Is working out in the morning a bad idea?

[Red Squirrel]

I really want to start working out again, and I was thinking that since I started shift work, I would do it on my days off. Instead of getting up to take my shower right away, I'd work out then take my shower. Would save me from taking two showers in a day, and a change of clothes. Only thing, in the morning I have zero energy, so the workout would not be as intense as if I did it mid day/evening. Mind you I do have a bit more energy when I wake up later vs when I have to get up early to go to work. Or am I better off doing it when I have more energy so I can push myself further?

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Working out less intensely is better than not working out at all. Just work out when you have the time. Once you get moving in the first 5-10min, you'll find your groove and the time won't matter as much.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Yeah true, think I'll give it a try and see how that goes. If I never feel like doing it when I get home from work, then may as well do it at a time that I do feel like it as I'll be more likely to do it, may even help wake me up faster.

 

[HNNstyle]

I think you're just looking for an excuse to not exercise.

 

[Red Squirrel]

No, but I don't want to do it if it wont help. Right now I don't exercise. But I really want to start. I just want to make sure I start right and that I get the most out of it. I don't need to find an excuse, if I did not want to, I just would not do it.

 

[iluvdeal]

I've never been a morning person either but after having no other choice but to do early morning workouts due to my schedule, I mentally adjusted to it and did workouts just as hard in the mornings as I would any other time in the day. You will be surprised at what you are capable of once you set your mind on something. As long as you got enough sleep and had something to eat before working out, the rest is just mental, you can push yourself in the morning and your body will adjust to it. I actually really loved the feeling of being able to knockout my workout as one of the first things I do in the day, it feels really productive.

I agree with the other guy as it does look like your mind is making excuses. You are physically capable of working out in the morning or after work, you are just choosing not to do so. Realize that. We all have that voice in our head to take it easy in the morning or just go home and relax after work, but you can ignore that voice and workout anyways. I always feel great after a workout, I've never said to myself after workout I wish I didn't do that. On the contrary I get on myself for missing a workout.

Any exercise is better than none, just start exercising already, whether it's during the morning, day, or night, stop talking about it and start doing it! You can mix things up as well, I do depending on my schedule. Fit in a workout whenever you can. There's no rule that says you only can workout in the morning, during the day, or only at nights.

 

[HNNstyle]

No, but I don't want to do it if it wont help. Right now I don't exercise. But I really want to start. I just want to make sure I start right and that I get the most out of it. I don't need to find an excuse, if I did not want to, I just would not do it.

I don't understand how anyone can think not exercising at all is more beneficial over exercising in the morning. Does that really make sense to you? Even if there is a difference between exercising in the morning versus the afternoon, I doubt the significance of the study would out-weight someone not willing to exercise at all.


Edit: In case you need someone to literally spell it out for you. Exercising in the morning is good for you.

 

[TanisHalfElven]

I really want to start working out again, and I was thinking that since I started shift work, I would do it on my days off. Instead of getting up to take my shower right away, I'd work out then take my shower. Would save me from taking two showers in a day, and a change of clothes. Only thing, in the morning I have zero energy, so the workout would not be as intense as if I did it mid day/evening. Mind you I do have a bit more energy when I wake up later vs when I have to get up early to go to work. Or am I better off doing it when I have more energy so I can push myself further?

A lot of people workout in the morning (including yours truly).
Its a lot more convienent and also one you get into the routine a lot more stable that evening workouts.
DO IT

 

[Red Squirrel]

I just did it today, and it actually helped wake me up a bit with the help of coffee and pop. I'm on 12 hour day shifts so I have to get up really early so I'm super tired most of the day. We have an exercise bike at work and I did a quick workout (don't want to break a sweat at work or I'll be uncomfortable all day) and just that alone seems to have went well. Can't wait to do a full workout at home.

I eventually want to finish up the basement floor (it's really dirty and rough now) and put a TV as well. I've been looking around for a weight set, but for now I'm just doing basic workout with free weights, better than nothing I guess.

 

[Pia]

I really want to start working out again, and I was thinking that since I started shift work, I would do it on my days off. Instead of getting up to take my shower right away, I'd work out then take my shower. Would save me from taking two showers in a day, and a change of clothes.

I suggest eating a good breakfast first and doing other stuff for at least an hour, then working out. You are a lot weaker after just waking up.

 

[KingSmoth]

I feel better when I work out in the morning. I wake up, eat, go to the gym then head to work with a burst of energy that carries me through the day. You will burn more calories this way, opposed to working out in the evening then going to bed soon after.

 

[Bateluer]

I feel better when I work out in the morning. I wake up, eat, go to the gym then head to work with a burst of energy that carries me through the day. You will burn more calories this way, opposed to working out in the evening then going to bed soon after.

This. A morning workout will energize you for the day. An evening workout can actually keep you awake when you're trying to sleep.

There's nothing inherently bad about working out in the morning or evening though, depending on what your schedule is and whats convenient for you. With my runs though, some are in the AM and some are in the late evening. Last summer, due to work schedule, I started them around midnight.

 

[tedrodai]

This. A morning workout will energize you for the day.

Not that I'm arguing with you or everyone else that says this, but I've always experienced the opposite effect. Every time I've tried working out in the morning, I'm very tired throughout the day and often even sleepier than I normally am. I've tried on around 5 or 6 different occasions over the years after high school, and it got to me the one year in HS in which I had morning strength training.

So, the question is: what would I be doing wrong? Sorry to threadjack but I figured the question would be pretty relevant.

A pre-lunch or afternoon workout has always been my personal favorites.

 

[HNNstyle]

Not that I'm arguing with you or everyone else that says this, but I've always experienced the opposite effect. Every time I've tried working out in the morning, I'm very tired throughout the day and often even sleepier than I normally am. I've tried on around 5 or 6 different occasions over the years after high school, and it got to me the one year in HS in which I had morning strength training.

So, the question is: what would I be doing wrong? Sorry to threadjack but I figured the question would be pretty relevant.

A pre-lunch or afternoon workout has always been my personal favorites.

Are you doing cardio? If you are doing a HIIT workout in the morning, it will definitely energize you. As for lifting weights, I don't really know.

 

[Pia]

If you lift heavy weights but not for many reps and sets, and not to failure, and you are at the gym only for a short time (think 30-45 minutes), it's very energizing.

Doing lots of reps, lots of work, for a long period of time is tiring. Even more so if you go to failure, which is a bad idea anyway because it makes you weaker. Even a 10 minute session during which you are constantly lifting and therefore move a large total amount of weight can be exhausting.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

If you lift heavy weights but not for many reps and sets, and not to failure, and you are at the gym only for a short time (think 30-45 minutes), it's very energizing.

Doing lots of reps, lots of work, for a long period of time is tiring. Even more so if you go to failure, which is a bad idea anyway because it makes you weaker. Even a 10 minute session during which you are constantly lifting and therefore move a large total amount of weight can be exhausting.

Going to failure does not make you weaker whatsoever. I don't suggest doing so because it results in CNS fatigue over time, but it most certainly doesn't make you weaker.

 

[titaniumsoul]

I feel the same way. I recently read an article about doing x amount of jumping jacks, mountain climbers, push ups, sit ups, planks, and burpees first thing in the morning. I got really excited and tried it 4 days straight. Problems I ran into: 1. not morning person= 0 motivation or energy, 2. because I want to just DO IT, I'm not warming up first and thus ended up straining muscles...not fun....

 

[pauldun170]

I workout in the evening (8:30-10PM)
I have no problems falling asleep.

I've also done the morning schedule. Once you are in the routine, your body will adjust.
Just make sure to eat properly.

 

[tedrodai]

Sorry, my schedule got interrupted and I forgot to check back. My morning workouts were generally 45-60min (60 mins was usually b/c of long rest periods) of weight lifting and/or cardio. Nothing super special about it...sometimes to fatigue, but usually exercises in the 3x5 to 5x5 range. There's no difference to the workouts I did in the morning compared to workouts I'd do at other times of day. I've never been a morning person, so I'm sure there's a mental aspect to it all, but there's got to be a physical aspect to it as well...why would it affect me so much differently in the morning?

My guess has always been that a good part of it is nutrition-related. My workouts are always intense, and I've never been able to eat a heavy breakfast til I've been awake a few hours. By necessity, morning workouts for me were always prior to me being awake for a few hours , so I'd have a bowl of cereal or a yogurt, etc., 1 hour beforehand.

However, it may also be related to me not allowing time for my body to adjust to a morning exercise routine...I'd try it for maybe a week or 2 before reverting to a later-in-the-day workout--not only because I would be overly tired through the day, but also because I felt the tiredness was impacting the effectiveness of my workouts.

 

[elitejp]

I like the fact that when I work out in the morning that I have an entire day to feed my body with nutrients to help me recover and grow.
Ya just work out when you have time, it wont be bad for you.

 

[Deeko]

According to Mr Schwarzenegger, if you can't drag yourself to the gym in the morning before work, you aren't dedicated enough to the gym.

 

[tonyfreak215]

Not that I'm arguing with you or everyone else that says this, but I've always experienced the opposite effect. Every time I've tried working out in the morning, I'm very tired throughout the day and often even sleepier than I normally am. I've tried on around 5 or 6 different occasions over the years after high school, and it got to me the one year in HS in which I had morning strength training.

So, the question is: what would I be doing wrong? Sorry to threadjack but I figured the question would be pretty relevant.

A pre-lunch or afternoon workout has always been my personal favorites.

Sounds like you didn't give your body enough time to adjust to the morning workouts.


Also, try lifting before eating breakfast. I found that I was able to lift more. (once I adjusted to not eating before hand.)

 

[Dallascisco]

Personally I prefer the morning as opposed to the evening if given the choice. I arrive early to work so during the week I workout in the evening 630 or later. On the weekends I go in the morning. Sometimes I feel a bit more tired in the evening and when i do I just dial back my workout a bit. Exercise whenever you can, regardless of the time. Get in a routine so it becomes second nature.

As for your eating habits in the morning I suggest eating something better for you than coffee and soda. Some coffee has antioxidants but soda in my opinion is useless. It's all sugar and does nothing to nourish your body. It may give you a sugar kick for the workout but you also risk a sugar crash. The purpose of food is to nourish the body and helps your workouts be effective. if you aren't taking in protein how are your muscles going to develop?

1. Whole grain Bagel with peanut butter
2. Oatmeal
3. Protein Shake
4. Omelets

 

[tonyfreak215]

Coffee is actually a great pre-workout drink. (So long as it's not loaded with sugar or creamer or milk.) The caffeine will give you a nice energy and metabolism boost.

 

[Dallascisco]

That's the thing, a high percentage of people doctor their coffee. I rarely drink coffee personally so I'm biased. I'm naturally caffeinated.

Coffee is actually a great pre-workout drink. (So long as it's not loaded with sugar or creamer or milk.) The caffeine will give you a nice energy and metabolism boost.