[ElJefe]

This is NOT going to be a thread where all the great work-out programs every reader and his sister have are shared, but I'd like to talk about how you fit your exercise into your busy schedules, seeing as how we're all up and coming prodigies with little time to waste and a lot of success to catch.

When you pick your time, do you take into account:

1. Exercise goals (cardio/anaerobic fitness?)
2. Your schedule and other engagements
3. Something else?

Right now I hit the gym 4-6 times a week (my goal is 6) and always late, because I'm trying to bulk and want to hit the sack first thing after lifting heavy and getting my nutrition.

I find this is a pain in the ass for a guy with a lot he wants to do - taking 1½ hours out of my day at 8PM for the entire hassle, start-to-finish, seems more inefficient than if I got my ass out of bed a half hour earlier and did it first thing (6.30 AM), so I had the rest of they available. Of course, I've been having plenty of success lifting in the evening, but I'm willing to be open-minded.

What about you guys?

[MikeCF]

I work long hours. With commute, I'm "working" 12-14 hrs. day.

I always pack a gym bag in my car. I never leave the house without it. Gives me the option to lift every day.

I end up at the gym around 9 p.m. Lift for an hour. Three times ideally, sometimes only twice.

Weekends are usually light/off, so I lift every Saturday and Sunday around 2-3 p.m.

[dk902]

I like Mike because I work long hours tend to lift in the evening. Usually straight after work around 7pm. I usually lift weights for an hour then spar/jab pads or do 4-5 rounds on punchbags.

On my off days I usually just do several rounds on the heavy bag and skip.

Weekends either lift early in the morning (fasted) if I've got a busy day, or if it's chilled then 2-3pm.

Weights 4 days, boxing work 2 days and one day off usually.

If I don't exercise it feels like I haven't brushed my teeth.

[WanderingSoul]

I train from 5-7PM because I do Jiu Jitsu, so I train when class is scheduled. I prefer to train around noonish because I am more fresh and it makes me feel good the rest of the day, but that's not possible where I train right now. Class is held on Monday through Fridays, and right now I hit about 3x a week, which is low for me.

[T and A Man]

5:30am, after i wake up and before breakfast.

[ElJefe]

(01-18-2012 12:01 AM)T and A Man Wrote:  

5:30am, after i wake up and before breakfast.

What are you fitness goals?

For you other guys - do you do your chores in the morning, before work? After a day at work followed by the gym I really have to will myself to not just zonck out, let alone get my pad in order then head out to scope talent.

[Deb Auchery]

What bodytype are you op?

[ElJefe]

Probably mesomorph. How does that figure into it?

[Deluge]

I'm a high school student on summer holidays right now. I usually go around 9:30-10 am. These days more like 3:30 pm because I wake up so late. I prefer working out first then in the morning to kick start my day.

When schools comes back on in February the school gym is open every lunch time 1:20 to 2:10 PM so I'll be forced to go then.

[Pilgrim37]

Morning exercise makes me feel best.
Running and calesthenics in the park for 3-4 miles.

But ,I don't think it really matters what time ,it's more important that you actually do it ,morning ,noon or night.

I think you could save time by cuting down 6 days to 3 or 4.
You'll gain time ,won't be so shattered and it won't make much difference to your body.

Sometimes less is more!

[T and A Man]

(01-18-2012 04:04 AM)ElJefe Wrote:  

(01-18-2012 12:01 AM)T and A Man Wrote:  

5:30am, after i wake up and before breakfast.

What are you fitness goals?

Mainly keep to ideal weight, and improve conditioning as a secondary goal.

I'm 37 and I played rugby from 10 to 28. I've had to have larger carbo loads in the past, and also after playing, I have worn down ankles, wrists and a shoulder that is inherantly unstable after dislocating (incl. subluxification) it 38 times. I have had an operation for the shoulder, but it is still less than stable.

I choose this time because it is best to optimise my metabolism.

This time is also the best for the way my life is structured in terms of time management.

[WesternCancer]

My main goal is to lose a bunch more fat and increase my strength while doing so. I don't have class until noon the 3 days a week i go to the gym so i get up at 6am, eat a bunch of eggs cooked in butter and a piece of fruit, omega 3s, vitamin d and a lot of water. I wait an hour so my spine can dehydrate then I hit the gym (its right across the street from me) I warm up, do my stronglifts workout for the day and a bit of cardio. usually takes under 2 hrs. I shower pound down a big carb/protein rich meal. before class i'll have a protein sh ake and some veggies. then class. then I just chill out for the rest of the night. I think the best is to wake up early and work out. Personally I get an energy boost and it creates a sense of routine and a starting point for the day. Today I slept in (girl over late) and missed my workout. I was restless all day until I worked out.

[ElJefe]

(01-18-2012 09:52 PM)WesternCancer Wrote:  

My main goal is to lose a bunch more fat and increase my strength while doing so. I don't have class until noon the 3 days a week i go to the gym so i get up at 6am, eat a bunch of eggs cooked in butter and a piece of fruit, omega 3s, vitamin d and a lot of water. I wait an hour so my spine can dehydrate then I hit the gym (its right across the street from me) I warm up, do my stronglifts workout for the day and a bit of cardio. usually takes under 2 hrs. I shower pound down a big carb/protein rich meal. before class i'll have a protein sh ake and some veggies. then class. then I just chill out for the rest of the night. I think the best is to wake up early and work out. Personally I get an energy boost and it creates a sense of routine and a starting point for the day. Today I slept in (girl over late) and missed my workout. I was restless all day until I worked out.

Just read this:

http://stronglifts.com/lower-back-injury...g-workout/

Is this where you were inspired?

I like this thinking about having a fixed morning routine and getting a lot done early - then you have the rest of day free when other people (ie. girls) are just getting started. I'll give it a try starting tonight.

[Chad Daring]

I work out around 3pm-5pm three days a week, I go immediately after I get off work. My main goal is strength with my secondary goal being to lose a bit of fat and add some aesthetic muscle

[CGS]

Cardio/Sprints 4-5 times per week at around 6 am before work.
Lifting 4 evenings around 9 pm after work.

Might get one of those runs in on the weekend

[ElJefe]

(01-19-2012 03:25 PM)CGS Wrote:  

Cardio/Sprints 4-5 times per week at around 6 am before work.
Lifting 4 evenings around 9 pm after work.

Might get one of those runs in on the weekend

Good job! Is all that morning stuff running? I imagine smashing your legs 4-5 times a week would be rough on the joints/muscles.

Rugby season is coming up. I'm interested in figuring a good program to maintain muscle while getting into good playing shape for 7's - with practice and games 2-3 times a week I'm going to need to be efficient with my time to have a decent program on the side. To be honest I was thinking cross-fit would be a good, multi-purpose deal that'd go nicely with rugby AND save me time - even if all the hipsters are doing it.

[CGS]

(01-19-2012 04:48 PM)ElJefe Wrote:  

Good job! Is all that morning stuff running? I imagine smashing your legs 4-5 times a week would be rough on the joints/muscles.

Rugby season is coming up. I'm interested in figuring a good program to maintain muscle while getting into good playing shape for 7's - with practice and games 2-3 times a week I'm going to need to be efficient with my time to have a decent program on the side. To be honest I was thinking cross-fit would be a good, multi-purpose deal that'd go nicely with rugby AND save me time - even if all the hipsters are doing it.

Yes, all of my AM workouts are running, it varies between distance and sprinting workouts. I have been doing it for 12 years now with a few breaks in between, so I am pretty used to the pounding and don't really notice the pain too much.

I played rugby in grad school and will likely pick it up again this fall, but I will skip 7s this summer... too much going on.

It is really about maintaining your caloric intake if you want to add to the running. You will need more carbs (good carbs obviously, not twizzlers and shit) to keep your energy levels up and to prevent your body from breaking itself down. It is a fact that when you lose weight you lose musle AND fat. So I would get to the strength and size goals you want before adding too much running since it's easier to maintain strength. The best way to maintain strength is through volume and strength building routines like Str, Vol, Vol, Str, Vol, Vol, Hypertrophy, Vol, Vol would be an example of 9 workouts for a given muscle group. Once practice starts your running should be good enough and you will only need to lift 3-4 times per week depending on how you do your splits.

[WesternCancer]

(01-19-2012 08:11 AM)ElJefe Wrote:  

(01-18-2012 09:52 PM)WesternCancer Wrote:  

My main goal is to lose a bunch more fat and increase my strength while doing so. I don't have class until noon the 3 days a week i go to the gym so i get up at 6am, eat a bunch of eggs cooked in butter and a piece of fruit, omega 3s, vitamin d and a lot of water. I wait an hour so my spine can dehydrate then I hit the gym (its right across the street from me) I warm up, do my stronglifts workout for the day and a bit of cardio. usually takes under 2 hrs. I shower pound down a big carb/protein rich meal. before class i'll have a protein sh ake and some veggies. then class. then I just chill out for the rest of the night. I think the best is to wake up early and work out. Personally I get an energy boost and it creates a sense of routine and a starting point for the day. Today I slept in (girl over late) and missed my workout. I was restless all day until I worked out.

Just read this:

http://stronglifts.com/lower-back-injury...g-workout/

Is this where you were inspired?

I like this thinking about having a fixed morning routine and getting a lot done early - then you have the rest of day free when other people (ie. girls) are just getting started. I'll give it a try starting tonight.

yeah thats where i based it off of, plus the hour gives me some time to wake up and have a bit of food in my stomach before i start lifting.

[ElJefe]

So I just gave it a shot for a week, and my performance doesn't suffer as long as I get a good meal in there. Deadlifted 5x5 310lbs today (unnecessary info, but I'm stoked)

DEFINITELY prefer working out in the morning. I'm shit-ass broke, so I can't go out these days (good for studying econometrics), but it'll be good when I've got the money rolling in. Much more time for gaming and approaching girls and just thinking big thoughts.

[Moma]

These days I've been thumping the iron in the morning. So I either go in for 5am or 6am depending on my shift. On heavy chest days, I go in the evening around 9pm so I can get a spot.

[Gunner]

Hey guys, look.

Usually my day is 9-7 and I workout around 8pm, finish at 10(weights + cardio), eat eat, do some shit, sleep like 12-1

But now I'm not going to be able to work at night so I need to workout in the morning, with an empty stomach, when I did cardio with an empty stomach I felt weird and dizzy.

So, what should I eat before weights to not lose muscle and have energy? Something that is fast digestion, what supplement?

[Alfonzo]

1pm - Explosion training,pylometrics,cardio


6pm - boxing


heavy weights and boxing , especially in the same day , you shop for a good injury .

Doing 5 time a week cardio at 6 am and doing weights a 9pm you won't gain anything here . You don't have enought rest .

[Hades]

My schedule this semester is messed up but I do kickboxing twice a week (M, W) from 8 to 9 PM, rugby practice once a week (TH) from 7 to 9 PM, and strength train three to five times a week, usually around 9PM to around 10:30 PM.

I am trying to integrate sprinting and KB snatch VO2max training, but it's a challenge.

Ideally I would strength train five times a week and do rugby practice twice a week, but I have to make PE credits.

[Anon-A-Moose]

I typically get up around 10am, and work out around midnight. The gym's open 24 hours, and it's empty, which I really like. But I'm only working out 2-3x a week, afraid of overtraining. Maybe I should work out more.

[travolta]

whenever it fits into my schedule. These days I go to an indoor rock climbing gym. I usually go from 7-9:30pm. I like to spend lots of time there. I take a lot of rest periods and also socialize when I'm at the climbing gym.

When I lift weights I try to be in and out. I keep conversations to a bare minimum, or none at all. I prefer lifting in the morning around 10am, but when I'm working I usually try going directly after work, around 4pm or so. It all depends on my daily schedule.. if I lift on sundays I'll usually go around 2pm.

When I run it depends on the weather. If it's cold outside I try to run before the sun goes down, no later than 4pm. If it's hot outside I'll either run early in the morning or at night when it's dark.

For me it doesn't make much difference what time I work out. If I say that I'm going to work out, I'll do it regardless of how I'm feeling. Motivation has never been an issue for me