Training in the morning?

[Errrm]

Hi,

I'm thinking about starting to go to the gym in the morning before work, but I'm worried that from a muscle perspective I won't get much benefit because I won't normally eat any protein until lunch. My normal breakfast is a bowl of cereal once I get to work. Does it matter that I won't have any protein until about 4-5 hours after working out or should I concentrate on cardiovascular exercise?

Thanks

Errrm

[shift]

It will matter to a point. The protein helps to repair the muscles. After you work out is an ideal time to consume protein.

It's not detrimental, but it will slow down your muscle development time. Also, you will be starving within 2 hours of working out. Your body burns a lot of excess fat when you work out in the morning before eating.

Can't you even drink a shake or have a protein bar after? Yogurt, Milk, anything?

[Errrm]

I could have a protein bar yes, milk would be cheaper because I can just pick it up free at work. How much would it be recomended to drink? Yogurt is another possiblility although it's not my favourite thing.

The main reasons behind going to the gym in the morning is to help lose the extra fat that I'm stuggling to lose at the moment and also to help muscle growth.

[shift]

You don't need to have much, just have enough to quell the hunger and feed the muscles. You don't need to down a gallon of milk. I regular 1 serving box should do. A protein bar should be great. Or protein shake.

[Errrm]

You don't need to have much, just have enough to quell the hunger and feed the muscles. You don't need to down a gallon of milk. I regular 1 serving box should do. A protein bar should be great. Or protein shake.

Ok thanks a lot for the help. I managed to get up at 6:45 this morning only to find out my legs were aching due to a 6 mile run and 1 hour at the gym yesterday, so I went back to sleep :-(.

I'll try this out when I start going, thanks.

[Hapuka]

Hi,

I'm thinking about starting to go to the gym in the morning before work, but I'm worried that from a muscle perspective I won't get much benefit because I won't normally eat any protein until lunch. My normal breakfast is a bowl of cereal once I get to work. Does it matter that I won't have any protein until about 4-5 hours after working out or should I concentrate on cardiovascular exercise?

Thanks

Errrm

Best time to have protein is after cardio in the morning such as Egg whites on whole grain toast, porridge with protein whey or protein enriched milk, etc.

Before a weights workout (Which could be done after work), protein shake or meal replacement drink is good.

After a weights workout.

And before you go to bed.


Make sure though to have 5 to 6 small meals a day and try to include protein in each meal. Your plate should be half vegetables (Salad), quarter protein (A chicken breast, tofu steak, fish etc.) and quarter carbs (A slice or two of bread, Whole grain rice or a baked sweet potato). Don't be tempted though to rush for the protein bars and drinks all the time as they can be quite high in sugar.

The best site to go to is www.bodybuilding.com and of course your local library.

I hope this helped. :)

[Errrm]

Best time to have protein is after cardio in the morning such as Egg whites on whole grain toast, porridge with protein whey or protein enriched milk, etc.

Before a weights workout (Which could be done after work), protein shake or meal replacement drink is good.

After a weights workout.

And before you go to bed.


Make sure though to have 5 to 6 small meals a day and try to include protein in each meal. Your plate should be half vegetables (Salad), quarter protein (A chicken breast, tofu steak, fish etc.) and quarter carbs (A slice or two of bread, Whole grain rice or a baked sweet potato). Don't be tempted though to rush for the protein bars and drinks all the time as they can be quite high in sugar.

The best site to go to is www.bodybuilding.com and of course your local library.

I hope this helped. :)

Thanks for the advice and the link, I'll read that tonight. The main problem with getting a meal like you suggested is that work will get in the way so I'm limited to what I can get, a pint of milk is easily possible, cereal simple stuff like that.

I'm starting to think that maybe I should just use a morning workout to burn fat rather than put muscle on. I don't want to put a lot of muscle on, if any at the moment but I do need to reduce the amount of fat on my body without losing muscle.

[Victoria]

I'm starting to think that maybe I should just use a morning workout to burn fat rather than put muscle on. I don't want to put a lot of muscle on, if any at the moment but I do need to reduce the amount of fat on my body without losing muscle.
Then get the cardio in in the mornings :p
If you're already doing 6 mile runs it sounds like you're well on the right track.

You might be quite hungry after morning cario, but the milk will be a great help, I'd recommend cereal :)

Some people are more suited to morning work outs than others. Give it a try and see how you feel.

[Hiroji]

Thanks for the advice and the link, I'll read that tonight. The main problem with getting a meal like you suggested is that work will get in the way so I'm limited to what I can get, a pint of milk is easily possible, cereal simple stuff like that.

I'm starting to think that maybe I should just use a morning workout to burn fat rather than put muscle on. I don't want to put a lot of muscle on, if any at the moment but I do need to reduce the amount of fat on my body without losing muscle.

Ive never done weights on a morning so im not sure how that works but i often go running first thing now.

If you really want to do something you will find a way! just prepare some decent food the night before, so you can out the door, train then, bang the food & i would suggest protein shake too down your gullet as soon as you can after your morning workout.

If your training more you should really alter your diet to suit, so training in the morning shouldn't really be a big problem.

I think if your working out in the morning, your going to feel like crap if you dont eat up to 4-5 hours after, that is not a good idea. Even if its weights or cardio. If you didnt eat anything 4-5 hours after training at anytime of the day you will still feel crap.