question for those who workout first thing in the morning...?

slinky_shaz
slinky_shaz Posts: 21 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
hi,
i was just wondering how you do your morning.
i usually workout at home after baby has gone to bed (6:30/7pm) and before i've cooked dinner for my husband and i. it's annoying to be honest so i'm thinking of doing it in the morning instead. i'm up at 6:30am so have window to do it before the house wakes up and i leave for work but do you eat or drink beforehand? the thought of exercise at 6:30 on an empty stomach makes wonder ....

thank you
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Replies

  • slinky_shaz
    slinky_shaz Posts: 21 Member
    sorry meant to add - if you do eat/drink, what do you have and how long before? thanks
  • DavidRocketts
    DavidRocketts Posts: 80 Member
    Definitely drink some water or something as your body dehydrates a bit overnight. I favour something light like half a grapefruit, or an apple, then breakfast after exercise. Working out on an empty stomach makes some feel faint. I'm okay with it but a small drink is important at least I think...
  • robspot
    robspot Posts: 130 Member
    edited January 2017
    I get up at 5:30 and start workout about 6. Even if I had time to eat I wouldn't want to that early. I drink a glass of water on waking up and then just use water for anything up to an hour's workout. Eat afterwards when it's very welcome! If you struggle without food you could always try upping your evening carbs a bit but I don't find it an issue.
  • Morgaen73
    Morgaen73 Posts: 2,817 Member
    I do our meal prep the night before while I'm making supper. As far as the mornings go, up @ 4:30am, drink suppliments then pack everyone food for the day. In gym at 5:20. Drink 1 protein shake before I workout and one directly afterwads. Shower @ 7am and at work at 7:45. Then I eat breakfast, which is usually something light.
  • EauRouge1
    EauRouge1 Posts: 265 Member
    I go running first thing. I don't often eat, but if I do then it's usually something small-ish like a handful of raising or half a banana (I have a 5 year old, my fridge always has a half-eaten banana in there). I also have a couple of buckets of milky coffee. I don't run very long distances though, under 10k at the moment. I hate running on a full stomach so I don't eat a proper breakfast until afterwards.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    If I am lifting weights, I get up at 4:45 and have eggs and toast or oats, coffee, and fruit before exercising. If I'm doing cardio I don't eat beforehand.
  • Elegra2006
    Elegra2006 Posts: 144 Member
    I don't eat anything before crossfit or lifting in the morning, just drink a little bit on my way to the gym. I find it doesn't make much difference and actually like the 'light' feeling in the morning.

    Makes me really appreciate my breakfast after!
  • AuthorNinja
    AuthorNinja Posts: 69 Member
    I just got through with my morning workout, haha! I'm one of those people who can workout on an empty stomach but if I wait too long after waking up, I'll snack a little first. I always make sure that I drink water before my workout! Mine never last more than an hour, and once I'm done I'm good for coffee + breakfast :)

    I love morning workouts!
  • cbstewart88
    cbstewart88 Posts: 453 Member
    I always work out in the morning. Usually up at 4:30 - at the gym by 5:30. I have a couple of cups of coffee before I work out and bring water with me. Breakfast afterwards, shower and to work. Voila! Done for the day!
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  • sunnysunny88
    sunnysunny88 Posts: 64 Member
    My trainer told me that you can do cardio with an empty stomach but if you are doing weights, it's recommended to eat something before. I wake up and 6 to go running some days and I would only drink water but if I'm feeling hungry usually I would eat a bit of nuts or cheese and I'll be fine :)
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  • H_Ock12
    H_Ock12 Posts: 1,152 Member
    I work out fasted in the morning and don't eat until mid afternoon. l have a glass of water and a caffeine pill when I wake up and it's kicked in by the time I get to the gym 15 minutes later.
  • pomegranatecloud
    pomegranatecloud Posts: 812 Member
    edited January 2017
    I usually eat some nuts or fruit. Usually 5-20 minutes before exercising. I cant exercise on a empty stomach. If I'm thirsty I'll have water. Sometimes I'll have coffee before or a bigger meal, but that's usually if I'm exercising later in the morning like on a weekend.
  • jjpptt2
    jjpptt2 Posts: 5,650 Member
    It's all personal preference. Some people prefer to eat beforehand, others don't. You'll have to see what you respond best to.
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,148 Member
    I don't eat before working out. I might drink a diet soda before hand. If no soda, then I'm drinking water during. I workout in the mornings for 2 reasons: 1) get it over with and 2) I prefer to shower only once a day.
  • rubrink
    rubrink Posts: 43 Member
    I just wake up and go usually. Never eat anything unless I'm doing a long run (in which case I'll drink a protein shake with carbs 30 minutes prior). I do take a preworkout on the days when I work out (other than running)
  • guacamole17
    guacamole17 Posts: 109 Member
    Cutaway_Collar wrote: »
    I work out with an empty stomach at 4:30am or so.

    I actually drag my *kitten* out in the cold. It was like 15 degrees this am and felt like 5 with the windchill.

    Same thing here, except I'm only out in the cold to get to the gym. Eating so early in the morning upsets my stomach. I jog/walk for an hour at 5AM to be at work at 7:15 or so. Having to use the bathroom during the middle of that is annoying, so I wait to drink water as well. Then I get my Americano and actually eat something several hours later, usually a breakfast sandwich or greek yogurt/fruit/cereal mix.
  • slinky_shaz
    slinky_shaz Posts: 21 Member
    wow, thank you all for your replies.

    i definitely prefer the idea of working out first thing. it's not so much fear of death, just curious if it was particularly unbeneficial to train on an empty stomach. when i workout in the evening, it's before i've cooked dinner but obviously i have eaten during the day.

    i'll definitely give it a go tomorrow before everyone wakes up. i'll give it a go with water and see how it goes. i love the idea of doing that, showering and being ready for the day without having to worry about squeezing a workout in in the evening when i'd rather be doing something else.

    thanks again, very helpful!
  • kwtilbury
    kwtilbury Posts: 1,234 Member
    I mix up some whey protein, coffee and amino energy in a shaker cup and put it in the fridge the night before. I'll suck it down before I head to the gym.
  • MonkeyMel21
    MonkeyMel21 Posts: 2,396 Member
    I get my gym bag ready the night before then:
    4:30am alarm goes off
    -pee/wash my face/brush my teeth/drink water
    -put on gym clothes
    -make coffee/fill up water bottle and put ice pack and drink in son's lunch box (lunch prepared night before)
    -drive to gym while drinking coffee
    -arrive at gym around 5:35
    -work out till 6:15
    -get ready in locker room and arrive at work at 7.
    -drink more coffee
    -breakfast/food anywhere from 7:30 to 10 depending on the morning
  • garygse
    garygse Posts: 896 Member
    I'm out the door at at 4:00am, so I have a small breakfast shake (Carnations Breakfast Essentials; light and easy to digest), and 15 minutes later, I'm ready to run for about 90-120 minutes. After that, I'm pretty hungry and have my proper breakfast then.
  • noemorales1022
    noemorales1022 Posts: 53 Member
    When it comes to working out in the morning, it really depends on how your nights are. If you can go to be consistently at 8PM or even 9PM, then you're golden. Your body will adjust and you'll have the best workout ever and feel super energetic the rest of the day. Plus, confident since you've already accomplished something big! However, of you have one late night, or a couple in a row, your morning workouts will suck. So before you commit to getting up early, develop a routine at night first. Good luck. I wake up at 4:30 AM, doing HIIT and then weights.
  • noemorales1022
    noemorales1022 Posts: 53 Member
    And no food. As long as I start working out first thing I don't even think about food.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I only workout in the AM during the summer as it is a better alternative to cycling in 100*+ temps. I train fasted @ around 5:30 AM and eat my breakfast when I get to work.
  • ItsMeGee3
    ItsMeGee3 Posts: 13,254 Member
    I'm up at 4:00 every morning and at the gym by 4:55. I have a pre-workout drink. That's it. I usually have a greek yogurt in the locker room while I'm getting ready for work.
  • slinky_shaz
    slinky_shaz Posts: 21 Member
    oh my gosh! you guys are all amazing getting up at 4am!!! i thought 6:30am was a good start.

    only trouble is i don't go to bed at 8pm or 9pm. i've only just sat down now from my day and it's 9:15pm. i'll be up for at least another 2 hours.

    i'll let you know how it goes tomorrow.

    thanks for all your tips and routines - it's really helpful.
  • andrea4736
    andrea4736 Posts: 211 Member
    Yes, I get up every morning at 4 to do my workout. I HAVE to work out on an empty stomach or I get super sick. I sometimes chug a pre-workout if I can't wake up or feel sluggish.
  • MonkeyMel21
    MonkeyMel21 Posts: 2,396 Member
    slinky_shaz wrote: »
    oh my gosh! you guys are all amazing getting up at 4am!!! i thought 6:30am was a good start.

    only trouble is i don't go to bed at 8pm or 9pm. i've only just sat down now from my day and it's 9:15pm. i'll be up for at least another 2 hours.

    i'll let you know how it goes tomorrow.

    thanks for all your tips and routines - it's really helpful.

    I only wake up at 4:30 because I have to and I only get 30 minutes work out, which I would do longer if I could but I can't. Sleep as long as you can!!!!

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