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Kettlebell Working Out In The PM

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I have no energy in the morning for any kind of workout. I also have no desire. I usually train after I get home from the office /around 6.00-7.00 PM/ or at the earliest around noon if it's a weekend day.
 
Light work and cardio I can do anytime - I just have to make myself do it. Heavier stuff, I prefer noon to early evening.

I think I'm about the same in this regard, but this also brings up the schedule at powerlifting meets.

At my most recent meet - November 19, 2022 - the setting was pretty typical of a local meet: One platform, 60 lifters divided into 4 flights of ~15 lifters each. Because each lifter gets three attempts at each lift, you're looking at 30-45 minutes for each flight (2-3 minutes per lift), which then means 2-3 hours between your squat and your bench press, and another 2-3 hours between your bench press and your deadlift. Because I'm usually in the first or second flight, I lift early in each of those 2-3 hour blocks of time. True to form, I did my first squat at 9:05 AM, benched at 12:30 PM, and deadlifted my first attempt at 3:30 PM, finishing with my last deadlift at 4:00. And the meet's last lifters finished at 6:15 PM.

Which bring me to my point: because I know I'm never going to deadlift in competition in the morning, I almost never deadlift in training in the morning, either. I will try to, e.g., time a mid-morning session for squat, a midday session for BP, and something in the 2-4 PM range for deadlift. It doesn't always work out that way, but it's what I aim for. I do the same with days of the week, trying to do the occasional mini-meet format of training on a Saturday since my competitions are usually on Saturdays.

Related point: I was never a morning person until I started running, and road races are almost always held in the morning. Running for 20 years effectively changed my body clock so that I wake up early and, as Boris said, easy distance seems fine even early in the morning.

-S-
 
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I'm curious what your preferred exercises are at PF.

I don't have a membership, but I've thought of getting one (and I'm being serious) to do hamstring curls.

I decided I should give Nordic curls a serious go first, though.

(Nordics are super frustrating, though)
I use and like the machines for hip adduction, hip abduction, rear delt flys, treadmill. It's recovery work for me. Once in a blue moon (like almost never, but...) I'll use the DBs (I think they go up to 80s) for some light bench or one arm rows.

I have a cheapo GHR bench and also a cheapo 45 degree hyper bench at home and I use them fairly frequently. I do prefer the Hammer Strength 45 degree hyper they have at the PF here - it's amazing how small details make a difference on that.
 
I think I'm about the same in this regard, but this also brings up the schedule at powerlifting meets.
Yep - if you're prepping for any kind of contest and you have to perform at a certain time of day/night, you plan your training accordingly. Specificity matters.
 
Has anyone else noticed a difference in performance depending on the time they train?
Circadian Rhythm

There is an ebb and flow with your body temperature that's the same as night and day.

Circadian Rhythm is the primary factor that determines if are a Night Owl or Early Bird.

Optimal Performance

You preform best when you body temperature is at its highest range and are less efficient when your body temperature is at it lowest.

Thus, training when your body temperature at it highest it optimal.

Plotting Your Circadian Rhythm

1) Take your body temperature when you wake up.

2) Take your body temperature ever two hour after waking.

You will find it fluctuates throughout the day. It will tell you when you are most likely to preform at you best and when your not.

What Your Already Know

Plotting your body temperature will most like reinforce what you already know.

You know what part of day you do well and what part of the day when things drag.

High Octane Training 2 | T Nation

Here is an interesting thing the East German did.

To increase performance via body temperature, the East Germans infected their athletes with a "de-natured viruses to generate a slight fever immediately prior to a world record attempt!"

The downside, as you might expect, was the timing. "Later into the cold, the adverse effects outweigh the benefits..."
 
I usually do my kettlebell workouts on an empty stomach around 830 in the AM. Currently doing Easy Strength with kettlebells. Looks like this:
1. Double deadlft 70 lb bells
2 sets of 10
2. Double front squat 70 lb. bells
2 sets of 5
3. Double bent over row
2 sets of 5
4. Military Press 55 lb. Bells
2 x 5
5. Double swing outside the knees 70s. 1 x 20
6. Either Double 70 farmer carries, 5 sets of 100 paces or ab roller

Last 2 Mondays I've been extremely busy during the day and trained around 4:45 and both times, the bells felt HEAVY and though I didn't miss a rep, I felt more stiff.

I'm just finished workout #22. Has anyone else noticed a difference in performance depending on the time they train?
Yes, I always have a better workout in the morning after a coffee but fasted. The only exception is if I take a short afternoon nap and then get in a work out.
 
I prefer evening training, I am more consistent with morning training, but these days I train when I can book an hour out for myself, whenever that is varies!
 
I’m at the gym at 4am for all my workouts. I’m naturally an early riser and I start work at 6:30am. I’m not at the gym all that time, I usually swim after the gym.

When I was on shift work, mid morning I felt I lifted heavier and better ( after breakfast). But the early am suits my work and bodyclock much better.

And there are way less idiots at the gym at 4am compared to any other time of the day.
 
And there are way less idiots at the gym at 4am compared to any other time of the day.

Ha, one day I walked in PF and there was a water bottle by the chin station so I waited a minute or two and no one came so I started chinning . Then a guy comes and said “I was using this”. I asked him if a water bottle was supposed to reserve his spot and he said “I was in the back stretching“. He seemed to be in a panic mode I guess because he was going to lose his pump. So I told him that I’ll go elsewhere.

There are many tools for me to use and I’m not bound .
 
Ha, one day I walked in PF and there was a water bottle by the chin station so I waited a minute or two and no one came so I started chinning . Then a guy comes and said “I was using this”. I asked him if a water bottle was supposed to reserve his spot and he said “I was in the back stretching“. He seemed to be in a panic mode I guess because he was going to lose his pump. So I told him that I’ll go elsewhere.

There are many tools for me to use and I’m not bound .
I would have said, "Yeah, you can work in with me".

I don't understand why no one seems to know how to share equipment these days. I am not a "luddite", but it is one of the reasons I hate most modern gyms.
 
I would have said, "Yeah, you can work in with me".

I don't understand why no one seems to know how to share equipment these days. I am not a "luddite", but it is one of the reasons I hate most modern gyms.
I learned so much from doing this when I first started lifting. I can't imagine how much more spinning my wheels I would've done with a couple dudes who took me under their wing.
 
Related point: I was never a morning person until I started running, and road races are almost always held in the morning. Running for 20 years effectively changed my body clock so that I wake up early and, as Boris said, easy distance seems fine even early in the morning.
I’ve always been a morning person, and that’s dovetailed nicely with running races and cycling races which as Steve noted, almost always start early. Alpine climbing as well. Midnight to :0200 starts are not uncommon.
Train early, train often…
 
Ha, one day I walked in PF and there was a water bottle by the chin station so I waited a minute or two and no one came so I started chinning . Then a guy comes and said “I was using this”. I asked him if a water bottle was supposed to reserve his spot and he said “I was in the back stretching“. He seemed to be in a panic mode I guess because he was going to lose his pump. So I told him that I’ll go elsewhere.

There are many tools for me to use and I’m not bound .
UGGGGHHHHHH. Here is the BIGGEST problem today with PF. People will steal machines or not share. In the old days at Gold's you worked in, had a conversation and got to meet people through the gym. Today, 1/2 of the people have their head phones on and are zoned out. I barked at my younger son to "get those things out of your ears." First, for safety. Second, stop isolating yourself. Third, as stated above, you learn. You get tips, maybe your form is off.

So, a few months back I was doing the seated single arm preacher curl machine. I had 1 more set left. I walked away to spot my wife who, was doing push presses with a 60 lb. barbell. This guy SOAKED in sweat was walking off a cardio machine, and of ALL the machines in the place, he is making a bee line for that machine. I said, "Would you mind if I do my last set, please?" You would have thought I asked him for his car. He stood 2 feet from the machine while I finished. Like I wanted to get back on that machine after he bathed it in his sweat.

Or, when the lat machines are being used, I've offered to allow people to work in. They look at you like a 2 year old in play group. it's not big deal. I go, you go is a great tempo to train in.

World's changed because of the pandemic, we've created 2 generations of germophobes.

For the record, worked out at 9:30 AM, finished my Easy Strength workout and decided to test a double 70 military press for the 1st time in 15 months. Went up nice and easy. AM CREW FOR LIFE
 
UGGGGHHHHHH. Here is the BIGGEST problem today with PF. People will steal machines or not share. In the old days at Gold's you worked in, had a conversation and got to meet people through the gym. Today, 1/2 of the people have their head phones on and are zoned out. I barked at my younger son to "get those things out of your ears." First, for safety. Second, stop isolating yourself. Third, as stated above, you learn. You get tips, maybe your form is off.

So, a few months back I was doing the seated single arm preacher curl machine. I had 1 more set left. I walked away to spot my wife who, was doing push presses with a 60 lb. barbell. This guy SOAKED in sweat was walking off a cardio machine, and of ALL the machines in the place, he is making a bee line for that machine. I said, "Would you mind if I do my last set, please?" You would have thought I asked him for his car. He stood 2 feet from the machine while I finished. Like I wanted to get back on that machine after he bathed it in his sweat.

Or, when the lat machines are being used, I've offered to allow people to work in. They look at you like a 2 year old in play group. it's not big deal. I go, you go is a great tempo to train in.

World's changed because of the pandemic, we've created 2 generations of germophobes.

For the record, worked out at 9:30 AM, finished my Easy Strength workout and decided to test a double 70 military press for the 1st time in 15 months. Went up nice and easy. AM CREW FOR LIFE
As a father to 3 teenagers, I say F$@K ear pods! Worst thing ever. Haha
 
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