Morning Gym Folks

[Merey]

So, who here goes to the gym in the morning before work? I've always gone after work because I don't really have enough time during lunch and I HATE the morning. But for a little over a year now, ever since I was promoted, I've had a hard time getting there after work because I can work until any time between 6pm and midnight. And, as you'd guess, when I have to stay at the office until 9pm the last thing I want to do is go to the gym.

So, starting tomorrow morning I'm going to try going in the morning.

Now, how long should it take me to establish a morning gym routine? Will I ever like it?

GAH! I hate the morning so very much!

[Haunt]

So, who here goes to the gym in the morning before work? I've always gone after work because I don't really have enough time during lunch and I HATE the morning. But for a little over a year now, ever since I was promoted, I've had a hard time getting there after work because I can work until any time between 6pm and midnight. And, as you'd guess, when I have to stay at the office until 9pm the last thing I want to do is go to the gym.

So, starting tomorrow morning I'm going to try going in the morning.

Now, how long should it take me to establish a morning gym routine? Will I ever like it?

GAH! I hate the morning so very much!

i work second shift; 4-12. i exlusively work out in the mornings because it's when i'm at my best; most relaxed and energized. the gym is also a lot emptier. i just get in my hour workout, do a few errands, and then sleep until i have to go to work. it makes the day more enjoyable to me when i've gotten stuff like that out of the way early. not everyone's a morning person though.

[Gilda Dent]

It depends on how you feel about your morning routine. It took three or four months before I reached the point that I actually enjoyed my morning run, but now it's something I roll out of bed looking forward to. Up between 4:30 and 5:00, and out on the track usually about half an hour later. It helps give me energy for the day and it's a nice, peaceful way to relax and prepare mentally for the day do come without any distractions. I still do toning work, abs and legs mostly, in the afternoons, but I get antsy if I miss my morning run two days in a row.

[macul]

I work out in the morning, but at home. My days alternate between weights and cardio. I much prefer morning workouts to evening. While everyone else is downing eight cups of coffee to wake up at work, I'm wide eyed and ready to go. Nothing beats a good morning exercise to start the day off.

[BoosterBronze]

I cant move very well until about 8:30-9:00 in the morning. On days I dont work I try to get to the gym around those times. Usually I work at 6:45, so I'm stuck gyming it in the afternoon, but I prefer mornings.

I tried making it to the gym at 5:00. I was just to listless and lame.

[Dan Apodaca]

I work out in the morning, but at home. My days alternate between weights and cardio. I much prefer morning workouts to evening. While everyone else is downing eight cups of coffee to wake up at work, I'm wide eyed and ready to go. Nothing beats a good morning exercise to start the day off.

Actually, there's a whole list of things!

Sleeping in and waking up to breakfast.
A handjob.
Finding money in your pants when you put them on.
Hearing that your most hated TV show has been cancelled.
Wake and bake.
A blowjob.
Getting a voicemail from the night before from someone who loves you.
Your favorite song happens to be playing right when you wake up.



I could go on and on.

[Merey]

Hearing that your most hated TV show has been cancelled.

Yes, but alternatively, waking up to hear that your most hated tv show that was canceled has now been revived (see Seventh Heaven) is one of the worst things to wake up to.

[Dan Apodaca]

Yes, but alternatively, waking up to hear that your most hated tv show that was canceled has now been revived (see Seventh Heaven) is one of the worst things to wake up to.

Merey, you have wonderful taste.

[Merey]

So, I've already failed. I set my alarm for 5:45am, but couldn't fall asleep until late, so when the alarm went off, I rolled over, turned it off and went back to sleep.

Okay, I'll try again tomorrow morning.

Morning = EVIL!

[Yoda]

The toughest thing is getting up and out on a monday. If i can do that, usually my sleep routine falls into place for the rest of the week. It's tough to fall asleep though. I get up at 4:45am to be at the gym by 5:30am. So usually i try to go to sleep by 10.

Oh, and caffine. Lots of caffine and Red Bull.

[Shellhead]

I don't mind a short run in the morning, like a mile. But otherwise, I don't do early morning workouts, because I'm short on energy. Even if I got up early enough to eat breakfast before the workout, there wouldn't be adequate time to digest before the workout, leaving me feeling too wiped out and sometimes with an upset stomach. On a weekend, I do sometimes enjoy a late-morning workout.

[Merey]

Oh, and caffine. Lots of caffine and Red Bull.

But doesn't the exercise give you that natural energy boost so you don't need the caffine?




Even if I got up early enough to eat breakfast before the workout, there wouldn't be adequate time to digest before the workout, leaving me feeling too wiped out and sometimes with an upset stomach.

See, I think this is going to be my problem. I can't eat early in the morning (can't stomach it), but going to the gym when you haven't eaten in 10 or so hours probably isn't good either.

[Shellhead]

See, I think this is going to be my problem. I can't eat early in the morning (can't stomach it), but going to the gym when you haven't eaten in 10 or so hours probably isn't good either.

Sometimes I work a long day at the office, especially during month-end close. I bring a Power Bar and a piece of fruit to eat an hour or two before I leave, then stop off at the gym to work out.

[Jeff Brady]

But doesn't the exercise give you that natural energy boost so you don't need the caffine?

Sure, after you've gotten used to the routine.

See, I think this is going to be my problem. I can't eat early in the morning (can't stomach it), but going to the gym when you haven't eaten in 10 or so hours probably isn't good either.

When you eat breakfast, the body takes whatever sugar is still in your blood and converts it to fat. A good 30 minute workout first thing in the morning before eating isn't a bad idea, but you're right to be concerned; you might feel dizzy or lose control. I suggest eating 1/4 to 1/2 of a protein bar since you have trouble eating early.

[Puma]

I do better working out in the evening because I have no good excuses but when I go in the morning I usually have a piece of toast with some peanut butter, it's not too heavy and protein bars upset my stomach. I wish I could workout in the a.m. but it is too easy to find something else that just 'must be done'.

[Yoda]

But doesn't the exercise give you that natural energy boost so you don't need the caffine?

At 5am I still need a little to prime the engine. I usually drink a red bull or something right before i work out anyways. They say having caffine prior to your workout increases your metabolism so you get more out of the work out as well.


See, I think this is going to be my problem. I can't eat early in the morning (can't stomach it), but going to the gym when you haven't eaten in 10 or so hours probably isn't good either

Have you tried something light? I usually do a light breakfast, about 250-400 calories which is some yogurt or one of those smoothie yogurt drinks. It's a little carbs to get me through my workout. I usually eat some protien right afterwards.

[Merey]

When you eat breakfast, the body takes whatever sugar is still in your blood and converts it to fat.

But then why is breakfast touted as the "most important meal of the day"? I know it's suppose to kick start your metabolism, but if you what you say is true, then wouldn't skipping breakfast be the best for people trying to lose weight?

I suggest eating 1/4 to 1/2 of a protein bar since you have trouble eating early.

Good idea. I'll try that.

[Shellhead]

But then why is breakfast touted as the "most important meal of the day"? I know it's suppose to kick start your metabolism, but if you what you say is true, then wouldn't skipping breakfast be the best for people trying to lose weight?


Skipping meals is a terrible way to lose weight. When your body misses a meal, it reacts as though this might be a famine situation, and primes itself to convert calories directly to fat, to more efficiently store energy for future needs.

[Jeff Brady]

But then why is breakfast touted as the "most important meal of the day"? I know it's suppose to kick start your metabolism, but if you what you say is true, then wouldn't skipping breakfast be the best for people trying to lose weight?

It is very important, it just doesn't have to be the very first thing you do. Skipping breakfast all together will make you crash harder. From everything I've read, you're supposed to eat six small meals a day. Each portion should be no larger than your fist. This apparently keeps your metabolism up. I think I read that this worked well for kmeyers.

[Forefinger]

When I can actually make myself, I go to the gym at 5 a.m. when it opens. I usually work out 30-45 mins. Most of the time I end up going in the afternoons with my wife because I'm too lazy to go in the morning. A lot of the time I'm too lazy to go in the afternoon too. I'm getting out of shape quickly. I need to buy a bowflex or something...

[hoffmandu]

I've been doing the morning routine for around 2 months now. It really sucked in the beginning, I was so fucking groggy! I took to surfing the internet while sucking down a pot of coffee to turn things around. i find once I "wake up" it gets a lot easier.

[Dan Apodaca]

I like to go home and go to sleep.

[Subotai]

It sucks at first - I mean really sucks - but I was surprised at how fast I got into it. I actually started to miss it the mornings I didn't go.

[Merey]

Okay, this sounds encouraging. I'll give it a go again tomorrow morning. This time I will fight hard not just turn off the alarm and sleep for another hour and a half.

Although, it would help if my gym were a little closer. It sucks knowing that once I get up I then have to trudge 1/2 mile or so to get there. I know, it's still exercise, but it cuts into the actually gym time.

[Puma]

Okay, this sounds encouraging. I'll give it a go again tomorrow morning. This time I will fight hard not just turn off the alarm and sleep for another hour and a half.

Although, it would help if my gym were a little closer. It sucks knowing that once I get up I then have to trudge 1/2 mile or so to get there. I know, it's still exercise, but it cuts into the actually gym time.

15 minutes to walk, 5 if you have a bike, that's not bad

[Thanos_6383]

Yep.Defenitly do my workout before work.Too tired at the end of the day to do anything.

[cactusmaac]

I used to do it in the morning before, but getting out of bed on time was a major issue, as well as fitting in a decent workout while still grabbing a shower and dealing with rush hour.

Now I go straight after work and doing so refreshes me after the long, hard mental slog and frustration of the working day.

[macul]

Okay, this sounds encouraging. I'll give it a go again tomorrow morning. This time I will fight hard not just turn off the alarm and sleep for another hour and a half.

Although, it would help if my gym were a little closer. It sucks knowing that once I get up I then have to trudge 1/2 mile or so to get there. I know, it's still exercise, but it cuts into the actually gym time.

Think of that "trudge" as more of a warmup. A brisk half mile walk/bike ride is good to get your body warmed up. Of course you'll want to do some stretching along with that.