QUESTION:
Hi Chad. What are your thoughts regarding early morning training? I’ve heard that your testosterone levels are highest first thing in the morning. So, wouldn’t it make sense to train right away after you wake up? Thank you for your guidance.
John
ANSWER:
John,
The short answer is: Yes and No. It’s true your testosterone levels naturally peak in the early hours of the morning. However, you must also consider the fact that you are rolling out of bed after fasting for approximately 8-12 hours (depending on what time you ate dinner the night before).
In other words, your blood sugar levels and glycogen stores will be on the low end. This means you spend your body’s primary fuel source very quickly during your workout.
Another thing to consider is that your body is dehydrated when you wake up in the morning. Therefore, your muscles will have less water in them, making them less elastic and more susceptible to injury. This is even more critical if you’re stressing your muscles intensely. Not to mention, the fluid in your joints will also be reduced, so you could experience a little more joint pain when you train first thing in the morning.
While this may not be true for everyone, it’s definitely something I’ve personally noticed when I would occasionally train early in the morning. So if you do train early, I’d recommend you increase your pre-training warm up by at least 5 minutes or so to help remedy this issue.
If you have no choice but to train first thing in the morning, you should drink plenty of water to rehydrate your body before heading to the gym. It would also be a good idea to consume a fast-digesting carbohydrate, such as Karbolyn, to supply your muscles with the fuel necessary to grind through intense workouts. Moreover, I would also consume at least 5-10 grams of branched amino acids, such as EFX Sports’ Training Ground BCAA.
Consuming branched chain amino acids before training will enhance your energy levels, help stabilize your blood sugar, and increase testosterone levels while simultaneously preventing increases in cortisol. BCAAs can also have a powerful effect on boosting protein synthesis so your body has a better chance of stimulating muscle gains following your grueling workouts.
To conclude, I’d supplement with Karbolyn and branched chain amino acids prior to your morning workout. This should give you the best chance of having a productive workout.
Based on my own research and experience, all the aforementioned benefits of supplementing Karbolyn and BCAAs may be further enhanced by the addition of Test Charge, Kre-Alkalyn, and GlutaZorb.
Obviously, your personal goals, as well as your budget, will determine the complexity of your supplement stack.
Prove ‘Em Wrong,
Chad Shaw
Have A Question For Chad?
Just click the button below.
