Are early morning workouts as effective???

[motocruzer]

I was thinking about getting my workout overwith at 5am before i go to work.... i was just wondering if your body will grow as muchwith an early workout or if its better to wait until later.

[jp6v]

It doesn't matter.

[RavensFan2k3]

well since your test levels are highest during the day around that time...it may help actually

[stracin]

My workouts are always weaker in the morning. Over night, your energy stores become depleted. If you do workout int he mornings, make sure you are getting the nutrition you need.

[rockchalk420]

thats a good question.. my guess would be to eat healthy in the morning before and after your workout.. then throughout the rest of the day just make sure to fit in nutritional meals at certain set times... I do believe that it is actually healthier for you to get up early.. just make sure your body is getting enough Z's.

[VikingMan]

Depends. Some guys can pop out of bed and be ready to tackle the world. Those kinds of guys are more likely to do well lifting in the AM. Some guys take a few hours to even start thinking clearly. Those guys are less likely to do well lifting early. I'm the later. I can lift at 8PM and do GREAT. If I lift any earlier than noon, I'm in trouble.

[emf]

when i started competing i got hooked up with a pro bb in california.stan brice,
he got me started training at 2:00 am.
i have trained at this time ever since.
i have won major aau and ifbb contests, and one things for sure.
at that time of day there is nothing thats going to get in the way of your training.

[vicjg]

when i started competing i got hooked up with a pro bb in california.stan brice,
he got me started training at 2:00 am.
i have trained at this time ever since.
i have won major aau and ifbb contests, and one things for sure.
at that time of day there is nothing thats going to get in the way of your training.

I feel the same way I start at 4:30am and it's been working out fine.

[Canadian Iron]

Chronotype issues here.

ASPS for anyone lifting in the wee hours of the morning (before 5am). Lark type, going to bed between 7-9pm is as unhealthy as going to bed after 11pm. Just asking for worsened sleep issues, especially if its not routine (couple times a week). Worst issue: forcing the body to expend energy long before the brain is naturally supposed to be awake and functioning, and the body is still supposed to be in repair mode.

Those who work out in the early morning but lack the energy for it - by dint of evening / nightowl chronotype, determined by previous daily schedule (1-2 yrs) - this shift to an early morning workout (before 5 am) can be counterproductive:

1. You need CNS stimulation - oh goodie, just as your cortisol is coming up. *squint*

2. You may lack coordination, focus, and proper preparation for intense workouts. Risks.

3. You may not be adequately rested, if you are shifting daily activity patterns.

4. You may not be in the best shape to drive a car (see 2 and 3). Risks.

5. Your test is low and your cotisol is increasing between 5-7am. What is optimal about this time of day for heavy lifting? Generally, most people do better lifting after work, unless they have strenuous day labor type jobs.


If you have a normal chromotype, then working out at 7am may be acceptable, if energy is coming up as well, you have had time to adequately nourish yourself, prepare mentally for your workout and are constrained by after hours activities that limit gym access (family obligations).

In the early morning personality, three causes of this condition are known:

1. Induced by lifestyle, primarily work hours.

2. Its a function of hypogonadal (low hormone) status in adults (now also in young adults...we'll cover the reasons for this alarming trend in another thread)

2. a gene trait, termed Familial ASPS.

ASPS is frequently encountered in the elderly and in post-menopausal women. Its also associated with low growth hormone status in adults with low thyroid and sex hormone production.

Familial advanced sleep phase syndrome (FASPS) In 1999, Louis Pt?ček?s research group at UCSF reported findings of a human circadian rhythm disorder showing a familial tendency. The disorder was characterized by a life-long pattern of sleep onset around 7:30pm and offset around 4:30am.

So I have buddies in law enforcement who have worked afternoon and graveyard shift permanently for years. They report that sleep disruption is constant, have relatively poor sleep quality, rarely feel rested, and have problems with weight gain and depression.

A 30+ yr study of occupational stress associated with shift work was conducted by the NIH; a very large patient cohort (thousands of nurses) was followed with carefuly bloodwork and questionaires over this time period. The incidence of stress-related disease (particularly mental and chronic respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes) was tightly correlated to job induced changes in daily routine and sleep habits. This landmark lifestyle risk-assessment study became the basis for an improved understanding of the inability of the body to smoothly adapt to forced alteration in sleep habits. Its authors were also able to correlate dietary habits and personality tendency (response to stress loading) to disease risk as well.

So the evidence would seem to suggest that while physical accomodation to shift work can occur, the pay differential may not be worth the extra risk inherent in the abnormal modulation of cortiol and insulin diurnal patterns.

http://www.ironaddicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8794
also
http://www.ironaddicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8399

[Sinlak]

Arnold workd out at 5am 6 days a week.

Also I just read something about your test peaking 1-2 hours after you wake up

I workout between midnight and 5am but I work a graveyard shift so I normally dont wake up untill about 4-6PM and I have slight insomnia..But when I get to wake up and lift I know it FEELS better..as long as you lift at some point its all right tho

Good luck!

PS What ever works for you works for you fk all the crap you read everywhere gets to complicated