Pull up a chair

[sooner_ed]

because I'm in the mood to ramble.

I could post this in a different number of forums, but here is as good as any.

Here's some questions: Do you...
1. lift weights
a. in the morning
b. in the evening

2. do cardio
a. in the morning
b. in the evening

3. do nothing

Personally, I lift weights in the morning before work and do cardio on the way home after work.

In an effort to keep things fresh and my body guessing, I am currently tweaking my lifting program. I had a very very good session this morning. It gave me some different ideas.

Question:

Have you ever noticed that having a very good workout in the mornings motivates you to eat clean the rest of the day?

I think it's a perfect way to get your day started.

This is what it does for me:
1. Burns calories
2. Builds muscle
3. Motivates me to eat clean the rest of the day
4. Clears my mind
5. Puts me in a good mood because I lift while listening to Christmas music.

So perhaps we should organize our overall exercise program in such a way that it motivates us to eat clean for the entire day and puts us in a good mood.

I also find that after a stressful day at work, doing cardio AFTER work is a perfect way to relieve that stress.

If you work things just right, this is what you will have accomplished:
1. Having very good focus on lifting and be in a good mood when you leave for work.
2. Being motivated to eat clean for the rest of the day.
3. Having very good focus on cardio.
4. Relieving stress by doing cardio AFTER work.
5. Seperating lifting and cardio so you can focus on each and get better results.

Since I have posted this in the diet and nutrition section, this will be my main thought for the day:

Start your day off right with a good lifting session that will motivate you to eat clean the rest of the day.

[minime]

i lift weights in the evening. I am not a morning person and I like to go into my workout with lots of calories in me

plus i like to spend my workdays thinking about my upcoming workout that evening.. sometimes i do cardio after weights, sometimes i do it on a seperate day (but still after work)

If i ever needed to do more cardio to lose weight or soemthing, i'd try get myself outta bed early and do it. I would still save lifting for the evening time.

that being said i HAVE in the past worked out first thing having had only a protein shake and a banana to tide me over, and i had perfectly acceptable workouts. But as a personal preference, i still choose evening for the most part

[Lady C]

I lift weights . . in the morning
I do cardio . . in the morning
alternate days . . . lift / cardio / lift / cardio / lift / cardio

I prefer to get my metabolism roaring for the whole day. And I do it in the morning so I don't crap out and not do it in the evening. It does not motivate me to "eat clean" because I prefer eating clean. Working out in the morning makes me not feel guilty if someone brings in a plate of cookies and I have one.

[CF-OC_gal]

I'm naturally a late afternoon or preferably evening workout type person (@7-8pm).

Last year I gave a shot at early morning workouts (6:30pm) before leaving for work. I was amazed that I actually got into a habit with them, but I found my strength training workouts sucked. There was not enough time to really stretch out the rest periods because I had to get out by a certain time not to be late. Also I'm not as strong in the morning. Weekends when the gym opened at 8am and closed at 6 or 8pm also caused a problem with scheduling.
I'll admit that the morning workouts made me feel great all day but I don't think it helped or hindered my eating. For me, eating a lot of calories at night then going to bed keeps me from wasting away my repair and growth food I guess.

I suppose if life were perfect, I'd do cardio in the morning and weights in the evening and the mornings would be warm and dry outside with safe running, hiking and biking routes. (we've had too many attacks, sexual assaults and murders at all times of day on our bikepaths to allow anyone to train solo and focus on training only.)

My training hours vary throughout the year.

During my busy work season (February to April), I have historically been at the gym and training by 6:00 a.m. five days a week. Alot of pedal to the metal training (BW power cals and running combined) which really seemed to invigorate me for a long work day. Reflecting back, it seems that my BW is lighter during this time of the year. and I eat cleaner and less but that may be that I am working longer hours and find less time to nibble.

When my work slows down, I tend to hit the gym in the early afternoon. I like that too and when I am training during this time, I reflect back and wonder how the heck was I able to get to the gym at 6:00 a.m. every morning. I tend to sleep later in the morning.

I've trained in the evening with my martial arts training. Seems like I eat more when I train late. Yesterday I went down to my basement at 8:00 p.m. for a quick but intense 15 minute workout which was invigorating but it woke me up and my sleep last night wasn't as sound as it normally is (it normally is very sound, like a drunk sailor who just got sucker punched in a bar room brawl).

I think it's good to vary training times just like everything else to keep the body guessing, but in my closing thoughts I guess early morning training is really best for me.

[gymgirl]

Originally Posted by minime

plus i like to spend my workdays thinking about my upcoming workout that evening..

me too! i personally like to do cardio and weights in the late afternoon after work. i usualy get to the gym anywhere between 2:30-4pm. on saturdays though i perfer to go in the morning and get it out of the way, and do both weights and cardio around 9am.

i am motivted to eat clean regardless of the time of day when i work out. i don't like going to the gym after eating something bad for me, and i don't like leaving the gym and pigging out either, however i am more likey to eat a cheat meal if i work out early in the day and plan for that cheat...if that makes sense.

[CF-OC_gal]

Originally Posted by gymgirl

... and i don't like leaving the gym and pigging out either,

I honestly cannot remember the last time I had a "pig-out" it's been so long!

[sooner_ed]

Originally Posted by gymgirl

i don't like going to the gym after eating something bad for me

I'm exactly opposite.

If I "cheat" or just eat something I know I probably shouldn't, I'm more motivated to work out (most likely cardio) so I can work it off.

Many times, I'll plan my cardio workout around my cheat meals so I don't feel so guilty about cheating.

[sooner_ed]

Originally Posted by Brat

I honestly cannot remember the last time I had a "pig-out" it's been so long!

Lucky you!

My wife tells me now that I eat so much. Fortunately, since losing 63 pounds and gaining back 32-35 pounds (158 to 190-193) I'm still wearing the same size shirt and only maybe one inch bigger jeans around the waist (from a 32 inch regular fit to a 32 inch relaxed fit).

Someone please tell me how those numbers add up because I have no clue.

[gymgirl]

Originally Posted by sooner_ed

I'm exactly opposite.

If I "cheat" or just eat something I know I probably shouldn't, I'm more motivated to work out (most likely cardio) so I can work it off.

Many times, I'll plan my cardio workout around my cheat meals so I don't feel so guilty about cheating.

wow see that's probably good. i just feel so 'blah' especially if it is something heavy. i'll just want to be lazy and lounge around. i usualy plan my cheat meals for friday night so i can just sit around then i am ready to go work it off saturday morning.

Brat, i think you need to schedule a pig-out ASAP!

[CF-OC_gal]

You've been working hard at a well rounded program Ed. I'm not sure what is up with the waistline but don't forget to use the "mirror check" as the ultimate test. If you are progressing positively in your fitness activities, I doubt you are back sliding.

No, not lucky me, titty-baby me! I hate to hurt as much from an overfed belly and bloating as much as I'd hate to hurt from a migraine or a sprained ankle. I used to cause myself a lot of unnecessary discomfort from "pig-outs" or too much partying. It finally sunk in, the source of my pain. It's never been worth it.

I scan the offerings and pace myself now. I start with what I feel don't want to miss out on.

[sooner_ed]

Yea, but I just don't see how a 30 pound weight gain can translate into only one inch around the waist. Maybe I'm just lucky.

[Lady C]

Originally Posted by sooner_ed

Yea, but I just don't see how a 30 pound weight gain can translate into only one inch around the waist. Maybe I'm just lucky.

It could be all muscle, right? Wouldn't that make sense?

[sooner_ed]

Originally Posted by Lady C

It could be all muscle, right? Wouldn't that make sense?

Someone remind me of how much muscle weighs compared to fat.

I don't know if that question made sense or not.

It just seems like I would be bigger than I am, compared to what I was, with 30 pounds of muscle.

Oh well...like I always say, don't sweat the small stuff.

[Lady C]

Originally Posted by sooner_ed

Someone remind me of how much muscle weighs compared to fat.

They are the same - A pound of muscle = a pound of fat. Muscle is denser or takes up less space than fat. Or you can gain more muscle and not occupy as much space as the equivalent amount (in pounds) of fat.