good friend of mine today. He basically told me that I am making waaaaaay to big of a deal about this. And to just shut up .. wake up and go train. Stop thinking so hard about it. But in my mind, it just seems like its gonna be a big deal! lol hahaha. He did mention what JATCA mentioned about doing some good core exercises before hand. They are very relaxed from sleeping all night. When you workout at night, they are very warmed, just from being upright all day.

Thanks for the tips guys, I really do appreciate this. Despite all these road bumps in my cycle, I am getting SICK pumps in the gym. Must be from the var+dbol combo. NPP could be playing a role as well. lol.

Cheers,
Mavy

 

[alex117k]

Morning workouts rock, and I'm more of a night person, but once you start doing them the entire rest of the day seems good.

I just wake up, have a coffee/protein shake on ice wt Equal, which I sip on while I work out, and halfway through my workout I make another protein which includes either fruit or simple sugars.

Good luck on your new schedule.
A.

 

[Judo Tom]

Mavy its pretty obvious buy your post that you will be fine. you are really thinking things out and trust me you will be fine you sound really focused and motivated which will lead to a great cycle regardless of when you workout.

I workout in the am because of my 60hr+ job and plus i do MMA at nites anyhow

if you feel you need a kick of energy in the morning take an eca or caffeine or whatever.

i would definately have a whey shake about 20mins before the workout and definately get some carbs in before the workout.. an apple or gatorade or whatever just get something in there as it will help you absorb more nutrients in your pwo shake and meal
unless you are on a strict cutter than limit carbs as you see fit or what works best for you

make sure you warm up your muscles and get them ready for an intense session

what i like about am workouts is that generally you will be much more insulin sensitive in the am and i feel i recover much quicker from am workouts

the plan you outlined in your post above sounds good and im sure if everything else is in check like your diet sleep and stress levels that you will have a great cycle

good luck bro

 

[SOLID2]

I have a busy work schedule as well. Been on the a.m. workouts for some time and love it.. Everyones advice is right on key that I have read.. just wanted to add to be sure that you take time time to really warm up good.. I made the mistake of not doing that and cost me 3 weeks.. lots of protein after the am workout does good for me...energy level increases for the job as well through the day..."up and at them". good luck with am workouts.

 

[mcr]

When do you train?

6:30am. I have been doing this for around 4-5 months now having spent the previous 2 years working out either at lunch time or in the evening.

What do you eat for pre workout?

I wake at 6am and take a caffeine pill. I then throw some water into a blender, 2 scoops of protein and 50g of oats. Blend and down it.

I then get ready and go to the gym armed with a protein shake for pwo.

When done I down the protein shake there. I then come home and have a proper meal with real food protein and carbs.

I drink about a liter of water during my workout.

This works REALLY nicely for me and I will continue to train this way as it fits in nicely with work.

Also, how long until you wake up are fully awake and start your workouts? Is there any unwritten rule here? Or can I role out of bed, grab a shake, and hit the gym?

Listen to your body and experiment.

I get to the gym at just after 6:30 having woken at 6. I stretch out and my first bunch of sets are just warm-ups. I'm probably hitting the really heavy stuff at around 7am.

It wasn't really a shock at all when I started training this way, but the weights did suffer a little initially.

What REALLY sucks if when I have a shitty nights sleep and only get a few hours. Training then first thing is harsh. The caffeine pill takes care of that a little though.

I read somewhere that you're something like 10% weaker first thing and your strength peaks mid-afternoon. So bear this in mind if you can't lift as much initially.

Hope that helps and good luck.