Dads, when do you train?

[w4rr10r]

I'm a 39 year old father of two young kids and since I got into this about two years ago, I've been training after they go to bed. This usually means I get to the gym around 8:30 PM, and by the time I'm home, showered, get the PWO meal in, and wind back down, it's about 11:30, then I'm up again at about 6:00 or 6:30 AM.

Lately, I've found this is catching up to me in terms of daytime energy, focus, patience, etc., and have been considering early morning training. I can see pros and cons to both, so I thought I'd see how all the other dads are making it work.

 

[Splitzz]

Used to train in the am but was dead in the afternoon when I got home. Also have to be at work very early. Now I go on my way home. Up in the air about going in the morning again since I wake up ungodly early anymore.

 

[maxrep24]

Normally id stop after work to train around 3pm and then I’d pick up my daughter from daycare, but i recently just transitioned to a stay at home Dad so now i train in the morning around 7am

 

[Flex500]

Late afternoon / night is terrible time for me now. 5pm-ish is about the latest I can do it. Just too damn tired (I have a very stressful job, although not physically demanding). I also don't like super early morning...I leave that for cardio but I don't have weight training in me then. 11am-4pm is my sweet spot. I work from home when I'm not traveling and have a home gym so I can usually make it work.

 

[swm1972]

My kids are older and therefore more self sufficient, but on the weekends I go whenever it suites me. Weekdays, I get up at 3:30am, in the gym by 4:30, done around 6am and headed to work. I'd rather be tired at work through the day than burnt out and tired in the gym after work. I could never give it my all right before bed.

 

[monsterzombie666]

Because I work from a home office, I have some flexibility during the week to train in my home gym around 3:30 p.m., before picking up the kids around 5:00. On weekends, I usually train one or both mornings, around 9:00 a.m., without interruption. If I didn't have a home gym, I would probably go very early in the morning, even though that is definitely not my preferred training time.

 

[ThatGripGuy]

Right after work.

Grand dad now so no longer an issue

 

[Razor1414]

Used to train at 4am before work. My kids are now old enough to have gym memberships so we train together either before or after dinner. It’s awesome training as a family.

 

[monsterzombie666]

Used to train at 4am before work. My kids are now old enough to have gym memberships so we train together either before or after dinner. It’s awesome training as a family.

Looking forward to those days in the future, as my kids get older.

 

[IronMindset]

I have 2 boys, one who just turned 4 and another going on 6. I do my cardio at the asscrack of dawn before they get up. I’m blessed to have a fully remote job and afforded a ton of autonomy in my schedule, so weight training is typically done between meetings and other mandatory obligations. I try to block off an hour or two around lunch or a little later and go then.

If I had to punch the clock 9-5, I’d be going when you are now (when they went to bed) or would get up even earlier in the morning and knock it out then. I’d likely opt for the latter.

 

[parksisme]

My times are hit or miss especially in the summer, I have no one to watch son because my wife is working. Other gym I go to has daycare

 

[dantes]

I lift around 5am. I work from home so it gives me plenty of time. I usually have to watch my son after work so it’s the only time I can go

 

[IronRancher]

I work rotation but when I am home I train as soon as the kids are out the door for school and before I start farm chores. I prefer to avoid evening training where I can, I find my sleep more restorative when I train in the morning. It's tough with little ones though, especially if they are not school age.

If the kids are home (weekends) I always encourage them to train with me. Too many scrawny ass kids now days, figure its better for the boys to get jacked

 

[bigjay77]

Ive got 5 but youngest is 9. I have to do it in my basement gym. I get home, toss my things and right into the basement. Sometimes I have to lift a day early on my off day and move things around. Lower/upper split is best longer but less workouts.

Just squeeze it in anyway you can. You're going to miss some, just have to be flexible. Just don't compromise on diet.

 

[TheOtherOne55]

Early in the morning is the only time.
Personally, i would rather get my daughter to bed (8ish), watch one show with my wife, eat my last meal, and then climb into bed KNOWING i get up at 4am to hit the gym before my daughter gets up.

I work with a lot of BBers but i swear MOST of my roster is made up of dads trying to reignite their training, nutrition, etc...
And the FIRST THING I tell them is to shift their training toward the morning time. Get YOUR STUFF done before life, your career, your kids, your significant other alllll come at ya. Get YOU done first, at the ass crack of dawn and i swear the rest of your day will be easier and will have momentum. Ive done this for yearsss and have made crazy gains whiiile having a pretty normal life. I know lots of guys will say, "i'm not a morning person." If you're a dad, you're a fuckin morning person lol

 

[EdgeCrusher1982]

5am, but we go to bed at like 8- 8:30. It's also nice having it done so you have the free time after work to get life's other stuff done

 

[Sectør]

I'm a 39 year old father of two young kids and since I got into this about two years ago, I've been training after they go to bed. This usually means I get to the gym around 8:30 PM, and by the time I'm home, showered, get the PWO meal in, and wind back down, it's about 11:30, then I'm up again at about 6:00 or 6:30 AM.

Lately, I've found this is catching up to me in terms of daytime energy, focus, patience, etc., and have been considering early morning training. I can see pros and cons to both, so I thought I'd see how all the other dads are making it work.

Not a dad, but for me early mornings is the best way to do it.

Just kind of sets the tone for the day. Gets the metabolism going, get a good endorphine rush, get most of the adrenaline out, and less likely to get stressed out or have things phase me at work.

The only downside is the afternoon crashes can be brutal some days (but thank god for caffeine and modafinil, right?)

 

[A50#]

My kids are all grown and out on their own now but when they were younger I'd train late in the evening, close to bedtime. I'd train, have a protein shake or meal, shower then go to bed. Did this for years and made good gains.

 

[IronMindset]

I know lots of guys will say, "i'm not a morning person." If you're a dad, you're a fuckin morning person lol

Truth! I have had more early morning weight training sessions in the 5 years I’ve been a dad than the other 25 years of training prior. You have to do what you have to do. I always told myself I couldn’t warm up enough, I’m not awake, I’m stale, can’t get a good session…all of that magically seemed to disappear when I became a dad. Weird how that happens haha

 

[Mufasa123]

Early in the morning is the only time.
Personally, i would rather get my daughter to bed (8ish), watch one show with my wife, eat my last meal, and then climb into bed KNOWING i get up at 4am to hit the gym before my daughter gets up.

I work with a lot of BBers but i swear MOST of my roster is made up of dads trying to reignite their training, nutrition, etc...
And the FIRST THING I tell them is to shift their training toward the morning time. Get YOUR STUFF done before life, your career, your kids, your significant other alllll come at ya. Get YOU done first, at the ass crack of dawn and i swear the rest of your day will be easier and will have momentum. Ive done this for yearsss and have made crazy gains whiiile having a pretty normal life. I know lots of guys will say, "i'm not a morning person." If you're a dad, you're a fuckin morning person lol

Not a dad, but for me early mornings is the best way to do it.

Just kind of sets the tone for the day. Gets the metabolism going, get a good endorphine rush, get most of the adrenaline out, and less likely to get stressed out or have things phase me at work.

The only downside is the afternoon crashes can be brutal some days (but thank god for caffeine and modafinil, right?)

I train early for the same reasons mentioned:
1) no one else is awake to derail and pull me away yet. I do this for fun so kids/job/home come first.
2) starts the day on the right foot and motivates. An object in motion tends to stay in motion so a great positive start (even if a sub par workout) makes me better at everything else. I have come to view it as foundational to myself allowing me to perform physically, mentally better with good attitude.
3) IMPORTANT - I've found home gym equipment, even as an option to a regular gym membership, incredibly useful. Your own gym is never closed, no crap music, no one to wait on. I started with a basic rack, bench, weight just to have. Used it so much I ended up with a very solidly outfitted home gym and haven't had a gym membership I'm over a decade. Note that I also traveled heavily for work and became a single dad with a 4 and 9 year old (my mom moved in to help thank God) but this let me pull it off decently enough when my own interests usually came dead last.