morning workouts

[srhall2192]

Due to work and some schedule issues I've had to back-off on my workouts. I've been considering doing morning workouts rather than after work but to do this I have to get up at 3:50 am and jump right into the workout. This leaves no time for a pre-workout meal. Everthing I read indicates that not only is it important to get a pre-workout meal but it's more important to get food first thing in the morning. My question;
How bad is it to workout without food first thing in the morning?
Does anybody have any advice or tricks to curb this?

[Commander]

You would be surprised what your body can adjust to.

It is not bad at all to workout without food in the morning. I believe you can workout in a fasted state with no problems. However, once you workout, I would try to get nutrition into your body within a few hours, preferably sooner.

[srhall2192]

Thank you!!! That's what I needed to know

[Charles Izzo]

I would go on to further argue that theoretically you should be able to get a better workout while in the fasted state, providing you typically eat well every day.

First of all, one must realize that when you eat a lot of your food gets stored for later use in the form of body fat or glycogen (which gets stored in the muscles). The muscles are fueled by glycogen during high intensity exercise. So providing you have glycogen stored, you should have plenty of fuel for your workout and more.

The problem that occurs however is when you are in the fed state insulin rises which inhibits growth hormone which also inhibits glucagon. The result is that the cells get signaled to store instead of release. So when your body is in the fed state it probably won't necessarily be able to make the best use of fat or glycogen as fuel. How about that? So much for the need for a pre workout meal!

And just to clear things up even further, when you are in the fasted state insulin is decreased and growth hormone and glucagon rise to their max. The result is the best possible availability of fatty acids and glycogen to be used as energy during that time period.

Just as an example of how things work out in nature, think about how most animals are in nature, especially predators. They are more energetic before they get the meal than after. After a meal they are tired and relaxed which ends up leaving vulnerable. Now relating that to us, how many times have you heard of someone feeling tired after a good meal and needing a nap?

We are like that too. I don't know where the idea of needing food for energy right away ever came from. It is complete dogma. Typically when you perform any sort of activity your body is running off from food that was stored the day before or even days before. The exception would be extreme activities that completely deplete your glycogen stores before the event is over. An example of such an extreme activity would be a marathon. For many other activities you should be ok, even when it comes to proper brain function.

[bigbear6708]

I workout first thing in the morning...usually. What I do is mix a protien/carbs shake and drink it 15-20 minutes before training. then eat breakfast approx. an hr after I am done...I am seeing great results.

[bigbear6708]

Originally Posted by Charles Izzo

I would go on to further argue that theoretically you should be able to get a better workout while in the fasted state, providing you typically eat well every day.

First of all, one must realize that when you eat a lot of your food gets stored for later use in the form of body fat or glycogen (which gets stored in the muscles). The muscles are fueled by glycogen during high intensity exercise. So providing you have glycogen stored, you should have plenty of fuel for your workout and more.

The problem that occurs however is when you are in the fed state insulin rises which inhibits growth hormone which also inhibits glucagon. The result is that the cells get signaled to store instead of release. So when your body is in the fed state it probably won't necessarily be able to make the best use of fat or glycogen as fuel. How about that? So much for the need for a pre workout meal!

And just to clear things up even further, when you are in the fasted state insulin is decreased and growth hormone and glucagon rise to their max. The result is the best possible availability of fatty acids and glycogen to be used as energy during that time period.

Just as an example of how things work out in nature, think about how most animals are in nature, especially predators. They are more energetic before they get the meal than after. After a meal they are tired and relaxed which ends up leaving vulnerable. Now relating that to us, how many times have you heard of someone feeling tired after a good meal and needing a nap?

We are like that too. I don't know where the idea of needing food for energy right away ever came from. It is complete dogma. Typically when you perform any sort of activity your body is running off from food that was stored the day before or even days before. The exception would be extreme activities that completely deplete your glycogen stores before the event is over. An example of such an extreme activity would be a marathon. For many other activities you should be ok, even when it comes to proper brain function.

hence carbo loading!!! it is never done the day of or even the day before!