Training time advice

[tfranc]

As a parent who works full time, I’ve struggled to make time to train during the day. Recently, I’ve had to face the music and realize it just doesn’t work for many reasons. I’ve tried training at night, but I have trouble sleeping (not caffeine related).

What this has left me with is training early in the morning, around 6:30am. Seems like an easy solution, but the truth is that I actually hate lifting in the morning. I can’t stand it. I hate feeling weaker under the bar, being less mentally sharp, I’m just not mentally there in the morning. I dislike it so much that I haven’t trained in over a week as it’s my only option.

So, I’m not really sure what to do. I don’t want to stop strength training with barbells, but I don’t see how lifting early in the morning could possibly be a successful long-term strategy considering my severe dislike for it. I’ve read some testimonials about how people get used to training early in the morning, but is that really true? Is a successful strategy to just do it until I get used to it?

My apologies if I sound like I’m whining! Hoping for advice and some encouragement, if possible.

Thanks for your time,
Tim

[Jordan Feigenbaum]

Tim,

Thanks for the post. I can definitely relate that finding the time to train can be more difficult with other responsibilities. As far as when you should train, this is mostly going to come down to the intersection between availability and personal preference. As with most things relating to humans, we can get used to tolerating a great number of things, though some not as readily as others.

One thing to consider is that it's more important that you exercise as compared to how you exercise. In other words, it doesn't matter if your lifts are 10, 20, 30% lighter so long as you're lifting. Do I expect this to return back to baseline with an exercising timing change? Yep!

-Jordan

[tfranc]

Well that’s a relief, lol. Thank you so much for your reply. It’s extremely helpful and it also re-focuses why I’m training in the first place. I started strength training for athletic purposes, and I’ve struggled with the paradigm shift to training for health and longevity. Thank you for reminding me that’s what’s important here.

If I could ask another question: Is there a length of time you would want to see someone be awake for before morning training? For example; being awake for an hour with caffeine before hand?

thanks again

[Jordan Feigenbaum]

If I could ask another question: Is there a length of time you would want to see someone be awake for before morning training? For example; being awake for an hour with caffeine before hand?

I can't think of any real reason for a minimum outside of the opportunity to eat and drink something and/or personal preference.

[tfranc]

Ok sounds good! Thank you again for your help

[doubblezz]

tfranc, I started workout out in the morning due to time constraints, too. I avoided it for a while, because yeah, it sucks and your lifts are lower. However, after a couple months it's totally normal, and easier to get up, too. It's become a nice part of my day.

As far as my routine, I know the BBM crew and some of their social media friends recommend food, but I roll out of bed, head to the gym, and get under the bar.

Hope you stay with it.