A question for the early birds

jharris

jharris

Cathlete
I workout about 5:30-6:00am. I exercise on an empty stomach. Some mornings I feel sluggish and tired but power through.They are not my best workouts but I get them done. I am wondering if it would be beneficial to get up a little earlier and have something to snack on or my morning coffee. On days when I don't have work or be somewhere early, I workout later in the morning, after I have had breakfast and been up for while. On those days I have more energy to give it my all.


For the snackers what do you eat? I need something quick and easy with little prep or something that can be prepped the night before. I don't want to wake DH up preparing something.


Jenn
 
I usually workout between 6 and 7am. I prepare my meal the night before. I make a oatmeal breakfast.
1/4 cup of oatmeal
1/2 cup of almond milk
A tablespoon of raisins or sultanas
Juice from half an orange.

I let this soak overnight in the fridge. It's soo tasty. I'm guessing you could increase the protein in the oatmeal by adding a few almond flakes.
 
When I work out early 5:30 -6:30 am I get up by about 4:50 so that I can have like 2 slices of Ezikel toast and a 4oz glass of OJ. It definetly gives me energy to do my workouts. I used to workout on an empty stomach and had the same type of sluggish workout you are having. After my workout I shower and then somewhere around 8:00am I have a bowl of Oatmeal.

Hope this helps.
 
I just cannot workout on a full stomach or really anything solid in my stomach. I have a strong cup of tea--not the teabag variety--and I am good to go. Eat oatmeal and fruit after the workout and walking the dogs.
 
You usually don't want a large meal before a workout or your digestion will be stalled as the body directs all energy and blood to the working muscles and you can get an upset tummy. So whatever you eat make it small and quick digesting like a handful of grapes, or half a banana, or an apple. A small quick digesting protein shake might help with quick energy too. Avoid fats before a workout as they take long to digest. Everybody is different though so try a few ideas above, see what works for you and pay attention to signals your body gives you.
If you are only doing 30 mins though, you won't need much. Maybe just some organic coconut water to drink for some powerful electrolytes!
 
I find that just having the coffee helps.

For really long and/or butt-kicking workouts, I try to save those for the weekend or make some time in the afternoon. There's just no time in the morning for me to eat something - I get up at 4am and have to be out the door by 5:30...and there ain't no way I'm getting up any earlier just to digest snacks in advance of a workout.
 
I always have my coffee! And like Rapidbreath I eat half a banana and about 1T of peanut butter 30 mins before most of my workouts.
 
I don't usually. Because I'm on thyroid meds, I have to wait at least a half hour after I take them to eat, then you should wait a bit after eating to workout... I'm up at 5:45 and just don't have that kind of time. I'm only running or walking the dogs in the morning so it's not a big deal and I have plenty of energy.

I do the weight workouts after work, so I've been eating all day at that point. For a weekend weight workout, I definitely eat before.
 
Afreet said:
I find that just having the coffee helps.

For really long and/or butt-kicking workouts, I try to save those for the weekend or make some time in the afternoon. There's just no time in the morning for me to eat something - I get up at 4am and have to be out the door by 5:30...and there ain't no way I'm getting up any earlier just to digest snacks in advance of a workout.
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I am right there with you. My alarm goes off at 3:50am and am downstairs usually by 4:00-4:10am (depending on how fast I am moving). No time to eat anything.
We are out of the house by 5:50am, I do eat after my workout, nothing too grand, activia yogurt and hard boiled egg.

Rhonda
 
PhyllisG said:
I just cannot workout on a full stomach or really anything solid in my stomach.
Click to expand...

Same here. I usually have a mini protein shake: 1 scoop whey powder w/ 1cup almond milk and a tbsp of flax. It has really helped me keep my energy during and after my morning workouts.
 
Not to highjack... but for your early birds- have you always been an early riser?? If not, how did you convert yourself? I know I "should" get up earlier, but yowza it's tough!! I don't stay up super late-usually in bed by 10pm at the latest and get up around 7:30.

Just curious for some motivation.

Pam
 
Thanks everyone for the replies. I'm such a procrastinator about getting out of bed in the morning that I don't think I will ever get up an earlier then I have to just to have food in my belly and certainly not enough time to wait a half hour for it to digest.

Pam, I have not always been a morning person, I still don't think I am. I get up and workout in the morning because it won't happen when I get home from work. I just make myself do it. I too go to bed rather early 10-10:30 and aim to get up at 5-5:30.

Jenn
 
I do all pure cardio on an empty stomach because I just can't handle the feeling of food sloshing around in my stomach and I get up way to early to let it sit for :30 and digest.

For weight lifting and circuit workouts, I eat a couple dates, prunes, or dried figs. Not many, just 1-2.

I get up really early depending on the length of the workout. For the last several months, I have been getting up at 3 am :eek: but that is because most of my workouts have been around 70 minutes and I have been taking my two dogs for a walk afterwards. Now that it is getting colder, the dogs will have to wait until the afternoon to go on their walk.

For workouts that are less than 60 minutes, I sleep in a little a get up around 3:30! ;)

This schedule probably won't get any better with the winter months coming. I will need to make sure I have plenty of driving time when the ice and snow hit the fan!
 
I forgot to mention that I was not always an early riser. However, if I don't do my workout first thing in the morning and instead wait until the afternoon when I get home from work, I found every excuse in the book for why I couldn't work out.

I probably would get better weight lifting results if I did those in the afternoon but I have actually become used to getting up early and getting my workout in and done for the day. It really helps me feel like I accomplished something. And because I did something good for myself that early, it pretty much sets the tone for the rest of the day helping me to stay on track with continuing to fit in fitness (taking the stairs and walking more) when I can and eating better throughout the day. I got up early to work out and did such a good job, there is no way I am throwing away all that hard work by blowing it with bad eating habits! :p
 
I guess you could say I have been an early riser it seems forever. I started due to going to night school and not having time in the evenings for workouts. It has become a habit and I am in bed by 9pm sometimes 9:30 but am up by 4am and get my workout in. It gets easier as time goes on and since I have been doing it for 20+ years I don't even think about it.

Yes, some days are hard to get out of bed and those days are usually my shorter workouts but for the most part I can get in 45-50 minutes before work.

Evenings are a shot in the dark. If I have time, I will do a yoga/stretch workout. usually around 20-30 minutes. I try to do this 2-3 times a week, and shoot for more if I can.

Sundays are my rest day and I usually do absolutely nothing, which isn't good but my body needs that rest.

I do feel so much better when the workout is done.

Rhonda
 
I get up at 4:47 & start my workouts by 5:10 or so. Before workingout I eat 1/2 serving of greek yogurt mixed with 1/2 scoop (1/4 serving) muscle milk. Oh so yummy & helps fuel my workout.
 
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