schedule only lets me workout, eat, and then sleep ...

dcam82 · Post by **dcam82** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 2:30 pm

I'm curious if a small weak link in the program is this ...

I get home at different times through out the week, some times 6pm or 9pm. CAR SALE JOBS suck for working out, but it beats looking like fellow salesman, haha. Usually I'm hitting the gym around the 9:30 time every night, workout for a hour, and then go home and make a protein shake with some mixed fruit(i.e. strawberries, blueberries, raspberries), and then I'm getting to sleep a hour or so after.

Is this hurting weight loss program?

I usually have dinner before I work out to get me through it, always a solid protein, veg/salad, and some starch(sweet potato/rice/whole grain pasta)

I have high energy levels all the time, plus I have lost weight and find muscularity is getting better - but I'm trying to put results into hyperdrive.

Mbauer21 · Post by **Mbauer21** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 2:34 pm

Well, as long as your GOING to the gym and have a good routine AND you replenish properly afterwards, which it seems to me you dont carry your shake with you, and you should. RIGHT AFTER your DONE with your workout you NEED a protein shake and forget the fruit, have some sugary cereal instead or anything with simple carbs, but from what Ive learned fruit is a no no bc it might not digest well. Oh, and hope your gettin at least 8 hrs of sleep.

swanso5 · Post by **swanso5** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 10:46 pm

i'd rather you go in the morning so you can use more cal's during the day, that's a plus for fat loss

cassiegose · Post by **cassiegose** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 11:50 am

I agree with swans...

Plus... when I go in the morning I typically have more energy than I do when I hit the gym right after getting off work. Also, when you go in the morning you get your workout out of the way so you are less likely to skip it after a long day at work. Lastly... as swanso said, getting the gym in the morning jumpstarts your metablism for the day. Often times working out before bedtime can make it harder to fall asleep.

I've been working out in the mornings for the past 7 years now and I swear by it. It does take a while to adjust to waking up earlier and sometimes it takes me a little longer to get warmed up and get muscles awake in the mornings (than it does in the afternoon), but it really is a great time to workout.

Just thoughts...

Cassie

cassiegose · Post by **cassiegose** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 5:14 pm

Soooo true. :)

dcam82 · Post by **dcam82** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 9:43 am

Yeah, I could go in the morning but it would have to be 6:30am, and I don't think I could train on an empty stomach. I might be able to do cardio in the mornings.

I'm on a 1-2lb a week weight loss trend lately, but I've just started training differently about a week ago. I'm just curious if at one time or another when I get down in weight and start trying to gradually put on lean mass that late in the day training is going to hinder growth.

Motivation to go to the gym is there, I never cheat myself of it because of goals this year.

RK19 · Post by **RK19** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 12:23 pm

dcam82 wrote:Yeah, I could go in the morning but it would have to be 6:30am, and I don't think I could train on an empty stomach.

then eat before you train.

cassiegose · Post by **cassiegose** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 9:35 pm

6:30? Thats cake! I usually hit the gym by 4:45. ;)

I also don't like working out on an empty stomach.... and I don't think its good for you to go that long without eating and then try to go hit the gym. I've found that eating a banana as soon as I wake up followed by a small protein shake is effective for getting me some quick energy. Bananas are quick to eat, easy to digest and have a significant amount of carbs. I usually wake up around 4:25, eat a banana as soon as I get up then chase that with a small protein shake then hit the gym by 4:45. Im usually at the gym for about 15 minutes before actually starting warm up... this gives me about 35 minutes for food to digest. If you're planning on doing HIIT first thing in the morning I would wait a little longer for that food to digest but if youre just warming up and hitting the weights this meal and timing seems to work well for me.

AnnaCruzDC · Post by **AnnaCruzDC** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 8:55 pm

Wow 4:25am! What time do you go to bed at night? I recently switched workouts to the am: I wake up around 5ish, and make sure I'm at the gym around 6am for a spinning class. I see you're a spinning instructor; is spinning 5 times per day overkill? Or should I spin every other day?

thekid24 · Post by **thekid24** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:38 pm

working out in the morning helps you MENTALLY too! dragging your out of bed and hittin the weights as early as 4-5? after months or even years of doing that, you'll be one tough ******

haha.

Anyways, I'd like to share a great read. It's about the four stages of mental toughness. here's the link: http://www.t-nation.com/free_online_art ... al_mastery

AnnaCruzDC · Post by **AnnaCruzDC** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:27 pm

oops, i meant to say 5 times per week, not day!

RK19 · Post by **RK19** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 7:40 am

thekid24 wrote: http://www.t-nation.com/free_online_art ... al_mastery

good read.

cassiegose · Post by **cassiegose** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 12:13 pm

AnnaCruz:

I would limit the spinning to no more than every other day, unless you're specifically trying to get into shape for cycling, which even then could be overkill. You need a variety in your workout regimen that includes weights, HIIT, and longer bouts of cardio. Right now, I do spinning one day a week (I recently changed spinning class to a total body weight training class), total body weight training 3 days a week, and 2 days a week of HIIT. This seems to work well for me because workout is changing everyday, which keeps body from adapting to workouts.

Hope this helps!

Cassie :)