question for A.M. lifters - JP Fitness Forums

dmw · 10-28-2007, 11:05 AM

While my daughter is in school, my schedule calls for me to workout about an hour after I get up. I always have a sports drink before and during the workout and I try to get at least a bannana or a calorie boosting drink in me beforehand. I'm setting P.R.s and I'm pretty happy, but I'm wondering if when I go back to late afternoon workouts I'll see even better results.

Anyone ever see a boost when going from A.M. to P.M. workouts? I "feel" stronger later in the day, that's why I'm wondering.

tkinsley · 10-28-2007, 11:13 AM

I know it's blasphemy, but.... Personally, my best lifts occur first thing in the morning. I perform best when I don't have a full day's worth of stuff in my head; also, the gym is empty at 5 am and I can do what I need to do at the pace I need to do it.

RacerBill · 10-28-2007, 11:15 AM

I don't know if there can be one answer across the board. I tend to work out two evenings and one morning per week, and I don't really see much difference. But I can't rule out that you won't find that you're able to lift more at one time or another.

Alcoholiday · 10-28-2007, 12:44 PM

if you're setting prs, don't worry.

karky · 10-28-2007, 01:16 PM

yeah, lift when it's convenient for you. It will probably be worse for your training if you squeeze it in at the middle of the day causing stress and stuff like that.

Phaedrus49er · 10-28-2007, 03:46 PM

I do well whenever I change the time of day. Right now, I'm on an afternoon schedule, which was awesome when I first moved from a morning schedule but is now getting a little blah, so I figure when I get back to mornings, that'll roll for awhile as well.

dmw · 10-28-2007, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alcoholiday

if you're setting prs, don't worry.

Yeah, that's pretty much how I feel, I'm just hoping that switching back to going after work in a few months would lead to even more prs.

Mahler · 10-29-2007, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkinsley

I know it's blasphemy, but.... Personally, my best lifts occur first thing in the morning. I perform best when I don't have a full day's worth of stuff in my head; also, the gym is empty at 5 am and I can do what I need to do at the pace I need to do it.

Not blasphemy. We early morning lifters have just discovered the secret.

dmw · 10-29-2007, 08:51 AM

Case in point- this morning I pulled 475 for the first time ever.

I felt groggy this morning when I got up because we went to bed so early last night I almost feel like I slept too much! My daughter was being onery about what clothes to wear, I was walking around like a zombie, and I didn't even get to eat anything.

I got to the gym thinking this was not gonna be a pretty deadlifting session and I end up feeling o.k., but still not really fired up about half way through and hitting the new max at the end.

I'm not at all unhappy about this, but I just don't understand. I thought for sure that being up and having food in you, etc. would be a better stage for lifting.

Frank.S · 10-29-2007, 09:05 AM

I find it doesnt make a difference when I workout, as long as im used to working out at that time.

liftintexas · 10-29-2007, 09:08 AM

Usually early mornings are my only consistent option so that's what I must do. However, on weekends when I am able to go mid-mornings or mid-afternoons, I find I am able to lift more. Not sure if it's all in my mind or what ...

gobbla · 10-29-2007, 09:15 AM

if you're getting better in the morning you're getting better in the afternoon as well.

Bottom line "Does it matter?" Your schedule dictates that you "have to do". Chasing things that you can't change just has you thinking about things that don't really matter.

Mahler · 10-29-2007, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmw

Case in point- this morning I pulled 475 for the first time ever.

May I interrupt this thread to say,

CONGRATULATIONS, NICE LIFT!

Thank you. That is all.

dmw · 10-29-2007, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mahler

May I interrupt this thread to say,

CONGRATULATIONS, NICE LIFT!

Thank you. That is all.

Ha, thank you. I think my post this morning fit the topic, but it sure felt good to throw that number in there! That's pretty good for me and I really wouldn't have guessed that I'd ever get to it a couple of years ago.

dmw · 10-29-2007, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by liftintexas

Usually early mornings are my only consistent option so that's what I must do. However, on weekends when I am able to go mid-mornings or mid-afternoons, I find I am able to lift more. Not sure if it's all in my mind or what ...

This is what I want to hear!

I'm sure if there ends up being a difference it's in my mind. Since I'm getting results there must not be much, if any, physiological difference.

dmw · 10-29-2007, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gobbla

if you're getting better in the morning you're getting better in the afternoon as well.

Yeah, on that note I am in a good stretch right now and am enjoying it. Just hoping for another little boost when school gets out.

I've read stuff about sticking with a routine long enough to get results, then changing it up to "shock your body". Maybe that'll end up happening.