I’m on the same schedule as Loudog. Up at 3:30-3:45 (usually well before my alarm goes off) and at the gym when it opens at 5am. Been following this routine for years. I never have a problem with being tired later in the day, but I’m usually crashing early to get my 7 hours of sleep in.
Any day I don’t lift (rare…gym was closed because of a snowstorm 1/2011) I feel like death until noon. After a couple days I was thinking “Is this what NORMAL people feel like, EVERY day?? This SUCKS” Energy is definitely higher with my workout.
I lift from roughly 5:45-7:00. Once you get in a routine its no big deal. I actually like it; a big breakfast, coffee and a warm up and I get some good sessions. More energy than evening and with coffee for caffeine and breakfast carbs you don’t need pre-workout shit.
I feel good all day personally. It’s an easy goal to kick the day off, nice to check off your list and gets your blood pumping. I sleep like a baby by the time night rolls around too and I rarely miss a happy hour or dinner with friends.
Wake up 6:20am and train my girlfriend with weights at home. Drink a bottle of water during this time and maybe a protein shake. Get to the gym round 7ish and leave by 8:15 for class at 9am. Feels great having achieved something before the day has really begun. I just make sure i’m in bed by 10-1030 the previous night so i’m still getting enough quality zzz’s
Very timely thread for me since I will be starting on a new project next week and will no longer be able to workout during lunch as I have done for the last couple of years.
I would prefer to get the workout done before work so I can have the evening off with my family. It will take some getting used to and it’s a pain in the butt to drag along a suit/shirt and tie to the gym. But hey, this is the hobby we chose and love.
I follow the Leangains 8/16 eating/fasting split so I actually think the biggest challenge will be to stop eating at 4:00 pm (presuming I start eating at 8:00 am)
i train in the morning sometimes. i find around 10.30 the gym is emptiest. i love that. i do find it is surprising how much you can get done if you get your ass there between 6-8. i think it is because even though it is busy people who are there are on a mission they aren’t there to socialize.
i’ve never really adapted to training in the morning. i need to feel like i’ve got all the time in the world (otherwise i cheat on warm-ups and activation exercises which only harms my training). morning training also kills my day. i need to sleep after training. no earthly idea how it energizes some people, it totally wipes me out.
best for me is to train, eat, then get a good nights sleep.