I have what could be described as a corporate schedule - 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM, 30-45 minute commute each way, and some time in the morning to put my suit on, etc. - so there is not much flexibility as to when I can lift weights on weekdays.
A few months ago I switched to working out as early as my gym opens. It just so happens that my gym opens at 5AM, so I wake up at 4:30 AM to work out. This means I need to be in bed at 8:30 PM. Yeah, that part sucks.
So far I like the early workouts better for two reasons.
Breakfast foods are more carb laden, dinner foods should be and are more fat/protein oriented. With morning workouts I get to actually make use of my most carb heavy meal, as it also becomes my post-workout (60-120 minutes after I work-out) meal. Things just seem more natural this way. I eat less and less carbs as the day goes on. Breakfast is a decent sized meal, lunch being the biggest, only slightly larger, but more protein and some fats (avocados, meat fat, etc.). And don’t worry, there’s a peri-workout Surge in there too.
I seem to get more powerful workouts in the morning than at 7:00 PM after work.
My question is this, should I be eating before the workout? Why or why not?
Currently I workout on an empty stomach (workout from 5-6 AM). As I said I have a Surge while I work-out. I eat breakfast, which is also the post-workout meal once I get to work (8-9 AM). I don’t know what effect working out on an empty stomach has on weightlifting performance. I know I feel better when working out after eating, the few times I have done it.
Note: Surge directions specify that it should be taken on an empty stomach for best results.
Also, what should be done for 5 AM sprint workouts? Eat before, or not, etc.? Treat the same as weightlifting (take Surge, eat 90 minutes after, etc.)?
It’s gonna be trial and error. The problem is, you don’t have a whole lot of time to wait around and digest, since you’re on a tight schedule to finsih your workout in a timely manner to get back home and prepare for work.
Try eating easily digestible foods in the morning in small amounts and see if it improves your workout performance. Gradually try to incoporate more food pre-workout to find out what’s comfortable. You’ll quickly find out what’s best after a few experimental meals.
Try having some hot cocoa with some toast and cream cheese. Maybe some fruits and yogurt. Maybe oatmeal or some other type of cereal? Like I said, play around and you’ll find out what’s best.
I have a feeling your workouts will be a bit better if you eat a little something before training. Also, since you’re training so early, it’s a good idea that you’re consuming a carb-drink during your workout. I make my own, I brew some tea with lemon, I ice it, and I put 1/4 cup of sugar per litre. So if I have a 2 or 3 hour workout I’ll consume between 50-100 grams of carbohydrate during that timeframe.
What I do is drink half a serving of a carb/pro drink on the way to work(also where I lift), and lately I have been drinking another half serving during the first half of my workout. Simple and quick.
Yup get something in nyou what ever yoiu can stomach Surge would be simple and easy and a great choice, Youve fasted all night and are in a catabolic state, liver glycogem depleted etc. if you dont you are likely to do a LOT of eating up of LBM,
Try different things…try not eating…see how it feels, then try having a surge, and gauge that as well. If your goals are muscle and strength…I say stick with a protien shake, or aS. I know for me, solid food seems to make me feel bloated when lifting.
I do a protien shake right before my early AM workout: 12 ounces of skim milk, 1 scoop of Grow Whey, 2 raw eggs (I know salmonella…, but it has never affected me in 40+ years). It seems to digest quickly enough and not affect my workouts adversely.
Do you (the OP) take a pre-workout Spike or an E/C supp before working out so early-or so soon after you’ve risen?
A couple of times in my life I’ve done stretches of that early morning workout and never felt as sharp as I did training later in the day. I’d also read that your nervous system isn’t as prepared for heavy lifting soon after rising. Just curious as to how you prepare yourself.
I train at about 4 a.m. and have found, for me, that a Surge type drink works best. Anything consumed that is heavy or requires too much processing is counter productive for my training.
The best method is to experiment and find what works best for you depending on your current training goals.
I wake up, pop a HOT-ROX and a serving of BCAA about 20 minutes before the gym.
During my training I have a protein shake mixed with Maltodextrin and Dextrose for my carbs (Both can be bought in bulk on BB.com for really cheap). Also I have another serving of BCAA halfway through.
After training I have my creatine with gatorade and another serving of BCAA.
On the way to work I have a nice yummy Peanut Butter and Honey and Banana Sandwich on whole wheat and a protein shake.
Works well for me and holds me over till I get to work and eat more.lol.
I go @ 4- usually eat one kashi bb waffle to help prevent stomach burn from the EC. During WO- BA mixed with some other goodies in water. post WO- Surge and then home to s/s/s. 8am I will plow down my first protein drink and then continue my day.
I’m not trying to bulk right now, more cut- so that would explain the shake only…
I feel that I need to have something to keep my stomach at bay from the EC though- Seems to work for me so far… as long as I keep my carb meal to just before working out, and keep it relatively low at that.
[quote]Winger11 wrote:
Do you (the OP) take a pre-workout Spike or an E/C supp before working out so early-or so soon after you’ve risen?
A couple of times in my life I’ve done stretches of that early morning workout and never felt as sharp as I did training later in the day. I’d also read that your nervous system isn’t as prepared for heavy lifting soon after rising. Just curious as to how you prepare yourself.[/quote]
Currently I eat/take/drink absolutely nothing pre-workout. Although it feels unnatural, and I feel somewhat weird, I work-out (lift) on an empty stomach.
I’m glad I posted, because everyone’s helpful responses make it seem like I should eat something.
On weekends I workout 2 hours later, and do eat something before, and those are my best workouts, but I just didn’t know the science behind which is better.
This might sound gross, but for some reason I’ve found that my favorite morning carb food is canned humus. I know bean carbs are supposedly useless, but I might try that or Surge for my pre-workout AM food. There’s a lot of fiber in that stuff.
Something about fat/protein sources pre-workout weigh me down though. I’ve tried eggs, and they don’t work for me. I feel sluggish.
I’ll try real foods and then Surge and keep people posted. Never thought about having Surge before, and then another during/after. I just do during/after. That’s 6 scoops, and pretty expensive.
^ I would imagine you could make a regular batch and drink half before, half after your wo to save some cash.
I have gotten into combining it with a scoop of protein on my bulk cycle. Then drink half during and half after my wo.