Morning workouts??

S

sparrow

Guest
Does it really make that much of a difference if the goal is fat loss to work out first thing in the morning? This is without eating right? Has anyone done it both ways to see which is more effective? In my best shape, and lowest weight I used to workout at 5am but since having kids thats become harder. I'd like to get back to it, especially if someone convinces me! Right now I work out around 8:30 after taking my daughter to school and I do have to say, my progress has been slower than I'm used to. the biggest thing i hate about it is that its too late in the morning to go to the gym empty (in order to get all meals in) and I usually have to do a lesser intensity cardio session due to having had recently eaten. I dont' like having to wrap my meals around a workout. I'd rather do it and get it done with first thing. What is best? What is proven best?
 
Well Sparrow, personally I have never done cardio first thing in the morn on an empty stomach. Some peeps swear by it. Others aren't so convinced. But like I said, I haven't personally tried it, so I cannot give you a "it worked for me" answer. :cool:
 
I personally have seen great results with fasted cardio. The argument for it is that in the morning time you have very low to no carbs in your system so you are going almost directly to burning into your fat storage when working out. I have read studies and its various results of course with various people but the majority of them did see more fat loss vs the people who did it mid-day. It is also suggestion that statistically people who do their wokout first thing in the morning are more likely to keep up a workout program mostly because they get it out of the way first thing in the morning.

Exercise is Exercise, what time of day you do it doesn't mean as much as the fact of you actually doing it and doing it full force and well.

If you have to do it latter in the day then remember to give yourself 2 hours after eating till you do your cardio, this way you aren't just burning off all the food you just ate and then wait at least 30 mins after cardio to eat something.
 
As jpc1058said... it's a hot debate with no clear cut answer. I have done both and I "seem" to have more results with fasted cardio. HOWEVER... just because my stomach appears flatter after fasted cardio doesn't mean it's good for you. Anorexics have flat stomachs. Get my point? :rolleyes:

Anyway, in my studies to become a personal trainer and nutritionist... I think it's not best to do fasted cardio. I'd rather someone have a small glass of water and an apple compared to nothing.

I'm just not convinced that working out on an empty stomach is good for you. There is no definitive proof out there that suggest "Oh there is no carbs here for me to use as fuel... let me burn fat."

Actually that theory, while sounding very nice, goes against all that I was taught. What does (and is proven) is that when there is no glucose (blood sugar) in the blood system... your body needs to find a new energy source. Most of the time (because we eat less than we should) it goes through a process called gluconeogenesis- or muscle breakdown. It eats your muscle instead of eating its fat. Your body does this when there is a caloric deficit and it needs fuel.

That's exactly what fasted cardio does. No calories or glucose... so what do we use for fuel? I think muscle. Others think different :)
 
If it's 7 or 8 AM, it's one thing. I sometimes do this later on a Sunday and I personaly am starving and feel like i"m dying! It takes too much out of me.

But try it and see how it works for you..and let us know!
 
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