Morning or Afternoon....?

[ghoniba]

Hi Gang;

I have always been doing cardio late afternoon just before dinner as I found it was a conveinient time for me. I recently made a big effort to get up early in the morning to do my exercise routines.

I find I am pretty hungry when I get up and usually have a small dose of fat free yogurt, maybe half a cup with some all natural unprocessed oatmeal on top to get me through the workout. It seems to be working. After my workout and shower I'll then have my breakfast.

Apart from the effort to get up extra early I think I can manage the workouts in the morning.

I am curious, is it typically better to work out early, like I started to do, or later in the afternoon?

I alternate with a weight routine on the alternate days, is doing weights a good thing first thing in the morning too?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks, Glenn

[Barry]

Much better to do cardio in the AM. First off, your metabolism is elevated throughout the day and the endorphines will put you in a better mood. I have heard that doing it in the morning will put your body in more of a catabolic state, burning more fat.

Also, if you do it at night, you may have more trouble sleeping as your metabolism is higher, your endorphines are flowing, and you are more alert.

[10milesdan]

It would be better if you didn't eat anything in the morning before your run. This way you would burn fat first. Taking along a sports drink will also defeat your purpose as this also supplies your body with carbs, better off taking along simple H2O. You didn't say how long your morning runs were?

[ghoniba]

Thank you both for the replies. I have been going at it for the past two weeks and I actually feel pretty good. I use an elliptical machine and go for about 40 minutes three times a week. I get a very good workout if perspiration is any indication and according to the machine I burn from 700 to 800 calories per session. On the alternate days I do weights. It seems to work for me, I'm leaning out and building muscle.

Initually I was pretty hungrey when I got up, but I have been working out on the elliptical ingesting water only and I am able to make it through comfortably.

Thanks, Glenn

[Aurrius]

I do my cardio and weights are 5.30am.
I find it that i am able to push myself more in the morning.

[ghoniba]

>>I find it that i am able to push myself more in the morning<<

I am finding the same thing...once I'm up, the tough part is getting out of bed!

Glenn

[D'Antony]

I have to do mine in the morning, whether it be cardio or weight training. This is because if I put it off until the afternoon/evening (after work), I'll lose energy and motivation to go.
But when I do have the motivation or if I missed a workout during the morning, I usually make an effort to go to the gym early evening.
To me, working out in the morning is the best way to go. It gets my day going and gives me the energy to tackle on the stresses at work for that day.

[CF-OC_gal]

I am making good progress with eveing and nightime workouts (including cardio). When I've tried morning workouts i just cant seem to put the same effort into them.

I think it really depends on what fits your schedule and lifestyle best. Doing something at night is better than skipping it altogether or doing nothing at all.

[sooner_ed]

Originally Posted by ghoniba

Hi Gang;

I have always been doing cardio late afternoon just before dinner as I found it was a conveinient time for me. I recently made a big effort to get up early in the morning to do my exercise routines.

I find I am pretty hungry when I get up and usually have a small dose of fat free yogurt, maybe half a cup with some all natural unprocessed oatmeal on top to get me through the workout. It seems to be working. After my workout and shower I'll then have my breakfast.

Apart from the effort to get up extra early I think I can manage the workouts in the morning.

I am curious, is it typically better to work out early, like I started to do, or later in the afternoon?

I alternate with a weight routine on the alternate days, is doing weights a good thing first thing in the morning too?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks, Glenn

Glenn, you have hit on a change I have made in my personal workout. I have read two different answers to your question here...one being don't eat before you run in the morning. I can give you a very personalized answer to this question, but it will take up a lot of space. If you would like me to share my personal experience with you (I promise it will be worth your time because there is some vital information you will need to know), please message me. The only reason I don't want to tell you right here right now is it will take up an awful lot of space and I don't have that much time right now.