Any morning workout people here?

[epo]

For my entire adult life, I've worked out in the afternoon or the evening with the exception of weekends. Unfortunately, in the last year my life has gotten more hectic and I need to consider moving a regular gym workout to the morning for 2-3 weekdays on a regular basis.

I hate this idea as I'm a horrific morning person, but I like this idea to remove some clutter from my evenings.

So my question for all of you is: What is your experience hitting the gym in the morning and is it better than the evening?

[lleeder]

For years I would set my alarm to get up early to go running or workout first thing in the morning only to hit snooze and forget about it. Now I changed my work schedule so I have started actually training in the morning. I like it cause it gets it done right away. That way if you're really motivated you can double up and do it again at night.

[opie's twisted balls]

What is your experience hitting the gym in the morning and is it better than the evening?
Only time I workout in the morning is when I'm travelling as I usually have dinner meetings and shit to do after work. I don't mind hotel gyms in the morning as the eye candy is usually quite nice. The early morning (5-7) traffic at my home gym (in the burbs) is mainly people getting in a workout before heading to their jobs. I prefer going in the mid afternoon when I can can watch the young soccer milfs in their overpriced, yet sexy as all hell, yoga pants and sports bras.

What I will be doing is sticking to working out at home for the next month as all the new years resolution folks crowd the joint and then quickly fade away.

[epo]

What I will be doing is sticking to working out at home for the next month as all the new years resolution folks crowd the joint and then quickly fade away.

That actually could be a benefit of moving to mornings. Anything to avoid that crowd at night.

[opie's twisted balls]

That actually could be a benefit of moving to mornings. Anything to avoid that crowd at night.
I'm all for people looking after themselves and getting into shape (hell, I used to be a borderline grimace) but this new years resolution stuff is bullshit on a stick. If you want to lose weight, stop smoking, etc. how about picking a date with actual meaning like your birthday or better yet a random day when you decide to commit to change.

[smiler grogan]

I personally hate working out early, but I do go to a class on sat. its at 9:00am so it's not like its a 5:30 am workout or anything.

[underdog]

I usually work out in the morning and it usually wakes me up for the day. I love it. If I miss a workout, I feel so tired and lethargic for the day.

I'm lucky, though, in that I go into work a little later. So I usually hit the gym at 9am and there's absolutely no one there. It's fantastic.

[Dude!]

i swim a mile before work
every day mon-friday
makes me feel good all day

[DonInNC]

I did the evening thing for years. For the past year or so though, I try to hit the gym at about 6 AM. For me, it is far better than than working out in the evening:

1- I have more energy in the morning, and I actually look forward to it once I drag my ass out of bed.

2- I don't have to make room in my daily schedule, now it's part of my daily schedule.

3- A good early morning workout sets the tone for the rest of the day. I find myself eating healthier throughout the day, drinking less, etc., after I've worked out in the morning.

4- Other people at the gym in the early morning are there to work out and get on with their day, there's not much of the social club atmosphere.

The only downside is having to get my clothes and stuff ready the night before, then going to bed at 9:30. It's like the third grade all over again, only without the cigarettes.

[Ritalin]

Working out right now.

[smiler grogan]

when I was a sucker with a full time day job i would bike my commute instead of taking the subway. This def. woke me up and gave me an energy boost in the morning.

[Doctor Z]

I've recently moved my workouts from "never" to "maybe later."

[STC-Dub]

Before my business went under I would get up at 3:30 every morning so I could get to the gym when it opened at 4:00. The gym is no slower then then at 1 in the afternoon when I go now. I never have a problem getting motivated to go no matter the time. The morning was nice to get it done, bu I like the afternoon as it is a nice break in the middle of the day.

[RoseBlood]

Look at your options and go whichever will feel LEAST like a chore for you. Theoretically seems like an easy decision, but it's not.

You've heard it all before, make sure your excercise routine is something you can enjoy or it will be short lived. That's how it is for me anyway.

You're not a morning person, so I don't know how waking up at 4am will work out for you. Otherwise, you deal with the after work rush of people who don't know simple gym etiquette. Have you thought of working out at home, assuming you're disciplined enough?

It's been difficult for me to go the gym this past semester, so I cancelled my membership. Not to mention it was annoying when people wouldn't wipe the machines even though towels and solution was right next to them.

I prefer having a set routine I have to adhere to, or I feel unmotivated. All types of yoga(bikram, hatha) have been able to do this for me and it's relaxing also.

If you're just looking for a light "work out", but time is limited, does your employer have a gym, pool etc that would make it convienent for you? I love walking the track at work, but, admittedly, I've only taken advantage of the indoor pool twice in 2 years. If you have enough time maybe you can walk/run on your lunch? With winter here, I'm going to look into the ice skating rink 5 min away on my lunch hour. These are really helpful when your time is crushed.

Bottom line, know yourself and you'll be fine.

[Furtherman]

I go in the mornings because there's hardly anyone there, and I get to watch the sun rise over NYC.

[The Nature Boy]

I've been doing the Body for Life program, and they are a big advocate of AM workouts, particularly for cardio. And further, go work out on an empty stomach, work out, and then wait an hour until eating. I've seen debate if this is necessary/advantageous for weight lifting, but across the board, the AM cardio is seen as being most beneficial.

[smiler grogan]

I've been doing the Body for Life program, and they are a big advocate of AM workouts, particularly for cardio. And further, go work out on an empty stomach, work out, and then wait an hour until eating. I've seen debate if this is necessary/advantageous for weight lifting, but across the board, the AM cardio is seen as being most beneficial.


So are they saying wake up, exercise, then eat? They don't want any new food to enter into the body before the morning workout? I have done that in the past but I prefer having a little meal replacement bar or shake a half hour before the morning workout.

[Snoogans]

I'm all for people looking after themselves and getting into shape (hell, I used to be a borderline grimace) but this new years resolution stuff is bullshit on a stick. If you want to lose weight, stop smoking, etc. how about picking a date with actual meaning like your birthday or better yet a random day when you decide to commit to change.

or the day you decide to do it. i used to sort of do it to, plan to quit in x amount of days or weeks. That is complete bullshit. When people quit, they really wanted to. And generally they started the moment they finally said fuck this.

It never works if you say ok im gonna do this for 2 more weeks and then quit.

[The Nature Boy]

So are they saying wake up, exercise, then eat? They don't want any new food to enter into the body before the morning workout? I have done that in the past but I prefer having a little meal replacement bar or shake a half hour before the morning workout.

If I'm reading correctly yes,

1. wake up
2. work out
3. eat an hour after completing

Now I've done further research like I said, and this is more debatable for weight work but the consensus seems to be, to maximize cardio, do it in a fasted state and let your amped up body burn for an hour until you feed it. Bill Phillips, the body for life guy, is all about doing all work in the AM.

Its a book and a program that is well worth your time and money. But there are no shortcuts, its hard work and disclipine, but as a guy who has been fat for his whole life, this is the fittest I've ever felt or been working on this. But its hard alright.

[danlaroe]

no. you eat as soon as you get up. something high in protein.then workout. a morning workout is the most effective and helps you burn calories throughout the day. eat after you workout too to help start the rebuilding process. lots of protein. youll build muslce faster which in turn bunr more calories. i workout after work everyday with alternating workouts that cycle through every three days.

[Misteriosa]

i just cant get up in the mornings. i barely make it to work on time. it would be good to go for an early workout, tho... :down:

[biggirl]

I don't work out...I know it's hard to believe, but I don't. I have in the past. I hated mornings. I am a terrible morning person and for some odd reason was more tired in the day if I worked out in the early morning. Anywhere from 10 am to 12 pm was a good time for me.

I don't believe in new year's resolutions, but since everyone always talks about shit like that this time of year I start to take a look at myself and family. Damn...my lab and I need to get on some serious walks. He's so fat...I might be a tad overweight too...*blush, blush*

[danlaroe]

If I'm reading correctly yes,

1. wake up
2. work out
3. eat an hour after completing

Now I've done further research like I said, and this is more debatable for weight work but the consensus seems to be, to maximize cardio, do it in a fasted state and let your amped up body burn for an hour until you feed it. Bill Phillips, the body for life guy, is all about doing all work in the AM.

Its a book and a program that is well worth your time and money. But there are no shortcuts, its hard work and disclipine, but as a guy who has been fat for his whole life, this is the fittest I've ever felt or been working on this. But its hard alright.

if you do that all the energy you need will come from muscle break down, and thats the last thing you want. you need protein and carbs to get your metabolism up to sustain energy so you can go longer and recover faster

[smiler grogan]

The body uses Glycogen as fuel. This mainly comes from carbs and is stored in the liver and
the muscles. This fuel is already stored in the body so the idea of eating 20 minutes before a workout to get an energy boost is a fallacy but eating a balanced breakfast an hour or so before is beneficial.

I read Body for Life a few years ago it was a little to rah rah inspirational for me but its not
some whacked out fad diet book.

Danlaroe is certainely correct that after a workout you should consume high protein and
some good complex carbs since your fuel tank is low. Also rehydration is a must.

[Ritalin]

i swim a mile before work
every day mon-friday
makes me feel good all day

I gotta get back to swimming. It makes you feel 2 inches taller. Do you swim it straight, or do you do any intervals?

[Ritalin]

or the day you decide to do it. i used to sort of do it to, plan to quit in x amount of days or weeks. That is complete bullshit. When people quit, they really wanted to. And generally they started the moment they finally said fuck this.

It never works if you say ok im gonna do this for 2 more weeks and then quit.

That's true about picking a date in the future to quit something any further than a couple of days. Sometimes you need that to get your head in the right place. Smoking, for example. When you decide "I'm going to stop smoking in 3 days, then you get a chance to get a little strategy together, buy the gum or the patch or whatever, and you start mentally realizingthat you don't like the cigarette you're smoking right now. But two weeks? Yeah, that's crap.

And Opie, it's true that 90 percent of new years resolutions are crap, but if someone wakes up on Jan 1 and think well, this is a day when people make resolutions then you make one, what difference does it make how it happens?