Give me tips on lifting in the early A.M. [Forum Archive]

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Give me tips on lifting in the early A.M.

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Posted by: InnerVoice

I need tips to facilitate weight lifting at 6AM.

Some say that you shouldn’t put weight on your back so early upon waking, but my schedule leaves me little choice.

I’ve recently begun a new job that has me working from 8:30 AM to anywhere between 6 PM to 11 PM. It’s like that 5 to 6 days per week. Furthermore I’m taking graduate level classes during two weekday nights.

So, now that my reasons are out of the way, do any of you weight train this early in the morning? How much time do you give yourself from waking to training? Do you eat before training? What tips do you have to make this manageable?

Much appreciated.

Posted by: HialeahChico305

Quote:

Originally Posted by InnerVoice

I need tips to facilitate weight lifting at 6AM.

Some say that you shouldn’t put weight on your back so early upon waking, but my schedule leaves me little choice.

I’ve recently begun a new job that has me working from 8:30 AM to anywhere between 6 PM to 11 PM. It’s like that 5 to 6 days per week. Furthermore I’m taking graduate level classes during two weekday nights.

So, now that my reasons are out of the way, do any of you weight train this early in the morning? How much time do you give yourself from waking to training? Do you eat before training? What tips do you have to make this manageable?

Much appreciated.

I not much of a mourning person, but a year ago I had a similar working schedule to yours, and I was training seriously at 6 am in the mourning. Basically I would eat 3 boilled eggs with half a sweet potato and straight to the gym (I had a redbull on the way there). You really need a lot of self discipline to get up every workout day at this time. You must forget the word tired and concentrate on giving it your all while your at the gym. I prefer to work out around 9 am but in life we have to adapt to the situation we are in. Good luck on your training.

P.S: coffe is your best friend.

Posted by: xjohnnyjohnsonx

you just gotta get use to it . once you do you'll benefit from it and you'll feel like you have more energy during the day and when you get off in the afternoon you can go home and relax plus another good thing about working out in the morning ,well for me anyways is that i dont have to wait for others to get off the weights or the machines but yeah the first week or 2 will be kinda tough if you're not use to it but once you get the them out the way you should be fine ..good luck !

Posted by: Irons

I've tried twice, both resulted in complete and utter failure. I can't do it...

Posted by: Merkaba

Eat, warmup, go at it.

Posted by: FishOrCutBait

Take a shake along with some caffeine or other stim (if youd like) get warmed up and flip the switch man.

Posted by: Built

Prepack your food before you go to sleep. Bottle of caffeine tablets beside your bed.

Alarm goes off, pop a caffeine tablet, hit the snooze, and you're awake.

Knock back a protein shake blended with powdered oatmeal (grind it in a coffee grinder and keep some in a jar ready to go) and milk in the car on the way to the gym.

Train, knock back another shake, eat some something solid in the car on the way to work. I suggest a bagel with peanut butter and a few hardboiled eggs.

Make sure you eat your last meal of the day just before you go to sleep - nothing TOO heavy, you don't want it to keep you awake, but a decent serving of protein with a little carb and fat.

Posted by: urbanski

built nails it again. personally, i also train between 5:30-6am, for about an hour.
i have my coffee then milk w/ oatmeal or peanut butter at least 30 minutes before the gym. i follow that with my protein shake then eat every 3 hours rest of day. good luck!

Posted by: Ben dur

i used to workout at 430 am

then again... i had 4 angry smokey the bear hats keeping me motivated

Posted by: Ben dur

but seriously
some fast acting protein and quick carbs should get you ramped up and ready

stimulants if you please...

as built said a shake directly afterwards, and solid food on the road would be perfect

one thing ive always loved about fitting a workout into a timeslot, im pushed to keep my rest intervals down... the workouts always seem more intense, and i always seem more satisfied with my performance

Posted by: Lobo2009

I train at 6.30am and have been for 6 months. I dont find it any different from training in the evening in terms of quality of workout. I actually much prefer it as I feel fresh and feel better for the rest of the day getting the workout out the way in the morning.

I push weights 3 times a week and do morning cardio the other 4 days. It also means I can keep the carb intake higher in the morning, tapering it off towards the evening which I think works better for me.

I get up at 5.30am and have 1.5 servings of whey, some porrige and a banana as soon as I get up (1 hour before workout). I think the key here is to get the protein in and eat just enough that wont sit in your stomach while working out.

Also, its vital to get to bed early enough the evening before so you arent tired when you get out of bed. Im in bed by 9.30pm if Im working out the night before - try to get 8 hours of sleep.

Posted by: bbud

I've biked 10 miles to my gym at 5:00 for about 20 years to work out. My ride gives me a good warm-up, and that's the best advice I can offer you - make sure you're warmed up enough. Stair-step, treadmill, bike, whatever - do it! After a good nights rest, you're going to be a bit stiff, and your muscles and tendons are not warmed up enough. Perfect situation for a pull or tear.

There are rainy or snowy days when I've driven to the gym instead of ridden, and not properly warmed up - and I've paid for it - primarily in my lower back.

I'm 57, still racing bikes, still pushing weights, and I pay attention to small details like this now. Now I get it!!

Proper rest is so important, as others have posted. You can stay up and play on your days off!

Posted by: Gazhole

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merkaba

Eat, warmup, go at it.

This.

Always eat first, and warmups are critical at any time - moreso if you've not been awake long.

Posted by: min0 lee

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paraphoe

I've tried twice, both resulted in complete and utter failure. I can't do it...

Don't be a quitter, like Xjohnyx said...it takes a couple of weeeks to get used to it.

Posted by: Built

Good tip about the warmup when you've not been awake long.

I used to get into the hot tub for a few minutes before doing HIIT or training legs - might do it again if I do AM HIIT again.

Posted by: camarosuper6

Get up an hour before you have to train. Give yourself plenty of time to mentally and physically prep before you have to be at the gym.

Nothing is worse than having to rush to get yourself situated.

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Give me tips on lifting in the early A.M.

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