Started By
Message

Morning workouts

Posted on 8/13/24 at 7:37 am
Posted by Oilfieldbiology
Member since Nov 2016
41229 posts
Posted on 8/13/24 at 7:37 am
Why do these suck so much more than afternoon or evening workouts? I’ve half arse tried to start working out in the morning, I wake up at 5:15 every day any way, but I just am not rolling until 6:15. I like my peace and quiet and me time I guess, but with kids’ activities in full bore I probably won’t have time to workout until very late.

How do y’all do it in the AM? I tried this morning and halfway through felt like I was going to vomit. Do I just need to nut up, wake up earlier, eat a little something and grind it out?
Posted by slinger1317
Northshore
Member since Sep 2005
6822 posts
Posted on 8/13/24 at 7:44 am to
I would kill to be able to workout in the morning. I'm up at 5 and out the door at 5:30. I usually get home around 4:30 and go straight to the garage to lift.

Lately with the heat I am so tired when I get home the last thing I want to do is workout. I would love to workout right after waking up when I am fresh.

It is all about perspective I guess.
Posted by jose
Houma
Member since Feb 2009
29647 posts
Posted on 8/13/24 at 7:51 am to
I used to love my morning workouts before our daughter was born.

I would wake up at 5, out the door at 5:15. I would get in a solid hour or so. Then back home to cook breakfast and have some quiet time before getting dressed and off to work for 7:30. Now I am forced to go at lunch because there is now way I can get that all done before my daughter is up.
Posted by Yeti_Chaser
Member since Nov 2017
11537 posts
Posted on 8/13/24 at 8:28 am to
I used to do it when I was younger. Chug some water and eat some oatmeal and fruit with some pre-workout and maybe some EAAs mixed with an orange juice mid-workout. That usually got me through but the problem as I got older is I would end up hurting myself and would need like 30-40 minutes just to warmup
Posted by Salmon
I helped draft the email
Member since Feb 2008
85366 posts
Posted on 8/13/24 at 8:35 am to
I've tried so many times over the years and I've never been able to stick with it. I always felt sluggish and never felt I was getting full potential workouts.

I'm also too busy in the evenings with kids.

If you can, work out at lunch. It has allowed me to be the most consistent. Don't have to wake up early. Don't have to try to squeeze a work out in the evenings.

This post was edited on 8/13/24 at 8:44 am
Posted by Dixie Normus
Earth
Member since Sep 2013
2840 posts
Posted on 8/13/24 at 8:42 am to
I’ve recently switched to going at lunch because work has been insane and it’s a nice halftime reset for the day. However, I've been a morning workout guy forever before this. I’ll tell you—the slow start never fully went away for me but I got through it by keeping my preworkout by the bed, slamming it as soon as my alarm goes off, and then grabbing something easy/light like a banana or protein bar going out the door.
Posted by Aubie Spr96
lolwut?
Member since Dec 2009
43884 posts
Posted on 8/13/24 at 8:49 am to
I like lifting more in the morning than I do running. Never thought I'd say that.
Posted by Tiger_n_Texas
Member since Aug 2014
1303 posts
Posted on 8/13/24 at 8:51 am to
I don't really have a choice of when I workout. It's head to the gym at 5:15-5:30 or don't workout that day.

Now that school is back in session, I get up at 4-4:15. I make coffee, then help my wife and kids get their breakfast, lunch, and school bags ready for the day. They leave between 5:15-5:30 to go to school. I leave at the same time and walk to the gym.

That 25-30 min walk with a cup of coffee does a lot to get the blood moving and wake me up. By the time I get to the gym, I'm ready to go. When I finish my workout, I walk back home. Grab a shower, make some breakfast, and get ready to start work (I work form home).

On rainy mornings when I have to drive, my workouts are sluggish. I try to walk on the treadmill some as a warmup, but it's just not the same to me.
Posted by Dire Wolf
bawcomville
Member since Sep 2008
39810 posts
Posted on 8/13/24 at 9:16 am to
just do it for a few weeks, it is going to suck. You'll start to adjust sleep and get used to it. Eventually, you won't even need an alarm.

days when i run, coffee>poop>run the dog>do my real running workout

Days when i lift, Walk the dog with coffee>poop>lift

out of bed 525 and try to leave for work at 730.

It is great for weekends cause i am able to take a little more time and still be done by the time the kid is moving
This post was edited on 8/13/24 at 9:20 am
Posted by Uncle JackD
Member since Nov 2007
59431 posts
Posted on 8/13/24 at 9:18 am to
I love it. Only way I’ve been able to keep consistency. I wake at 430, lifting by 0515, rolling to work by 0630.
Posted by calcotron
Member since Nov 2007
10066 posts
Posted on 8/13/24 at 9:23 am to
quote:

just do it for a few weeks, it is going to suck. You'll start to adjust sleep and get used to it. Eventually, you won't even need an alarm.


Yep. I was always an evening runner and lifter, but with kids schedules that's impossible. I love the mornings now, and being done with that crap before work to have evenings to drive kids around. I do get fussy about getting to bed by 9 at times though.
Posted by TU Rob
Birmingham
Member since Nov 2008
13314 posts
Posted on 8/13/24 at 9:44 am to
Do what works best for you. I've done morning runs and bike rides when I only had one child and she was still in the infant/toddler phase. As she started school, I joined a gym near work and did everything on my lunch hour. Now with 3 kids, I workout late at night. I honestly like the evenings the best. Get a good workout and sweat in, then as I'm cooling off I take care of the dishwasher, take the trash out, walk the dog one last time etc, and I'm mostly cooled off before a quick shower then off to bed. When I did mornings and lunch, I never had time to cool off all the way and I would still be hot getting ready to leave for work or go back to work after lunch.
Posted by lsugerberbaby
baton rouge
Member since Mar 2008
3026 posts
Posted on 8/13/24 at 9:48 am to
Do you take pre-workout?

I wake up 5:00, drink pre-workout, daily vitamins, brush teeth, get dressed, at the gym for 5:30. Workout 5:30 - 7:00.

Used to suck working out in the morning. I would have much rather been sleeping, but now I feel like absolute garbage if I'm off my morning routine.

I can't run in the morning though - that's an afternoon/ evening thing for me.
Posted by metallica81788
NO
Member since Sep 2008
10009 posts
Posted on 8/13/24 at 9:50 am to
Would love to be an AM workout guy, but I never feel like the energy or effort is there. I'm never hungry first thing in the morning, so food is never an issue. I'd have to wake up far too early to really warm up.

I have an hour commute and get to work around 7am, so to really get anything longer than 20-25 minutes in would require me waking up before 5am and I can't do it (mostly can't get to bed early enough).
So I work out every other day at night.

If I didn't have the commute and could wake up at my usual time of 530-540, it would probably be easier.
My best times to work out are between 8-11am or right after work. However, since I'm working between 8-11 and have family things when I get home those are not options. Maybe in a different season of life...
Posted by tke_swamprat
Houma, LA
Member since Aug 2004
10830 posts
Posted on 8/13/24 at 10:04 am to
I have always worked out in the morning. Just what works best. Even more so now with 3 active kids. Afternoons are a crap shoot. I'll occasionally work out in the afternoons if I sleep in. But I have to make sure there is no dancing, soccer, baseball, flag football, etc.
Posted by idontyield
Tunnel Trash
Member since Jun 2022
545 posts
Posted on 8/13/24 at 10:25 am to
Up at 5 and drink coffee for a bit then at gym or running at 6am five days a week. If you don't make it optional it is as easy as getting up to go to work. When I used to try to go afterwork something would always come up, nothing comes up before 6am to interrupt it. I am usually asleep before 9pm.
Posted by NolaLovingClemsonFan
Member since Jan 2020
2067 posts
Posted on 8/13/24 at 12:00 pm to
quote:

just do it for a few weeks, it is going to suck. You'll start to adjust sleep and get used to it. Eventually, you won't even need an alarm.


This. I’m now the exact opposite. On the 1/100 days when I can’t make morning and do afternoon / evening, my workout is SO shite and I wonder how folks ever make that work.

You just gotta pick one, and your body will eventually adjust.
Posted by Maytheporkbewithyou
Member since Aug 2016
13854 posts
Posted on 8/13/24 at 12:00 pm to
I love the early morning workout. I'm a morning person so it works out well for me.

I get up at 4AM, get dressed, and then head to my garage. I'm almost 50 so it takes me a few extra minutes to stretch and warm up.

I try to have my first set by 4:30 and then have to knock off by 5:50 if I want to shower and get to work on time.

It's all about consistency. Get up 4. Go to bed at 9. Have my clothes and shoes ready so I don't waste time looking for anything. Go straight to stretching and then warming up. Stay away from the TV or your phone or you will have gotten up early for no reason.

Two other observations. First, I'm definitely stronger mid afternoon by at least 15lbs. I'm just not as strong early and it takes more warming up to feel loose and ready to lift. Second, I work out smarter in the mornings. In the afternoon or evenings, I can get my son to spot me when I try to ego lift. No spotter in the early morning means I think twice before doing stupid things.
Posted by BluegrassBelle
RIP Hefty Lefty - 1981-2019
Member since Nov 2010
106011 posts
Posted on 8/13/24 at 1:02 pm to
Mornings are rougher for me because it takes me forever to wake up due to medication I take in the evening (beta blocker, progesterone-only pill, antihistamine). So I have to get up extra early to really fight passed the grogginess.

When my schedule allows it I like the time between everyone going to work and the lunch crowd coming in (between 9-10 here). Otherwise I'm getting a workout in at night.
Posted by AmosMosesAndTwins
Lake Charles
Member since Apr 2010
19013 posts
Posted on 8/13/24 at 6:57 pm to
quote:

I get up at 4AM, get dressed, and then head to my garage.


Same. A brisk lap around the neighborhood helps wake me up and get my blood moving.
first pageprev pagePage 1 of 3Next pagelast page

Back to top
logoFollow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News
Follow us on X, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting.

FacebookXInstagram