Morning traning

[BigMikeReed]

Hello guys:

So I have come to realize that given family responsibilities, etc.. early am workouts is generally when I need to lift. With the exception of Sat & Sun when I can lift in the afternoon, M-F I need to lift at around 5:30am. So here is the advice I need-- for any of those that do lift early am, how long do you get out of bed before you get to the gym. Also, what do you eat and/or drink before lifting? Basically, what is your morning schedule before you get to the gym?

Thanks guys.

[Tim Wescott]

I used to train at 5 AM when I lived in Florida........got up at about 4 AM,drank a few coffees and a shake and out the door.

At one point I never ate before I trained..............Keith does the same thing and I did it for a while this year too.......noticed no big difference energywise at all.

Pack up your stuff for the day the night before.

Glad to see you back posting Mike!

[RUBICON19]

I do not train first thing in the AM, but if I did, I would use Tims advice and prepare teh night before. I personaly would use a pre workout Supp. such as VasoCharge + an in workout BCAA drink..

[mrbeefy]

BMR:

I wake up around 3:30 am (only way this will work). I do 30 min cardio, wife does 30 min cardio, dog does 20 min cardio (black lab walks on treadmill ;D ) Thermos only before cardio.

Breakfast: 5 egg whites, 1 whole egg, 1/4 cup oatmeal, hand full of almonds, 2-3 prunes = out to work by 6:00 am.
Lifting after work.

However: IF I'm off or on Saturdays I DO WO in the AM:

Protein Drink / carbs (1/4 cup oatmeal) 30-60 minutes before lifting.

70 cal protein bar mid wo (20 g protein)
Sip Xtend or Nitrobolic during wo (energy)

After WO Meal: Protein/carbs (Chicken/potatoes, etc.)
Camatose on couch...nap

Are you lifting 7 days a week?
Is that overtraining for you?

[Grant]

The wife and I get up at 4:30 a.m. and are at the gym shortley before 5:00 a.m. The only think I have is a large cup of coffee. I ususlly bring it in with me to the gym and continue to drink it while I work out.

I don't eat anyhting before we leave.

We've been on this schedule for about 6 years. It was tough at first ( still is on somedays ) but I'm use to it by now. We prefer this schedule because of work responsibilities. That way I don't miss a workout due to work.

[BigMikeReed]

Thanks for the prompt advice guys.

Thanks Tim- it's good to be back posting!

Randy: Thanks for the supplement adivce- I'll give vasocharge and BCAA drink a shot.

[youngblood]

I've literally worked out at EVERY single hour of the day and night. No joke. From getting to the gym at 10pm and staying till 1-2am (I was new, loved to train, and it was a 24hr Fitness), working out in a motel weight room at 2am, getting up at 4am to be in the gym by 5am and work by 8am, to working out at every hour in between the sunrise and sunset......

Bottom line, is if you want it to work, it WILL.
Tims advice about packing your bag/shakes/etc... is spot on as usual. Prepare so that way you roll out of bed and out the door after getting dressed. They have them nifty little timers on coffee makers too, so you can have your coffee ready before you get up!!! Anything helps at that hour, I know first hand how hard it is getting up at 2:45am every day, sometimes after playing music till 1am and getting an hour cat nap at that hour....it's not easy!!!
But as said before, it will work if you want it to.

[Rich]

I trained for years at 5:15 am. I can give you a minute-by-minute breakdown.

4:15 ... Wake up
4:15 - 4:23 ... Lie in bed and wonder why you do this. Tell yourself that one day of extra sleep will do you good. It's ok to miss a workout isn't it? Especially if your body needs the sleep.
4:23 ... Get your lazy, excuse-making, ass out of bed. Use Ninja technique to get out of bed and down the stairs in the dark without waking anyone up. Have your clothes ready the night before. Remember to bring them downstairs with you.
4:25 ... Get dressed, hit the head. Not always in that order.
4:30 - 4:50 ... Cook and eat 8 egg whites and a bowl of oatmeal.
4:51 ... Prepare workout drink of 2 tsp creatine, 2 tsp glutamine, 4 tsp dextrose, and a bit of Crystal Light.
4:56 ... Leave for gym. Make sure your car unlock is not set to honk.
5:10 ... Arrive at gym, and take your Animal Pak with some sips of your workout drink.
5:15 - 6:15 ... Train and revel in the fact that not many people you will see later that day will have lifted 10 000 lbs before the sun broke over the horizon.


I don't know how any of these guys managed to do this on an empty stomach. I have NEVER been able to train without food in me. Some leg days the food doesn't STAY in me .... but that's another story.

[masterschamp]

Up at 4:00
2 cups STRONG black coffee
Train at 4:45

Keith

[hossjob]

masterschamp said:

Up at 4:00
2 cups STRONG black coffee
Train at 4:45

Keith

Keith, you are a FREAK! Hahaha

Love the black coffee, hey, what kind do you drink?

When I train in the morning I do different things depending:

1) 2 pieces whole wheat toast w/ honey + 40 grams whey
2) 40 grams whey + 2 TBSP Nat PB

What I might do this year is:

40 Grams WMS + 40 Grams Whey Protein

[masterschamp]

hossjob said:

masterschamp said:

Up at 4:00
2 cups STRONG black coffee
Train at 4:45

Keith

Keith, you are a FREAK! Hahaha

Love the black coffee, hey, what kind do you drink?

When I train in the morning I do different things depending:

1) 2 pieces whole wheat toast w/ honey + 40 grams whey
2) 40 grams whey + 2 TBSP Nat PB

What I might do this year is:

40 Grams WMS + 40 Grams Whey Protein

ANYTHING that is strong....if Winston cigarettes made coffee I'd be drinking it!

[hossjob]

hahaha - just wondering. I used to drink folgers, but my bro in law bought me a $100 gift card to starbucks for helping him move and now I'm addicted to it.

BTW, how far out form a show do you cut coffee?

[EBA84]

This has got to be the most horrible thing in the world. I trained at 6 am this morning. I have never done this before but had to due to other obligations today. I think I finally woke up half way through the workout.

I am sure you would get used to it eventually but I have no intentions of doing it that long. lol

[QuietBob]

I trained in the early mornings all the way through medical internship and residency (often had to be at the hospital at 6am to start rounding on patients or start an ER shift at 6:30).
As has been mentioned, prepare all of your stuff ahead of time; I still do that routinely.

I liked to have at least an hour between waking and training--time to wake up, use the bathroom, mentally prep for the day.
Automatic coffee maker would have my coffee ready and I'd have as many cups as possible before leaving (and yes, very strong coffee, black).
I don't like to lift on an empty stomach so usually a protein shake before as I'm not real hungry when I wake up as much as I'm thirsty--eating takes a little more time and is more difficult for me. Post workout shake in the car taken on the ride home.

Hossjob: I drink coffee the whole way through, even the day of a show. Very, very strong coffee when I wakeup show-day, a couple of cups. Note, though, I do not cut water for a show.
Also, a bit of advice: if you're hooked on Starbucks, when that gift certificate runs out your wallet is going to start feeling the pain. Invest in a decent coffee maker and make your own at home--I get 2.5 lb bags of Starbucks French Roast at Costco for about the price of 4 of their large cups of coffee and just grind and brew myself. Bigtime money saver! That will become more and more important to you over the next several months with a new child...

Bob

[Tim Wescott]

I drink more coffeee than the law allows,all year long...........pre-contest is even more! #smileycoffee9lo#

[RUBICON19]

admin said:

I drink more coffeee than the law allows,all year long...........pre-contest is even more! #smileycoffee9lo#

How much does the law allow?

[Tim Wescott]

rubicon19 said:

admin said:

I drink more coffeee than the law allows,all year long...........pre-contest is even more! #smileycoffee9lo#

How much does the law allow?

The law allows a lot,and I drink way more than a lot !

[ntrllftr]

I worked second shift for many years and had to work out in the morning.
Like others have said I didn't eat b4 the gym either. I would shower then down an energy drink on the way to the gym.

[BigMikeReed]

Ok Randy- I got my Vasocharge today- we'll see.... ;D

[RUBICON19]

bigmikereed said:

Ok Randy- I got my Vasocharge today- we'll see.... ;D

If you plan to use carbs, you can mix 2 scoops Vaso w/ 1 scoop Waxy Maize Starch + 1 scoop Xtend (BCAA's), then Post workout do WMS + BCAA's + Protein