Question to the morning exercisers - JP Fitness Forums

Mountain_marc · 09-22-2004, 02:33 PM

I haven't been to a gym in quite a while other than for spinning and the rock climbing gym. I recently decided to I need to start going again and have made the decision to go in the morning before work.

The gym is located on the way to work so it's convenient.

Anyways my question has to do what and when to eat in the morning, before and post workout.

My plan is to be up at 6:00, out the door at 6:20 and working out by 6:45 - 6:50, and at work by 8:30.

I know a full breakfast is not the greatest thing before the workout so I assume I should save that for after workout?

Should I just have a protein shake with juice and fruit before the workout? Or something else?

And should I also consume some more protein after the workout as my breakast will most likely be oatmeal?

If anyone here has thoughts on this or an example of their morning routine, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Marc

aztecwarrior · 09-22-2004, 02:54 PM

I'm dealing with the same issue here mountainmarc.
I used to drink a shake before my workout, but:
a)I was not hungry at 6:00 am
b)I didn't feel like drinking another shake an hr. after.
this is what I do now (I visit this site to learn, not to teach, so, this is just to let you know what I do):
I have a good dinner around 7 and maybe by 9:00 pm I have a cup of yogurt, or cottage chesse with fruit, of something like that.
I start my workout with an empty stomach, but right after I'm done, I drink a proteine shake. by 11 I have oatmeal at work, and from there, the rest of the day is just trying to follow a steady eating schedule with quality food.
I'm looking forward to read what others have to say. I'm in need of the same advise!

Matthew · 09-22-2004, 04:18 PM

like you im here to learn and not to teach, but no one else has replied so i will. first, working out on an empty stomach is not a good idea. if you're not hungry in the morning 1)eat a smaller dinner the night before so that youll wake up hungrier, 2)have a liquid meal in the morning- as an example i wake up at 6:15, drink one package of carnation instant breakfast in one cup of milk, and start working out around 7:00 (it's not the perfect preworkout meal, but it works). this way you wont feel too full to work out and you're not consuming a whole meal of real food. there is a reason for not working out on an empty stomach, something to do with muscle breakdown i cant remember exactly off the top of my head, but im sure somebody here will know. also add some protein to your breakfast. i used to eat oatmeal and some hardboiled egg whites, but do whatever works for you. are you having a PWO shake or using your breakfast as a PWO meal?

Johnka · 09-22-2004, 04:50 PM

I agree that it's not good to workout on an empty stomach, and I also workout in the am, so I'll mix a shake and start sipping it on the way to the gym. When I finish it during the workout I'll mix another for the remainder of the workout and afterwards.

I'm bulking right now so I'm getting a lot of carbs in those shakes, but even if you were cutting, it's probably best to do the same with smaller shakes.

Matthew · 09-22-2004, 05:07 PM

johnka, when you do that you do not eat before working out? i mean other than the shake you start drinking on the way to the gym? i was told to make sure i get some protein and carbs before a workout and i always wondered if my pre/during WO shake would be enough on its own.

Ogedei · 09-23-2004, 09:16 AM

Well I personally eat breakfast at around 6:00 and hit the gym about 7:15 or so.

I haven't noticed any adverse affects of doing it this way. I seem to have a fair bit of energy, at least until the workout is done, and then I am tired.

I get out of the gym around 8:00 and have a PWO at around 8:10.

I have really just started working out in the AM. Up until now the workouts have been haphazard, using the weights I have at home when I get time or "feel" like it. I think my current method of hitting the gym 4 or 5 times a week for weights and HIIT will result in more positive results.

Ok I am rambling now so I am signing off,

Og.

anniehall · 09-23-2004, 09:20 AM

What about eating fruit before the workout and then eating protein/carb after. I've found that works for me if and when I do a morning workout. 20 minutes isn't a long time for something more then fruit to digest.

Littlewolf · 09-23-2004, 09:28 AM

I started lifting in the afternoon. But when I was lifting in the morning I would drink a P+F shake consisting of whey protein and either Udo's oil, fish oil,or olive oil. It only takes about 20-30 minutes to finish the digestive phase. Then I would wotkout siping half my PWO shake during the workout, half after.

I am interested in what folks think about P+F before a workout. I seem to have more energy this way then if I go with a P+C meal before. I think this might also work better if fat burning is a goal. Any thoughts?

Mountain_marc · 09-23-2004, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mAtThEw:
are you having a PWO shake or using your breakfast as a PWO meal?

I think I would be having my breakfast as a PWO Meal.

So i'm guessing Whey + Fruit Juice as my pre workout drink and breakfast as my PWO.

Anything wrong with that?

Johnka · 09-23-2004, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mAtThEw:
johnka, when you do that you do not eat before working out? i mean other than the shake you start drinking on the way to the gym? i was told to make sure i get some protein and carbs before a workout and i always wondered if my pre/during WO shake would be enough on its own.

Right, I have 1 shake before and during the workout, and another during and after the workout.

Lost Dog · 09-23-2004, 01:36 PM

I workout first thing in the morning. For a while, I was forcing myself to eat first, but later I gave that up.

Now, I drink 1/2 of a shake (protien powder and gatoraid/24g P, 48g C) about 10-15 minutes before starting, then top off my 1 liter bottle with more water and sip during the workout. Then, I drink another, identical shake immediately afterward.

I'm bulking, by the way.

Matthew · 09-23-2004, 02:54 PM

ya i do the same thing Lost Dog, i drink half a shake before, and the other half during, then one more shake after. i find with doing that i have the most energy. Johnka, thanks for clearing that up for me

Des · 09-23-2004, 07:32 PM

I make a shake before hand at night so its in the fridge in the morning, so yea...1 scoop of whey, 1 banana, 1 tbp peanut butter, 1 glass of milk = banana power! I normally have that as pre-workout , I take something else as post-workout. My advice is if you are gona work out the morning next day, make the shake at night before hand [img]smile.gif[/img]

BjsAust · 09-23-2004, 08:24 PM

Theres a great article out there somewhere on this, but damned if I can find it now

. It talked about pre-post nutrition for both cardio and weight training. I really only took notice of what it said about cardio training in the morning since I hit weights later in the day, but its probably similar advice. It recommended if you could eating solid food (mainly carbs, some protein) an hour before exercising. If that wasnt possible though, a workout drink 30 mins before working out would be better.

Matthew · 09-23-2004, 08:37 PM

ive always been confused on the carb issue though. i understand that some people like having carbs before working out for the added energy, but if you are doing say PC/PF meals, ive seen a lot that you should have a PF meal before a workout. (if you look at massive eating, he lists when to have each type of meal for an evening workout, then he says if you work out in the morning have meal 1 [a PF meal] first and then your PC meals after. does anyone here do that?