good or bad idea: going to the gym first thing in the morning

[impostal22]

i'm trying to fit the gym into my schedule this semester and the only time that seems to work would be 9am right after waking up, before having breakfast and before going to class. then i thought maybe it's a bad idea to start the day by working out, especially if i have no food in me. thoughts?

[clanger]

Your kidding right? 9am? What time do you goto bed dude? Just get an extra hour or so of sleep, wake up eat a powerbar and hit up the gym. Afterwords have a protein shake and protein depending on work out.

[impostal22]

Originally posted by clanger
Your kidding right? 9am? What time do you goto bed dude? Just get an extra hour or so of sleep, wake up eat a powerbar and hit up the gym. Afterwords have a protein shake and protein depending on work out.

i'm at college, so i have to work around classes...that's why 9am is the best (and worst, unfortunately) time to go. what's the deal w/ protein shakes anyway? drink them right after working out or what?

[RRfireblade]

Morning is a excellent time to train.Have a meal replacement bar or potien shake if you don't have time for a small breakfast.

Jay.

[deathstalker]

I've seen more research indicating working out at night is more beneficial. However, just about any exercise is better than no exercise.

[tobz]

Working out in the morning before breakfast is a great way to burn a few extra "fat" calories. You should drink a protein shake right after working out for the best benefit. I love working out in the morning. If you get light-headed or dizzy easily then you might want to look into a small snack before you go.

T.J.

[einhander619]

I've tried working out in the morning, and the only thing I can do is run, I can't lift anything right after getting up. I like lifting around 4 or 5 in the afternoon.

[impostal22]

protein drinks do what exactly? seems everyone suggests drinking them after working out...what're the best kinds? and where can i get them (about the only place around here that i have access to is a walmart)?

[MagMan5446]

Pro-Max bars. The best.

[MayAMonkeyBeYourPinata]

working out in the morning, because afterwards you are suprisingly alert.

Yah and eat protein bars

[Crimson_Turkey]

With working out almost everything depends on the person. It is a fact that at the dinner for the top 10 after the Mr. Olympia contests nobody ever agrees on anything except the very basics.

As for protien. Make sure you DO NOT GET SOY! Out of the 24 ammino acids needed to create a complete protien soy only has 6. Thus you get alot of protien that will literally go down the drain a few hours later. Met-Rx Whey shakes and Pro-Max bars work wonders for me. Whey is a complete protien. You get all ammino acids.

PS: I wake up at 6:00AM and am in the gym by 7:15AM. What ever works man.

[impostal22]

protein bars or protein drinks? which are more effective? eat/drink right after working out or what?

and they're designed to encourage muscle growth, right?

edit- those met-rx protein drinks are EXPENSIVE

and by what i read about those protein bars, it seems it would be more beneficial to eat them prior to working out, not after


last edit- sigh, i feel like a moron asking all this stuff, but one last thing. i'm thinking about going 5 days a week and having weekends off. any idea what's a good group of muscles to work each day, and if i should do 5 days a week or 7 or what). i've gone to the gym before, i just haven't made a routine of it, which i'm trying to do now.

[sharpshooter1286]

5 days straight and then 2 days off would not be as beneficial as 5 days spread out and 2 days of rest inbetween. and eating the protein bars AFTER your workout will be more beneficial. the trainer at my high school gave us a long talk about this: when you lift weights you stretch your muscles, creating little "rips" in them. protein then fills in the rips, and thus you build up muscle. that is what i got out of it, correct me if im wrong anyone

as for specific muscle groups in a day there is nothing
really for each day, just do not work the same muscle group every day, vary your workouts. learn the correct way to lift and you will get the most out of it, u can hurt urself if you dont. slowly build up the weight you are putting on the bars and machines, and gradually build up the intensity of your workout (sets and reps). try to work in abs inbetween all ur sets as well.
running on ur off days will help keep your body in shape as well


look into getting a personal trainer, you will get the most out of that and get into probably better shape than you would on your own

[slateman]

I don't know about the benefits, but I run in the morning (right now about a mile and half) and I feel better than when I skip it. Just more alert (although that doesn't help me in spanish class ).

My workouts are more cardio than anything (mainly running and I'll probably start swimming soon). I've got some nice muscle (landscaping will do that to ya) but I also have too much fat, making things like pull ups and situps difficult. I hurt myself last December (fell off the roof) and haven't been able to run much, so now I'm trying to get back into the groove.

But back to you. Workout in the morning and see if you like it. If you start getting sick or too tired during the day, than move the time around.