Switchin upto early morning workouts....

[asim]

Hey guys. Heres the deal. I'm starting university again in a week and i've seen my schedule. I'm not gonna be able to workout at my usual 11.30-12.30 time cause of classes so i've decided to become one of the early morning guys.

Couple of reasons. I hate crowds so early morning there will be no one there. I can get my workout done and have the rest of the day to concentrate on eating and studying.

I think theres only one thing on my mind right now. And thats preworkout nutrition.
I'll be in the gym at 6.30am. probably 30 mins to an hour after i wake up. What would you suggest i eat before the workout. A full meal, or jus a shake to get me going.
I dunno if i'd throw up the food while working out, or if it would make me feel sluggish.

So I was just hoping for some advice from you guys. And those of you who do workout in the morning it would be great to hear about its benefits and downfalls.

[jimpaul]

can you possibly make it an hour before you hit the gym, at least?

[In-Human]

Do what your stomach can handle, if you like a shake thats fine, but add some kind of complew low glycemic carb, do what ever you can do with a 30-45 minute window prior...

[asim]

Do what your stomach can handle, if you like a shake thats fine, but add some kind of complew low glycemic carb, do what ever you can do with a 30-45 minute window prior...

Sounds good maybe i'll benefit from a small bowl of oatmeal or something like that.

[Jishuku]

I wake up 5am, eat my porridge and protein shake at 5.30.. go to the gym 6.30. works fine for me.. but I know some people have a difficult time eating in the morning, but luckily I'm not one of them.
It doesn't make me sluggish or anything. But I really try to go to bed and get up at the same time every day, even non training days.. just doesn't work otherwise.

Pros: No people in the gym.. choose my own music, never wait for a machine, can scream and pose all I want. :P Have all evening to hang out with my girl.

Cons: All good TV shows are always after bedtime now. *sob*

[bigp3]

good luck I know I hate to work out early.... I like to have at least 2 meals in me before I hit the gym. I know a lot of people dig the early workouts I just know it is not for me

[asim]

During my summer ive been waking up at 10am and going to the gym at 11.30 then sleeping around 1am or so. But cant always do that.

Im sure the morning thing will workout . And i think i agree with u Jishuku. Have to get up early every morning otherwise it wont work. Trying to wake up early only on training days i wont settle into it.

[ctgblue]

on the days I go early, it's up at 430, in the gym by 5
the only thing I eat is
1 scoop nectar, 1 scoop swole, 1 scoop ice (BCAA's), 1/2 scoop dextrose, 1/2 scoop fructose
If I am in a rush, I'll drop the nectar
Then I hit the same in the gym after the last set, and slam my morning shake at 630-700 before I leave for work

[Subliminal]

Is it necesary to have a meal before you workout early? When I was training at 6am I would get up and go straight to the gym. I always take my pwo shake with me.

[asim]

Is it necesary to have a meal before you workout early? When I was training at 6am I would get up and go straight to the gym. I always take my pwo shake with me.

Well i'd think having slept 6-8 hours with no food or drink. Something might be needed.

[Gollum]

I train early and I have a small bowl of oatmeal and a protein shake made with water. This doesnt make me feel sluggish or sick at all. I only use 30 grams of protein pre workout and then have a monster post workout shake. Usually I have this meal about 30-45 minutes before I hit the gym. Been doing this for over a year now and its now second nature.

[Brian]

I try to eat as little as possible before working out in the mornings. Usually I'll just drink some milk or green tea to fill me up temporarily, then eat like a madman after the workout is over.

I'm in a similar situation, actually. You may find that your overall energy level is noticeably higher when training in the morning.

[PTAaron]

This is a question I was actually planning on asking, so I'm glad you asked it for me

I have been doing the morning workout thing for a long time - but I have a hard time getting up with enough time to eat... I generally chug a shake with 2 scoops of optimum whey, 2 cups of milk, and my creatine/arginine/glutamine mixed in as I drive up to the gym - haven't really had any problems with it so far, but I've been noticing that I tend to run out of steam toward the end of the leg workouts - which never used to happen...

My general thought - and correct me if I'm wrong - is that not eating would be a really poor choice, mainly because while you sleep your body has depleted your liver stores of glycogen, and you are burning up protein to create glycogen to fuel your brain... so hitting the gym without some food for fuel will put you into an even more catabolic state, which is pretty much contrary to the entire idea of this program!

[Subliminal]

Well i'd think having slept 6-8 hours with no food or drink. Something might be needed.

Yeah but I get up in the middle of the night right up to about 3am and have milk, or some sort of protein, sometimes PB or mixed nuts as well! I just figured I was good to go!