I got used to it really quickly. Just take a bit more time with mobility and warm-up. Schedule any exercises that put compressive loads on your spine towards the end of the set.
I put a scoop of whey in my water bottle and drink throughout.
Do you early morning folks, and I mean the 4:30am and that kind of early time, do a warm up on any cardio equipment prior to lifting?
also do you take BCAAs?
No to the cardio, but I will do my shoulder rehab and core stuff first, all super-setted.
Yes to the BCAAs, but only recently. Seems like a good idea. I haven’t noticed it wakes me up or anything like that though, just leaves a horrible taste in my mouth.
[quote]DragnCarry wrote:
No to the cardio, but I will do my shoulder rehab and core stuff first, all super-setted.
Yes to the BCAAs, but only recently. Seems like a good idea. I haven’t noticed it wakes me up or anything like that though, just leaves a horrible taste in my mouth.[/quote]
so you use that stuff as a warm up set then?
also, sorry I should have put this in my first post, do you take vitamin C to reduce the effects of cortisol?
Another early bird here. Like some have mentioned, I get a great sense of satisfaction and alertness just getting it done first thing in the morning.
I’m up at 4:30am, in the gym by 5:00am, take about 10-15 minutes to warm up with some “magnificent mobility” type movements, then get started.
I take extra care to feel fully warmed up when squatting or deadlifting.
First thing upon waking is a Spike Shooter or HRX. I take a scoop of whey and bcaa’s on the way to the gym.
With a wife and three small kids and an hour commute each way to work, this has worked out great for me.
I get up usually at 3:30am and am at the gym by 4am. I have also noticed that I am not as strong first thing in the morning and am stiffer. I will not do deadlifts first thing in the morning, I make it a point to do those at night or on the weekend, I am just to worried about getting hurt.
I make it a point to strech out my shoulders, back and hamstrings with streches and I all so warm up more before starting my working sets. I find this really helps me to keep from hurting my self.
My gains in the gym are slower when I am primarily working out in the mornings but I do make them. My biggest recent weight gain in the gym was during a time after I graduated and before I started working, I went to the gym at 10am. Everything jumped up during those few weeks and I have been able to keep those gains and go up from there.
I keep a log on PW if your interested…
[quote]rondastarr wrote:
I get up usually at 3:30am and am at the gym by 4am. I have also noticed that I am not as strong first thing in the morning and am stiffer. I will not do deadlifts first thing in the morning, I make it a point to do those at night or on the weekend, I am just to worried about getting hurt.
I make it a point to strech out my shoulders, back and hamstrings with streches and I all so warm up more before starting my working sets. I find this really helps me to keep from hurting my self.
My gains in the gym are slower when I am primarily working out in the mornings but I do make them. My biggest recent weight gain in the gym was during a time after I graduated and before I started working, I went to the gym at 10am. Everything jumped up during those few weeks and I have been able to keep those gains and go up from there.
I keep a log on PW if your interested…[/quote]
DANG!!! and I thought 4:30am was early.
Mazevedo does the 3:30am wake up also.
I also train early in the morning. It is what works best for me schedule wise.
But I make sure I do a thorough warm up. (5 minutes on the bike and 10 minutes of dynamic stretching.)
[quote]OctoberGirl wrote:
rondastarr wrote:
I get up usually at 3:30am and am at the gym by 4am. I have also noticed that I am not as strong first thing in the morning and am stiffer. I will not do deadlifts first thing in the morning, I make it a point to do those at night or on the weekend, I am just to worried about getting hurt.
I make it a point to strech out my shoulders, back and hamstrings with streches and I all so warm up more before starting my working sets. I find this really helps me to keep from hurting my self.
My gains in the gym are slower when I am primarily working out in the mornings but I do make them. My biggest recent weight gain in the gym was during a time after I graduated and before I started working, I went to the gym at 10am. Everything jumped up during those few weeks and I have been able to keep those gains and go up from there.
I keep a log on PW if your interested…
DANG!!! and I thought 4:30am was early.
Mazevedo does the 3:30am wake up also.
[/quote]
lol!
This week it’s actually 3 because of my work schedule but I didn’t want to brag 
Good to know I’m not alone…
[quote]OctoberGirl wrote:
so you use that stuff as a warm up set then?
also, sorry I should have put this in my first post, do you take vitamin C to reduce the effects of cortisol?
[/quote]
I always do warm-up sets as well, but by doing the lighter stuff first I get everything moving nicely and have a chance to wake up properly.
I don’t take Vit C, I get tons of it in my diet though.
I’m up at 4am, at the gym when it opens at 5:30. I do 10-12 minutes of warmup cardio, usually an elliptical trainer, to workup a little sweat, then dive right in.
I take my BCAA’s before I start, and sip a ‘Surge-like’ drink during my workout, followed by protein and healthy fats post workot.
I’ve never felt doing squats or deadlifts in the morning was a problem.
[quote]Ironliftr3 wrote:
I’m up at 4am, at the gym when it opens at 5:30. I do 10-12 minutes of warmup cardio, usually an elliptical trainer, to workup a little sweat, then dive right in.
I take my BCAA’s before I start, and sip a ‘Surge-like’ drink during my workout, followed by protein and healthy fats post workot.
I’ve never felt doing squats or deadlifts in the morning was a problem.[/quote]
Do you have a long drive to your gym or do you wake up the 90-minutes early to give your CNS time to wake up?
[quote]OctoberGirl wrote:
Ironliftr3 wrote:
I’m up at 4am, at the gym when it opens at 5:30. I do 10-12 minutes of warmup cardio, usually an elliptical trainer, to workup a little sweat, then dive right in.
I take my BCAA’s before I start, and sip a ‘Surge-like’ drink during my workout, followed by protein and healthy fats post workot.
I’ve never felt doing squats or deadlifts in the morning was a problem.
Do you have a long drive to your gym or do you wake up the 90-minutes early to give your CNS time to wake up?
[/quote]
You’re overthinking this, OG.
The real reason is that he needs 70 minutes to style his hair and apply make-up.
/jk
Btw, is that Petrucci in his avatar or am I being delusional again?
[quote]Cephalic_Carnage wrote:
OctoberGirl wrote:
Ironliftr3 wrote:
I’m up at 4am, at the gym when it opens at 5:30. I do 10-12 minutes of warmup cardio, usually an elliptical trainer, to workup a little sweat, then dive right in.
I take my BCAA’s before I start, and sip a ‘Surge-like’ drink during my workout, followed by protein and healthy fats post workot.
I’ve never felt doing squats or deadlifts in the morning was a problem.
Do you have a long drive to your gym or do you wake up the 90-minutes early to give your CNS time to wake up?
You’re overthinking this, OG.
The real reason is that he needs 70 minutes to style his hair and apply make-up.
/jk[/quote]
whew!! I thought that was just me
[quote]OctoberGirl wrote:
DragnCarry wrote:
No to the cardio, but I will do my shoulder rehab and core stuff first, all super-setted.
Yes to the BCAAs, but only recently. Seems like a good idea. I haven’t noticed it wakes me up or anything like that though, just leaves a horrible taste in my mouth.
so you use that stuff as a warm up set then?
also, sorry I should have put this in my first post, do you take vitamin C to reduce the effects of cortisol?
[/quote]
For me, I use MM/IO as my warm ups, no treadmill walking.
Yes to BCAA, a shitload right at 3AM. I don’t eat solid food before my workouts but I don’t consider that an “empty stomach” because of the 20+ grams of BCAA I take.
The BCAA itself has been known to lower cortisol levels so I have not tried additional Vitamin C.
I had my biosignature done 2 days ago and I’m awaiting the results. I know I am under 10% BF but despite that, cortisol seems to be a slight issue and I’m pretty sure my practitioner is going to give me a cortisol combating protocol. I may start a thread on this in the T-cell or you can PM me if you want to know about it.
[quote]OctoberGirl wrote:
Mazevedo does the 3:30am wake up also.
[/quote]
lol hell yes I do!
[quote]OctoberGirl wrote:
Ironliftr3 wrote:
I’m up at 4am, at the gym when it opens at 5:30. I do 10-12 minutes of warmup cardio, usually an elliptical trainer, to workup a little sweat, then dive right in.
I take my BCAA’s before I start, and sip a ‘Surge-like’ drink during my workout, followed by protein and healthy fats post workot.
I’ve never felt doing squats or deadlifts in the morning was a problem.
Do you have a long drive to your gym or do you wake up the 90-minutes early to give your CNS time to wake up?
[/quote]
I like to give myself enough time to wake up, drink some water and caffeine, and I usually get my clothes/food together for the workday.
[quote]Cephalic_Carnage wrote:
OctoberGirl wrote:
Ironliftr3 wrote:
I’m up at 4am, at the gym when it opens at 5:30. I do 10-12 minutes of warmup cardio, usually an elliptical trainer, to workup a little sweat, then dive right in.
I take my BCAA’s before I start, and sip a ‘Surge-like’ drink during my workout, followed by protein and healthy fats post workot.
I’ve never felt doing squats or deadlifts in the morning was a problem.
Do you have a long drive to your gym or do you wake up the 90-minutes early to give your CNS time to wake up?
You’re overthinking this, OG.
The real reason is that he needs 70 minutes to style his hair and apply make-up.
/jk
Btw, is that Petrucci in his avatar or am I being delusional again?[/quote]
Don’t forget ironing my gym shorts and T-shirt…
Actually, that’s me in my avatar…sure has hell wished I PLAYED like Pertucci!
I usually wake up about 4 a.m. and am at the gym anywhere from 5:00-5:45 a.m. I spend the time making coffee, getting my food and clothes ready for the day and I figure it gives me some time for my body to wake up a bit.
I’ll do warm up sets, but no cardio before lifting.
I take BCAAs during the workout and, if I feel hungry, I might have some whey or a bananna before.
I always take Vitamin C (EmergenC) afterwards.
I don’t take Surge as it makes me tired, but I do like a scoop of Power Drive before my workouts.
Sometimes I’ll change up my schedule a bit and lift at lunch or after work, but I haven’t noticed any difference in strength.
Well I do not wake up as early as you guys but I do lift in the AM these days. Something that will help all of you if you are not already doing it is faom rolling when you wake up. This will open the space between your vertebrae and improve neural transmission. With this simple trick your CNS will be ready to go!! I also recommend doing some mobility work (about 5-10 minutes should suffice). Hope that helps and my hat is off to all of you for waking up so early to get your workout done. That kind of dedication is impressive!