lora-kate1
Cathlete
Do you eat before you workout in the morning? If so, what and how long do you wait before working out?
Any 5am-ers out there?
- Thread starter Carolina Girl
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princessbear
Cathlete
I know it is best to eat before working out (especially weighttraining), but there is not time - I have a cup of coffee before and make sure I down a protein shake right after.
MCunningham
Cathlete
All you morning worker-outers...
I'm considering switching my workouts to the morning before work because I just can't seem to consistently work out in the evenings now... so many things seem to come up.
The only thing is, I always feel like garbage when I work out first thing in the morning. I feel tight, light-headed, and kind of nauseated, and my heartbeat SKYROCKETS when I workout in the mornings. I feel like I don't get a very good workout because I get out of breath so quickly and easily...
So, question-- any suggestions on what I could do either the morning of or the night before to minimize my misery during morning workouts? Any advice from anyone??
I really feel so much better doing them in the afternoons, but I'm just not getting them done...
So my options are 1.) don't workout at all, or 2.) workout first thing in the A.M. and not get a real great workout and feel like crap. Terrible options.
MC
I'm considering switching my workouts to the morning before work because I just can't seem to consistently work out in the evenings now... so many things seem to come up.
The only thing is, I always feel like garbage when I work out first thing in the morning. I feel tight, light-headed, and kind of nauseated, and my heartbeat SKYROCKETS when I workout in the mornings. I feel like I don't get a very good workout because I get out of breath so quickly and easily...
So, question-- any suggestions on what I could do either the morning of or the night before to minimize my misery during morning workouts? Any advice from anyone??
I really feel so much better doing them in the afternoons, but I'm just not getting them done...
So my options are 1.) don't workout at all, or 2.) workout first thing in the A.M. and not get a real great workout and feel like crap. Terrible options. MC
RapidBreath
Cathlete
a little trick
Use solar spectrum bulbs for the lighting you use to workout with. They make it much easier. And are cheap. Just get a few at Home Depot or some other hardware store. They say "solar spectrum" and it feels more like working out in the sunlight and helps you wake up.
I normally get up at 6 am for my WO. When I was in school I would do the 5 am thing. You get used to it. And don't beat yourself up if you go to sleep earlier in the evening. There is no shame in sleep
Use solar spectrum bulbs for the lighting you use to workout with. They make it much easier. And are cheap. Just get a few at Home Depot or some other hardware store. They say "solar spectrum" and it feels more like working out in the sunlight and helps you wake up.
I normally get up at 6 am for my WO. When I was in school I would do the 5 am thing. You get used to it. And don't beat yourself up if you go to sleep earlier in the evening. There is no shame in sleep
princessbear
Cathlete
I think it just takes time to get used to the morning workouts. I personally feel way better and stronger in the morning -even without a pre-workout meal!
RapidBreath
Cathlete
snack before
I always snag an egg before the wo and then eat a meal after. Lately I'm eating a banana, a slice of whole grain bread, and whatever else appeals to me.
I always snag an egg before the wo and then eat a meal after. Lately I'm eating a banana, a slice of whole grain bread, and whatever else appeals to me.
shanihib
Cathlete
What you describe sounds like reactive hypoglycemia (I get it a lot). Try eating something high in easily digestible energy beforehand. I break up Nature Valley Oat & Honey granola bars into 4 pieces (two come in a pack, so I break each one in half) and then eat one piece. It is 45 calories, but it does the trick. No more low blood sugar! And because it is so small, it doesn't give me a stomachache and I can eat it immediately beforehand. Give it a try, finding out I had hypoglycemia and how to manage it changed my life.
Wow, and here I've been whining to myself lately on how I have to get up at 4:45 a.m. to get in a workout before heading to work! But I read about you 3:30 a.m.-ers and I don't feel the right to whine about it anymore!
I'm just curious - I wake up by 4:45 a.m. every day during the week and am usually in bed that night by 8:30 p.m. at night. Just curious what time the 3:30 a.m. people are going to bed at night ???
Terri
I'm just curious - I wake up by 4:45 a.m. every day during the week and am usually in bed that night by 8:30 p.m. at night. Just curious what time the 3:30 a.m. people are going to bed at night ???
Terri
shanihib
Cathlete
I do have to sacrifice sleep. I know it isn't good... but I can't fit it all in. I am in bed by 9pm most nights, and 9:30pm some nights. I really need 7.5 hours of sleep to function well, but the endorphins from exercise seems to compensate some for it. Weekends I get more sleep. Oh and if I'm hitting the wall, I crash early! Or I skip the next day's workout.
princessbear
Cathlete
I'm not a 3:30 am person - but I am up around 4:30-4:40 and try to get to bed by 9 - but some nights it's not until 10:30... wish I COULD sleep in on weekends. My internal clock (and my cat, Princess) has me up by 5:30-6:00 on weekends too!!
currently i get up at 5:30 to get my workouts in. I have tried afternoons and evenings but i just don't like it. i'm so tired by the days end that the last thing i want to do is push myself for another hour. there are many days when i hate getting up at the butt crack of dawn but i just do it. i go on autopilot and i never regret doing it. come january i will have to get up at 4:45 for about 2 months. i notice my attitude is much better when i workout first thing in the morning too.
What to eat before?
I have read that weight training on an empty stomache is a big no no. You should eat something at least a half hour before your workout (ex: protein shake 1/2 cup of strawberries) but If I'm waking up at 3:30am to workout does this mean that I have to now get up at 3:00am? Thats crazy!!! I read that is okay to do cardio on an empty stomach but why not weight training? I dont get it whats the difference? I also read the reason being is because when weight training in the am your muscle's need energy and if your dont eat anything it will burn your muscle as energy. Before I read this I would always workout in the morning and never eat anything I didnt have time and quite honestly I didnt see a difference and I didnt feel a difference. But now because of this have totally changed my workout routine and workout in the evening or early night and it sucks!! I feel like I'm in a rush and like I'm taking time away from my 3 year old not to mention all the interuptions. Any advice anybody????? Thanks
I have read that weight training on an empty stomache is a big no no. You should eat something at least a half hour before your workout (ex: protein shake 1/2 cup of strawberries) but If I'm waking up at 3:30am to workout does this mean that I have to now get up at 3:00am? Thats crazy!!! I read that is okay to do cardio on an empty stomach but why not weight training? I dont get it whats the difference? I also read the reason being is because when weight training in the am your muscle's need energy and if your dont eat anything it will burn your muscle as energy. Before I read this I would always workout in the morning and never eat anything I didnt have time and quite honestly I didnt see a difference and I didnt feel a difference. But now because of this have totally changed my workout routine and workout in the evening or early night and it sucks!! I feel like I'm in a rush and like I'm taking time away from my 3 year old not to mention all the interuptions. Any advice anybody????? Thanks
lcobb2
Cathlete
I get up every day at 4am to start cardio at 4:30. I have to do this as I have clients who I train at 5:30am. After my last client, depending on the day, I will do more cardio or lift. I don't like getting up this early, but it gets the workout done and nothing else conflicts with my workout.
if you noticed no difference when you didn't eat before weight training vs. eating then do what works best for your schedule. i know a lot of people say eat but like you mention, i don't have the time for this and i have been training this way for almost 10yrs with no ill effects. i can't even suck down a protein shake that early in the morning so i just do whats best for me and eat a good breakfast afterwards.
A new baby
After I had my first baby I use to workout between 5-5:30am, then came my second and moved to 5am, then came my twins and had to move it to 4am. Now, with my 5th one and a home base childcare with children getting here as early as 5am I have to get up between 2-2:30am to start at 3am. On the weekends when my children have early morning games in order for me to get everything done my workout, laundry, clean house, take a shower, blow drye my hair and have breakfast ready by 5am I have to get up at 1:30 am I'm done working out by 3am. Everyone thinks I'm crazy but I will not make no excuses not to workout!
After I had my first baby I use to workout between 5-5:30am, then came my second and moved to 5am, then came my twins and had to move it to 4am. Now, with my 5th one and a home base childcare with children getting here as early as 5am I have to get up between 2-2:30am to start at 3am. On the weekends when my children have early morning games in order for me to get everything done my workout, laundry, clean house, take a shower, blow drye my hair and have breakfast ready by 5am I have to get up at 1:30 am I'm done working out by 3am. Everyone thinks I'm crazy but I will not make no excuses not to workout!
jtlane25
Cathlete
I do...
I am an early bird workout gal. I get up at 4:05 drink my coffee and get on the boards, check email etc....and by 4:45 I'm pushing play on my DvD player. I have done that for 9 years now. With 4 kiddos....that is the ONLY time I can guarantee it will get done. Because as the day unfolds....I can't guarantee something as simple as a potty break!
I am an early bird workout gal. I get up at 4:05 drink my coffee and get on the boards, check email etc....and by 4:45 I'm pushing play on my DvD player. I have done that for 9 years now. With 4 kiddos....that is the ONLY time I can guarantee it will get done. Because as the day unfolds....I can't guarantee something as simple as a potty break!
princessbear
Cathlete
That's NUTS! God Bless you... so what time do you go to bed - 6 pm?