“Science shows that ultimately there is no significant difference between exercising on an empty stomach and eating something before your workout.
Kickstarting your fitness regime with morning workouts could help you build muscle faster. And it's all thanks to your hormones. In the early hours of the day, levels of vital hormones — like testosterone — that build muscle mass are higher. By exercising in the morning, you can take advantage of this, Keith said.
The best things to eat 30 minutes before a workout include oats, protein shakes, bananas, whole grains, yogurt, fresh fruit, and more. An ideal pre-workout meal should be low in fat, moderate in protein, and high in complex carbs.
Studies suggest that eating or drinking carbohydrates before exercise can improve workout performance and may allow you to work out for a longer time or at a higher intensity. If you don't eat, you might feel sluggish or lightheaded when you exercise.
The body's muscles tend to be weaker during the morning and gradually increase in strength throughout the day. The body's muscles achieve peak strength in the early evening.
As mentioned, in the early morning hours, crucial hormones (i.e., testosterone) that help build muscle mass are elevated in the body. By exercising in the morning, you're taking advantage of these naturally circulating hormones as they're peaking, rather than later in the day when they're lower.
Your body needs protein to build and repair tissues, so if you aren't eating enough, your muscles won't have the material they need to grow. You could feel “punch drunk” after working out, your arms and other muscles might ache more than usual, and your body may even feel generally weaker.
To maximize energy availability and minimize stomach discomfort, choose low-fiber, quick-digesting carbs. Rice cakes, Fig Newtons, pretzels, dried fruit, and bananas are all excellent options. You can also mix your whey protein or BCAA supplement with a sports drink or dextrose powder.
If you don't eat after a workout, it can lead to problems such as low energy, dehydration, poor muscle recovery, low electrolyte levels and low mood. Additional symptoms that can arise as a result of not eating after exercise include muscle weakness, muscle fatigue, muscle cramps and irritability.
It Should Be Short And Sweet
You don't want to overdo it and be tired for the remainder of the day, or worse, work out so hard that your gym performance suffers. As a general rule, your morning workout should be under 15 minutes and not loaded with reps.
Build routine
We all know our body thrives off of routine. Waking up for a 5am workout can help you build routine. Having a set “appointment” will help prevent hitting the snooze button in the mornings. and begin to head to the gym to get in your workout for the day.
In general, for healthy individuals looking to lose weight or get fitter – morning workouts are perfectly fine.
Late teens and early twenties are the perfect age to start bodybuilding. Puberty and bodybuilding are closely related because this is the fastest time for muscle growth. Between, 17-25, you will experience testosterone driven growth burst in your muscles.
An obvious example is the day/night difference in the levels of physical activity, which is powered by muscle contractions. For more than 20 years, physiotherapists and sports scientists have observed that human muscle strength peaks in the late afternoon (~1600-2000 h).
Most beginners will see noticeable muscle growth within eight weeks, while more experienced lifters will see changes in three to four weeks. Most individuals gain one to two pounds of lean muscle per month with the right strength training and nutrition plan.
Researchers have found via a mouse model that exercising in the morning helps increase fat burn compared to working out in the evening.
“Exercising at 7 a.m. or between 1 and 4 p.m. helps your circadian clock to 'fall back' in time, making it easier to wake up earlier,” Heisz says. If you need to train your body to wake up later in the morning, try working out between 7 and 10 p.m. “The best time to exercise is when you can fit it in,” Arciero says.