Thinking of switching to the morning...

Uthinkso · 03-29-2007, 01:13 PM

Right now I train after work three days a week. I'm going to be starting back in school come this fall, and was thinking of moving training to the mornings.

My two big questions are of course, what about diet, normally I have three meals in before I train now, will I get best results training on an empty stomach?

What effects will I see, strength wise and is there any advantage or disadvantage here.

Hammerlynn · 03-29-2007, 01:17 PM

I do morning cardio on an empty stomach but if I'm doing weights I have a scoop of protein before I go. I normally do weights at lunch so I've got two meals in before I go.

goob · 03-29-2007, 01:24 PM

I've always felt that workouts in the evening are far superior to morning workouts. I just don't have the strength first thing in the morning.
My evening workouts are x2 as effective.
If you think about it, you would have 3-5 meals worth of energy if you workout at night, but running on empty in the morning.
Also, in the evening, you've been moving about all day, joints, muscles etc will be stretched and mobile. You don't have this in the morning.

vortrit · 03-29-2007, 01:30 PM

I have the same problem somewhat. I work out at night but I am growing out of the 24 hour gym that I go to. I have another gym membership to a gym that has a far better setting for packing on the mass and right now I am going there one day a week. I am going to school too so it's hard to do since I work nights. I think I may have to start in the morning everyday next year though.

Uthinkso · 03-29-2007, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goob

I've always felt that workouts in the evening are far superior to morning workouts. I just don't have the strength first thing in the morning.
My evening workouts are x2 as effective.
If you think about it, you would have 3-5 meals worth of energy if you workout at night, but running on empty in the morning.
Also, in the evening, you've been moving about all day, joints, muscles etc will be stretched and mobile. You don't have this in the morning.

This is my line of thinking exactly. I would have to change my diet around a ton. I stack extra protein and carbs on my weight training days for extra energy. I rely on those meals pre-workout to get me that energy I need. Sure a shake in the morning will give ma bit of protein, but that hardly compares to three balanced meals. I think I may just have to work around things a bit.

**P-funk** · 03-29-2007, 11:11 PM

I can't believe that people still do cardio on an empty stomach.

Quixote · 03-30-2007, 01:38 AM

Empty stomach or not, doing cardio or not, we always need some energy sourses floating in our system.
Otherwise catabolic cannibalism will eat us alive inside out.

A banana does wonders in the morning.

About working out in the morning, my job may suffer the consequences afterward. Other than that I do not think of any reason not to.

Hammerlynn · 03-30-2007, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P-funk

I can't believe that people still do cardio on an empty stomach.

I do because I get sick if I eat. When I'm going on a long run though I get up an hour to hour and a half to eat though. My AM cardio is not more than 30-45 min. Still bad?

Uthinkso · 03-30-2007, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P-funk

I can't believe that people still do cardio on an empty stomach.

I don't know otherwise, so please tell me. Why is this bad???

ReproMan · 03-30-2007, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goob

I've always felt that workouts in the evening are far superior to morning workouts. I just don't have the strength first thing in the morning.
My evening workouts are x2 as effective.
If you think about it, you would have 3-5 meals worth of energy if you workout at night, but running on empty in the morning.
Also, in the evening, you've been moving about all day, joints, muscles etc will be stretched and mobile. You don't have this in the morning.

My thoughts exactly.

fufu · 03-30-2007, 10:17 AM

I used to workout all the time in the morning. You adapt to it.

KelJu · 03-30-2007, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goob

I've always felt that workouts in the evening are far superior to morning workouts. I just don't have the strength first thing in the morning.
My evening workouts are x2 as effective.
If you think about it, you would have 3-5 meals worth of energy if you workout at night, but running on empty in the morning.
Also, in the evening, you've been moving about all day, joints, muscles etc will be stretched and mobile. You don't have this in the morning.

I am the opposite. I am strongest in the morning. Also, there is a physiological reason why morning workouts are better, or at least they are better for me. When you first wake-up, if you got plenty of sleep, you will have a mass abu8ndence of neurotransmitters that make you feel happy, healthy, and with a high wellbeing. I need all of those to workout to my max potential. I am a dopamine addict. I love the feeling of waking up after having slept about 8 to 10 hours. If I don't lag around and I get to the gym within an hour of waking up and eating breakfast, my lifts are much stronger than they would have been otherwise.

If I lift at night after work, my lifts usually suck balls.

goob · 03-30-2007, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fufu

I used to workout all the time in the morning. You adapt to it.

Yeah, but not everyone has mad fu-manchu super skills......

AKIRA · 03-30-2007, 10:33 AM

The only times I didnt like working out in the morning is if I ate too much or nothing at all.

I started drinking half a protein shake (with milk) before I went. 1-2 slices of whole grain toast too.

I used to drink a full protein mix before I went to the gym in the morning for years. Always made me feel bloated. Until I cut down my caloric intake before lifting, I never had a good morning workout.

fufu · 03-30-2007, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goob

Yeah, but not everyone has mad fu-manchu super skills......

lawl, fu-manchu...

but seriously. I used to train in the morning all the time, I got used it. Then when I get back to school I train in the afternoon. Reently during spring break I trained in the morning and felt like I was gonna puke every workout, I was sucking wind. If I stuck with it I would have gotten better.

AKIRA · 03-30-2007, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fufu

lawl, fu-manchu...

but seriously. I used to train in the morning all the time, I got used it. Then when I get back to school I train in the afternoon. Reently during spring break I trained in the morning and felt like I was gonna puke every workout, I was sucking wind. If I stuck with it I would have gotten better.

Considering tha latter, you should feel grateful.

fufu · 03-30-2007, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AKIRA

Considering tha latter, you should feel grateful.

don't make me use that "roll eyes" emoticon!

**P-funk** · 03-30-2007, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uthinkso

I don't know otherwise, so please tell me. Why is this bad???

do a search for it here. I have hashed this one out many a time.

03-29-2007, 01:13 PM	#1
Uthinkso Go on....DO IT!!! Elite Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Detroit Posts: 1,298 Photos: 3	Thinking of switching to the morning... Right now I train after work three days a week. I'm going to be starting back in school come this fall, and was thinking of moving training to the mornings. My two big questions are of course, what about diet, normally I have three meals in before I train now, will I get best results training on an empty stomach? What effects will I see, strength wise and is there any advantage or disadvantage here.
	"Everyone has a plan 'til they get punched in the face".-Mike Tyson http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/PublicJ...ner=ndagostino Myspace

03-29-2007, 01:17 PM	#2
Hammerlynn Former Fat Girl Elite Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 1,376	I do morning cardio on an empty stomach but if I'm doing weights I have a scoop of protein before I go. I normally do weights at lunch so I've got two meals in before I go.
	Completed: Indianapolis Mini Marathon 2004 and 2005 Valparaiso Mini Marathon 2006 Chicago Marathon 2004 and 2006 www.myspace.com/fitness_runner

03-29-2007, 01:30 PM	#4
vortrit Bulk. Cut. Repeat. Elite Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Missouri, USA Posts: 2,652 Blog Entries: 1 Photos: 5	I have the same problem somewhat. I work out at night but I am growing out of the 24 hour gym that I go to. I have another gym membership to a gym that has a far better setting for packing on the mass and right now I am going there one day a week. I am going to school too so it's hard to do since I work nights. I think I may have to start in the morning everyday next year though.
	My Journal!

03-29-2007, 11:11 PM	#6
P-funk Patrick Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: AZ Posts: 30,570	I can't believe that people still do cardio on an empty stomach.
	http://pwtraining.blogspot.com/.....come and see what is on my mind! Ivonne's Blog on Health and Wellness! Optimum Sports Performance "In the beginners mind there are many possibilities, in the experts there are few." -Buddha's Little Instruction Book

03-30-2007, 10:17 AM	#11
fufu fiendish thingy Elite Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 16,447 Photos: 7	I used to workout all the time in the morning. You adapt to it.
	fufu's 1337 Journal Your diet will set you free.

03-29-2007, 01:24 PM	#3
goob Smartass anthropologist Elite Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Anywhere, everywhere, nowhere.... Posts: 5,994	I've always felt that workouts in the evening are far superior to morning workouts. I just don't have the strength first thing in the morning. My evening workouts are x2 as effective. If you think about it, you would have 3-5 meals worth of energy if you workout at night, but running on empty in the morning. Also, in the evening, you've been moving about all day, joints, muscles etc will be stretched and mobile. You don't have this in the morning.

03-30-2007, 01:38 AM	#7
Quixote Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Japan Posts: 19	Empty stomach or not, doing cardio or not, we always need some energy sourses floating in our system. Otherwise catabolic cannibalism will eat us alive inside out. A banana does wonders in the morning. About working out in the morning, my job may suffer the consequences afterward. Other than that I do not think of any reason not to.

03-30-2007, 10:33 AM	#14
AKIRA I am Rollo Tomassee.. Elite Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Outside the box Posts: 7,901 Photos: 3	The only times I didnt like working out in the morning is if I ate too much or nothing at all. I started drinking half a protein shake (with milk) before I went. 1-2 slices of whole grain toast too. I used to drink a full protein mix before I went to the gym in the morning for years. Always made me feel bloated. Until I cut down my caloric intake before lifting, I never had a good morning workout.
	6' 209lbs (8/16) Bench 360 (11/29) Weighted Pullups 80lbs 3x3 (3/19) Squat 370 Deadlift after herniation 385lbs 3x3 (3/17) NASM certified 2/06 Journal

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