time of day

[wrestle@145]

hey ive just been thinking..is there anytime of day when your body is at its prime for maximizing work/effort/muscle building? im think along the lines of metabolic rates and hormonal levels? just curious thats all

[Bluto]

dont know, but i know that i try to work out if possible at a time when i got a lot of energy and also not too late so i can get in a few good meals before the end of the day...

[Sjipes]

I find my best workouts are when I take some slow digesting carbs like oats, and water 30-40 mins before my work-out. The weight just feels so light in my hands relative to taking in no carbs and just protein mostly..good sleeps help to, lack of sleep = less motivation, and less mental clarity...give it a go you should see a difference in your work-out immediately, as for hormone levels im not sure but according to training orthodox[note:http://www.teenbodybuilding.com/shane3.htm], cortisol, a stress related hormone released by the adrenal is higher[highest?] in the morning, and perhaps more so after training. So, its important you get a good knights sleep after!

[davie]

I usually train about 5pm, this gives me a chance to have about 4 meals down me. If im working in the afternoon and finishing late then il train at lunch time.

davie

[Mike]

I find my best workouts are when I take some slow digesting carbs like oats, and water 30-40 mins before my work-out. The weight just feels so light in my hands relative to taking in no carbs and just protein mostly..good sleeps help to, lack of sleep = less motivation, and less mental clarity...give it a go you should see a difference in your work-out immediately, as for hormone levels im not sure but according to training orthodox[note:http://www.teenbodybuilding.com/shane3.htm], cortisol, a stress related hormone released by the adrenal is higher[highest?] in the morning, and perhaps more so after training. So, its important you get a good knights sleep after!

This is sound advice. 

I believe test levels are 30% higher in the morning than in the evening hence morning wood, shock jock am radio and road rage.

[Cooker]

I read a study that suggest anaerobic activity is best done in the afternoon.  Now I just need to remember where I read it (it might have been Berardi?) so I can post a link for others to read if they would like.

[natural al]

I've worked out at 5am and I've worked out at 10:30 PM and as long as you mentally prepare you should be fine.  I would guess that mid-day would be best cause you have some food in your body to work with, metabolic rates tend to slow down in the evening hours so that may effect training.

[GoneAway]

I believe test levels are 30% higher in the morning than in the evening hence morning wood, shock jock am radio and road rage.

That's interesting... where did you hear that?

[Fury]

I've worked out at 5am and I've worked out at 10:30 PM and as long as you mentally prepare you should be fine.  I would guess that mid-day would be best cause you have some food in your body to work with, metabolic rates tend to slow down in the evening hours so that may effect training.

When you trained late, how did you go about eating after? Did you just have a PWO shake and some carbs and go to bed or did you have a meal after? I might start training around 8-830, til 930 or so and then I'm usually in bed by 11-1130. Trying to figure out how I should go about eating. Maybe just all protein or no carbs.

[GoneAway]

When you trained late, how did you go about eating after? Did you just have a PWO shake and some carbs and go to bed or did you have a meal after? I might start training around 8-830, til 930 or so and then I'm usually in bed by 11-1130. Trying to figure out how I should go about eating. Maybe just all protein or no carbs.

You need carbs to keep protein from being used as energy. Protein are the building blocks for muscle, carbs are the blocks for fat and energy. If you're not prone to putting on heaps of fat, I wouldn't worry too much about carbs.

[Fury]

You need carbs to keep protein from being used as energy. Protein are the building blocks for muscle, carbs are the blocks for fat and energy. If you're not prone to putting on heaps of fat, I wouldn't worry too much about carbs.

That's what I figured.

[natural al]

When you trained late, how did you go about eating after? Did you just have a PWO shake and some carbs and go to bed or did you have a meal after? I might start training around 8-830, til 930 or so and then I'm usually in bed by 11-1130. Trying to figure out how I should go about eating. Maybe just all protein or no carbs.

at the time, I was working 50-60 hours a week at the shop and going to school full time for my engineering degree.  After Calc II, I'd hit the gym and do a full body workout once a week on Thursday nights, I'd do a protien shake, maybe some simple carbs like a gatoraide and go to sleep-I only would get about 4 hours get up at 4:30 start again.   I tried alot of different things out during this time but didn't really make any progress.  I would bust my balls for that one day though, heavy as hell most nights and leave there feeling like a wet noodle. 

If I was to train at night now, I'd do a protien shake right after with some simple carbs just like I did but about an hour or an hour and a half later I'd have a solid meal pretty much made up of protien, like a chicken breast or some steak and keep the carbs light.

[Mike]

That's interesting... where did you hear that?

googled a few studies...I also heard it at a radio semianar I went to in college, they blamed a.m. shock jock radio on raised test levels in men.

[Jr. Yates]

2:02:37pm thats the precise time you have to be training at.

[GoneAway]

2:02:37pm thats the precise time you have to be training at.

Wow, thanks. Jr Yates! With this breakthrough and my essential post-workout window shake, I'll be Arnold in no time!