Lethargic while training

[SizeMe]

Unfortunately due to my work schedule my training is done in a afternoon about 45-60 minutes after I wake up. The main problem here is that I'm so lethargic in the gym its not worth going. I am trying to bulk but without intense weights its not going to work.

I assume this is because I've only have a small amount breakfast cereal and my energy levels are at minimum. If this is the case, what do you suggest I eat when waking up to fill me with energy for training? I found Monster Energy drinks sometimes do the trick but thats not a solution to the problem.

Also, how long should I be leaving between waking up and training?

 

[viciousness]

what time do you wake up?

if i woke up and had to lift i would probably bang a protein shake go lift and bang a PWO meal like 4 eggs 2 whites 1/2 cup oats..If i was on a bulk

cutting id do 2 eggs 4 whites and a 1/4 cup oats

 

[SizeMe]

Hi viciousness,

Wake up at 3:30PM, Gym at 4PM.

What type of oats are you using and do you take with water or milk>
What are whites? (lol?)

 

[saintsix]

he means egg whites, i boil my oats and just add blueberries for flavor

 

[kagenical]

You can make the last hour of sleep a "caffeine nap" as I like to call it. Set your alarm 1 hour early. Wake up and immediately take a 200mg caffeine pill, then go back to sleep, setting your alarm ahead for 1 hour. You'll wake up with conviction You can also set it 1.5hrs early, and have something like a protein shake and a few simple carbs. They should start to digest before you hit the gym at 4.

When I was working night shifts this was the only way I could get to the gym early enough to make it to work on time, with enough energy to make it worth my while.

 

[CipherLock]

I was in a similar situation when I tried the caveman diet. The reduction of processed/refined carbs reduced my overall carb intake and I couldn't do much past 10 minutes without gassing.

Superpump 250 about 40 minutes before workout and I was very impressed.

 

[RottenWillow]

I was in a similar situation when I tried the caveman diet. The reduction of processed/refined carbs reduced my overall carb intake and I couldn't do much past 10 minutes without gassing.

Superpump 250 about 40 minutes before workout and I was very impressed.

Did you go 100% Paleo?


If you stay on it long enough your body does eventually adapt to the lack of carbs as it's primary energy source. As long as you do a cheat day and hit the carbs again it doesn't seem to adapt, or at least greatly prolongs it. I ran about 95% Paleo for about 6 months (did eat small amounts of beans) and it took about 8 weeks for my stamina to recover.

 

[RottenWillow]

Unfortunately due to my work schedule my training is done in a afternoon about 45-60 minutes after I wake up. The main problem here is that I'm so lethargic in the gym its not worth going. I am trying to bulk but without intense weights its not going to work.

I assume this is because I've only have a small amount breakfast cereal and my energy levels are at minimum. If this is the case, what do you suggest I eat when waking up to fill me with energy for training? I found Monster Energy drinks sometimes do the trick but thats not a solution to the problem.

Also, how long should I be leaving between waking up and training?

I mix my own morning drinks. The only energy food source I add is rolled oats. It only takes about 1 hour for my blood sugar to get to about 130 from 95. For me that is about the sweet spot for good, sustained energy and the drink is light so it doesn't inhibit my ability to hit it hard in the gym.

You don't need (nor should you seek) an energy spike from sugars or caffeine. That stuff always sets you up for a crash at some point in your workout. At the very least the energy drinks provide diminishing returns and you eventually have to consume more and more to get less of a boost. The sugar spike also encourages fat gain, unless you're running some kind of partitioning agent like actual insulin or an OTC product like need2slin.

 

[chesty]

I have found that carbs tend to make me sluggish in the gym so I stay away from them.