Morning workout

[bass]

Is there any benefit first thing in the morning or is afternoon just as good?

 

[myosin]

3 parts

I see three benefits to morning workouts: physical, mental, convenience

1) Physical: by working out in the morning you have set your muscles to be more insulin sensitive throughout the remainder of the day. You then have a more than likely chance your nutrients will be used for energy and anabolism rather than fat storage.

2) Mental: it's simply just great to get your workout "out of the way" first thing in the morning. I go around 6 am and it's nice to be able to focus on the whole day's activities instead of having my workout in the back of my mind. I'm more likely to skip a PM workout than an AM.

Also, in the morning, people are little more serious about their workout. They have to go to work, etc. so they are fairly focused (not that people in the afternoon aren't, but perhaps a little less than AM-ers).

3) Convenience: my gym is actually fairly good sized, but in the afternoon/evening, it is so packed it is frustrating. There are still enough people in the AM to spot.

Morning workout con: My CNS is not fully charged up yet. I get up at 5, take some tyrosine, yohimbe and either Clen or Eph yet I know my CNS is not fully "on". I am actually about 15% stronger in the PM. BUT good news- your muscle doesn't know the difference. All it knows is how much force is being applied.

Afternoon/evening workout con: on the flip side, say you work out and then can only have one or two meals after? Then you go 6-8 hours with no nutrients after the muscles have been exhausted.

At the end of day: either one is beneficial because you've worked out- there are plenty of big guys who do workout in the PM. HOWEVER- which one is "best"? If I had to choose one based on the above mentioned, it would be AM.

 

[qazzaq9]

I see three benefits to morning workouts: physical, mental, convenience

1) Physical: by working out in the morning you have set your muscles to be more insulin sensitive throughout the remainder of the day. You then have a more than likely chance your nutrients will be used for energy and anabolism rather than fat storage.

2) Mental: it's simply just great to get your workout "out of the way" first thing in the morning. I go around 6 am and it's nice to be able to focus on the whole day's activities instead of having my workout in the back of my mind. I'm more likely to skip a PM workout than an AM.

Also, in the morning, people are little more serious about their workout. They have to go to work, etc. so they are fairly focused (not that people in the afternoon aren't, but perhaps a little less than AM-ers).

3) Convenience: my gym is actually fairly good sized, but in the afternoon/evening, it is so packed it is frustrating. There are still enough people in the AM to spot.

Morning workout con: My CNS is not fully charged up yet. I get up at 5, take some tyrosine, yohimbe and either Clen or Eph yet I know my CNS is not fully "on". I am actually about 15% stronger in the PM. BUT good news- your muscle doesn't know the difference. All it knows is how much force is being applied.

Afternoon/evening workout con: on the flip side, say you work out and then can only have one or two meals after? Then you go 6-8 hours with no nutrients after the muscles have been exhausted.

At the end of day: either one is beneficial because you've worked out- there are plenty of big guys who do workout in the PM. HOWEVER- which one is "best"? If I had to choose one based on the above mentioned, it would be AM.

Very good points. I also work out in the morning because of those reasons, plus I train at a local college, so the people in the gym at that time are usually serious trainers and have the get in, hit it hard, and get out mentality that I gel with. On the flip side in the afternoon and evening hours you get the posse workouts clogging equipment, the incessant blabbers, and the bench press and squat rack curler workouts that seem more popular than ever. I've never trained in any town gym that's is bad as this school gym is actually. So even though physically I'm not at 100% yet, mentally it's more than worth it to train early.

 

[RECESSION PROOF]

actually there was a study done where they took a group of weight trained males and broke them up into 2 groups. The morning workout group and the afternoon workout group. The guys that worked out later in the day all had better results, first of all fat loss.

I can find the artical if anyone cares

 

[halflife]

You can train your body to wake up that early... it will adapt.

But one thing I remember Poliquin preaching was your grip suck... but I think that goes hand in hand with CNS witch can adjust.

Also check out the average 'anabolic' hormonal level at different time of the day

 

[myosin]

Interesting, and AM hormone levels

1) That's interesting about the study mentioned. I'm sure it's quite possible. But, I like to pick apart study's in the details (weight trained, non-weight trained, programed diet, no programed diet, study group size for proper statistical significance, other influencing factors, yadda yadda).

2) To the latter post- I think I know what you are referring to: testosterone levels are higher in AM.

 

[thebrick]

I used to workout early years ago (as in deadlifting at 6:00 in the AM ). I loved it, my body was on a morning clock and I always got a workout in first thing. Nothing got in the way. I felt charged for the day too. Flip side was I wanted to crash about 8:00 at night. When I switched to afternoon workouts it took a while to get used to that. I have read studies that say that you are strongest in the afternoon, but I say whatever works best for your schedule is the way to go.

 

[AN3M4L]

I used to workout early years ago (as in deadlifting at 6:00 in the AM ). I loved it, my body was on a morning clock and I always got a workout in first thing. Nothing got in the way. I felt charged for the day too. Flip side was I wanted to crash about 8:00 at night. When I switched to afternoon workouts it took a while to get used to that. I have read studies that say that you are strongest in the afternoon, but I say whatever works best for your schedule is the way to go.

I've heard your hormones peak in the afternoon though it is not enough that it will make or break your workout. The effect isn't even noticed.

 

[myosin]

Statistical significance

I've heard your hormones peak in the afternoon though it is not enough that it will make or break your workout. The effect isn't even noticed.

While I am open to that notion, I believe a study I read YEARS ago was that T is higher in the morning. BUT- I agree completely about "make or break your workout." One of the points to consider is the statistical significance. Is the difference all that noticeable? Very good point to consider. A computer at 2.5 GHz versus 2.9GHz- you won't see a difference (just pay more).

If I gained a pound more muscle in the PM, but it interfered with my life too much (work, school, family, putting up with "posse workout's" and squat stand curlers) is it really worth it?

 

[buselmo]

Myosin,

You made some very good points there, but i tend to have another point of view. for arguements sake, here they are

1) Physical: by working out in the morning you have set your muscles to be more insulin sensitive throughout the remainder of the day. You then have a more than likely chance your nutrients will be used for energy and anabolism rather than fat storage.

This is assuming that your body functionality is based on a 24hr cycle. the way i see it, it's not. plus, you can argue that if you fast for 8 hrs (sleeping) your insulin sensitivity will also be high. If this weren't true, why is it that so many competitors do a depletion workout 1 week out of the contest with no carbs, then 2 or 3 days later load up on carbs and they just explode?

2) Mental: it's simply just great to get your workout "out of the way" first thing in the morning. I go around 6 am and it's nice to be able to focus on the whole day's activities instead of having my workout in the back of my mind. I'm more likely to skip a PM workout than an AM.

Also, in the morning, people are little more serious about their workout. They have to go to work, etc. so they are fairly focused (not that people in the afternoon aren't, but perhaps a little less than AM-ers).

the first point you mentioned is spot on!... i fully agree
second point, it depends on the person. I workout in the afternoon and i psych myself up all day til i workout. i tried to work out in the morning last year, and it was miserable... all that was on my mind during my work out was "shit, gotta hurry and cut this short so i won't be late for work"

3) Convenience: my gym is actually fairly good sized, but in the afternoon/evening, it is so packed it is frustrating. There are still enough people in the AM to spot.

bullseye! great point and this was the best thing about morning workouts.

At the end of day: either one is beneficial because you've worked out- there are plenty of big guys who do workout in the PM. HOWEVER- which one is "best"? If I had to choose one based on the above mentioned, it would be AM.

fully agree... in the end, it depends on which pros outweigh the cons for YOU.

 

[myosin]

Insulin sensitivity- good point

Yes, good point actually- in the morning your insulin sensitivity is highest, I am just more concerned about the prior 6-8 hours of non-feeding.

As far as the glycogen depletion/reloading aspect, the muscle might "super-compensate" (if there is such a thing) with glycogen storage thus giving the muscle a larger look, but the actual amount of muscle mass may not be as much... come competition time I'm sure you know the guys look their best, but are weaker than before. So, that "popped" look is only temporary.

Yes, I agree completely about the morning pressure though- I drive my daughter to school in the morning, so if I get up late or to the gym late I really have to press myself and sometimes cut short, which sucks.

Yes, having your workout as something to "look forward to" or "psyche yourself" throughout the day is beneficial for the right person. Another person may say to themselves, "This sucks, I still need to go push my butt at the gym after this." Haha, different psyche's.

Thanks for the other angles of thought!

 

[jm425]

I've found that morning workouts are good for me. I've tried working out in the afternoon, after work, but never in the evening. In the morning, I'm more focused on my lifts and my energy level is a lot better. During the few occasions that I have lifted in the afternoon, I felt like I was dragging ass and my concentration wasn't there. IMO, I think that you should be focused mentally before lifting whether it be the morning or afternoon. If you aren't then there is no point.

 

[halflife]

I've heard your hormones peak in the afternoon though it is not enough that it will make or break your workout. The effect isn't even noticed.

Studies show there are two peaks.

 

[Chrisco915]

actually there was a study done where they took a group of weight trained males and broke them up into 2 groups. The morning workout group and the afternoon workout group. The guys that worked out later in the day all had better results, first of all fat loss.

I can find the artical if anyone cares

You know I read this too....reecently.......I will look for it too.
It was in MD right?

 

[myosin]

side note-

Please excuse the cheesiness- I work with 4-6 women 12 hours a day so maybe some estrogen is being absorbed via osmosis but in light of all the posts about this board goind down the drain a couple weeks ago and people complaining about how many jerks there are posting, this is the kind of thread I think represents ProMuscle: able to have polite disagreements and discussions with respect.

If you want change, make change.

 

[j8282]

I prefer to do cardio am then workout evenings. Since we dont have kids, convience isnt a problem. I do feel I drop alot more fat easier mornings than afternoons. IF I try cardio afternoons I seem to always blow it off.