re: OT gym rats: working out in the AM vs. PM

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I figure I'll eat a piece of fruit before the workout. What about afterwards? Like I said before I'm not trying to bulk up rather shed a few pounds. What I usually do is do a few sets of dumbbell presses, followed by shoulder exercises and curls. (20min of lifting max) Then hit cardio for 30min

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Im not trying to tell you what to do, but if you want to shed a few pounds then lifting weights to build muscle and diet are vastly superior to cardio. You do not need to do cardio at all to burn fat and it's a pain in the arse. If you want to workout your heart, then sure go for it, but you can a better heart workout from up tempo lifting routines with short breaks in between sets. Also, Im sure you didnt mean anything by it, but it's almost insulting to say "Im not trying to bulk up" as if it's easy or something. Bulking requires alot of hard work and eating ALOT of food. To just write it off as if "yea I could do that, but no need to" is downplaying how difficult it is. Putting on lean mass will always be exponentially harder than burning fat. In summary, if you like doing cardio then go for it, but dont think that is the only or even most effective way to burn fat. If you want to burn fat, your diet is 90% of it, then lifting weights to build muscle will get you where you want to be.

I wake up at 3am to hit the gym at 3:30. Not always fun, but come post-workout I'm absolutely wired & wide awake.

For folks asking about losing weight: stop eating so much. Simple.

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How do you eat before going to the gym in the AM?

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I have a couple of table spoons of peanut butter and honey along with a cup of coffee. Eat after.

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irony

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Haha. I like that.
I got my Masters +6 in Exercise Physiology. I am talking about the trainer's who have no prior experience and take a 2 hours course through the gym that hires them. You'd be surprised to know how many there are.

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Also, Im sure you didnt mean anything by it, but it's almost insulting to say "Im not trying to bulk up" as if it's easy or something. Bulking requires alot of hard work and eating ALOT of food. To just write it off as if "yea I could do that, but no need to" is downplaying how difficult it is. Putting on lean mass will always be exponentially harder than burning fat.

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My wife does this all the time, she'll she a fitness model type in the gym and say "I don't want to do weights cause I don't want to look like that". I just laugh at her and tell her she doesn't have anything to worry about.

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I have been training (I guess you could say) my GF for the past two months. She is 5'4" and was at 130 lbs when we started. She has always been very attractive but just wanted to tighten everything up a little. We got her diet in check (which is the most important) and then starting lifting. We strictly do strength training with her and all compound movements (she does squats every week). Her strength gains are going through the roof right now, her energy has been fantastic, and she's lost about 4% bodyfat. We havent done a single second of cardio and she's shedding fat, building muscle, and really building strength.

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Nice.. Keep it up!!

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My wife does this all the time, she'll she a fitness model type in the gym and say "I don't want to do weights cause I don't want to look like that"

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One of the most annoying fitness misconceptions, and I hear it all the time when women think they will "bulk up" if they can bench press the barbell a few times.

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gained 30 lbs of muscle in a few months from light weights, high reps and drinking lots of protein shakes

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Gotta get those shred reps in. Nothing leans you out more than 300 reps of bench pressing the bar.

I can only tell you what worked best for me.

When I was like that bowflex guy ("Hey, I'm 42, and in the best shape of my life"), I swam in the morning, and lifted in the evenings. Was probably swimming 3 mornings a week, lifting 4 evenings, and of those 4 evening lifts, I'd sometimes swim a little after a lift. Admittedly though, the evening swim was because I was single, ripped, trying to meet ladies, and wanted to get in the pool during prime milf hour. Secondarily, a trainer told me it was a "natural stretch" after lifting.

That routine did do wonders though.

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I think am workouts are far superior. You go in fresh and rested and it sets a positive momentum for your day. You have way more energy throughout the day and sleep well that night. The only thing that sucks is getting up.

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Getting up AND that first fricking set. Do NOT make your first exercise incline or flat bench press? YAWWWNNNNN. EVERYTIME.

I used to really hungry early and have to watch my indulgences. . I also would get a little drag-arse by 2pm(work til 330) but a cup of coffee after lunch fixed that right up.

But now I drink a lot so I go right after work as getting up at 5 am is out of the question.