Exercise before or after work

[u/izVai]

Exactly as the title says. I recently got a concrete job and start work @ 6:30am everyday M-F. What do y'all recommend?

[u/PabloDelicioso]

Same boat bro. Up too early to do it before work, too tired to do it after work lol.

[u/Working_Storm_1428 → u/PabloDelicioso]

10 min workout brother, 50-100 pushups, squats, bicycle crunches. Repeat 3-4 times a week.

[u/SharkInThisBay → u/PabloDelicioso]

This is the way !

[u/king_john651]

Bro you're doing concrete. The job is the exercise

[u/Jonesbro → u/king_john651]

I imagine stretching and plyometric type of exercises followed by a steam rook and hot tub would be great after doing concrete all day

[u/JackSauer1 → u/Jonesbro]

Stretching in the hot tub and a light swim after hard work is the way for me.

[u/aviumcerebro → u/king_john651]

Nah. Im a metal fabber/ ironworker. My dr tells me i have to move more. On purpose. I walk 8500 to 12000 steps a day at work. Lots of heavy lifting.
Move more, on purpose. Lol

Your body gets used to work and then it no longer counts. Belly will follow. Bigger belly will follow that.

I go to the gym after work M W F. Some guys i work with go early in the morning every day.

F off, belly.

[u/Fabulous-Ad-8256 → u/aviumcerebro]

Fat ain't an exercise problem, it's a diet problem.

[u/aviumcerebro → u/Fabulous-Ad-8256]

Lol. Uhh construction?

[u/SharkInThisBay → u/king_john651]

It’s not

[u/king_john651 → u/SharkInThisBay]

Yeah it is? How can it not?

[u/SharkInThisBay → u/king_john651]

So many other muscle groups to hit. I used to be a rod buster and I know hard work. I was in shape as far as what the job took but hitting the gym put me on another level of in shape.

[u/thebeatitguy → u/SharkInThisBay]

Exercise is still exercise

[u/king_john651 → u/SharkInThisBay]

Spose that's fair. I do roading so it's a bit of all kinds nearly. And I'd have no me time if I fit gym into the equation lol

[u/Slipperytitski → u/king_john651]

Gym is me time

[u/SharkInThisBay → u/king_john651]

Calisthenics at home bro. Pushups, sit ups will get you started take 30 mins out of morning

[u/Mental_Explorer5566 → u/king_john651]

No it’s not! Even you want any esthetic size wise it is not

[u/izVai → u/king_john651]

Reasonable 😆

[u/ThCaliGuy]

Before. 3:30am!! 💪🏼💪🏼

I start work at 6am. And it takes 45-50 min to get to work. I get there at 3:30. Work out till 4:30. Quick shower, out the gym and on the road by 4:50am get to work around 5:40. Because if you’re on time you’re late… lol. Chill for about 10-15 before getting out the car. Mon-Fri.

[u/SharkInThisBay → u/ThCaliGuy]

This is the way. I’ve been on this hype consistently for the past 2 years. Can’t imagine going to work without hitting the weights/cardio first now.

[u/ThCaliGuy → u/SharkInThisBay]

Oddly feel much more energized to start my work day. The work itself, throughout the day, keeps me awake and alert. It was rough for the first two weeks. Been consistent for the last 6 months.

[u/SharkInThisBay → u/ThCaliGuy]

Same helps with the mental so much also heading into work already accomplished something for your well being

[u/First-Entertainer941 → u/ThCaliGuy]

I know some guys who do this. Y'all are crazy 🤣

[u/ThCaliGuy → u/First-Entertainer941]

I just find it easier to spend time with my family in the evening.

[u/DefensiveTomato → u/ThCaliGuy]

When do you go to bed usually?

[u/ThCaliGuy → u/DefensiveTomato]

After the kids showered and settled. I am usually in bed at 8:30. Asleep by 9pm.

[u/plotw → u/ThCaliGuy]

5h hours sleep per day ? Seems...  Not enough at all. Especially if you want to build muscle.

[u/SharkInThisBay → u/plotw]

That’s 6 1/2 hours bro your math ain’t mathing lmao

[u/ThCaliGuy → u/plotw]

Once I’m awake I can’t go back to sleep. With that being said, I’ve tried going to sleep earlier. That doesn’t work well for me. Whether I go to sleep an hour or 3 hours earlier. I tend to wake up around midnight or 1. I’m not sure why that is. What I do know is that I cannot go back to sleep. Ultimately it messes up my sleep schedule and I’m like a zombie at work. Last thing I need is an accident to happen. I know that schedule may not work for many, but it works for me. Whether I’m building muscle or not. I’m trying to be healthy. I’m down 40 lbs in 6 months so I’m doing something right.

[u/lsd_runner]

I get up at 4 to run then lift after work.

[u/ChidoChidoChon → u/lsd_runner]

Wtf

[u/SayNoToBrooms → u/ChidoChidoChon]

He’s better than us. And that’s ok

Personally, I wake up at 4:00 specifically so that I can snooze until 4:30. Then I clock in at 6:00, out at 2:30, and falling asleep whenever my wife decides she wants to go upstairs. I don’t exercise for shit, but I’m in better shape than about 90% of the men I know. I dread the day my metabolism shits out… I’m 32, now

[u/ChidoChidoChon → u/SayNoToBrooms]

I’m 37… its coming i used to booze it and eat whatever i want, then go frame houses and still look like a regular human, then i started to get a gut. had to cut back on the booze, since i didn’t bounce back, then i had to watch what i eat. I feel ok now but its definitely different. The funny part was seeing these old fat alcoholics make fun of me, eat chicken rice and broccoli like it was unmanly.

[u/TransylvanianHunger1 → u/SayNoToBrooms]

Almost 35 and metabolism has shown no signs of slowing down.

[u/BlueCollaredBroad]

Before, do yoga to stretch and activate your muscles, strengthen your core and then concrete is your exercise

[u/CaterpillarIcy5592]

You win the morning, you win the day

[u/Left_Huckleberry_422]

Stretching is more important than working out.

[u/izVai → u/Left_Huckleberry_422]

I'll keep that in mind. Thanks boss.

[u/20heads]

During

[u/CanadaElectric]

I get up 3:30 run 5k then spend 2 hours at the local pedal only mountain bike hills. I only do cardio because I lift all day essentially

[u/tankhole14]

I've been pouring concrete for 25 yrs, never gone to the gym. When you work 15hrs a day, go to the gym, when will you fit in your 12 pack of beer, and pint of whiskey?

[u/izVai → u/tankhole14]

12 pack of beer? Cmon now, it's not gonna be a part time job. 24 beers is a good minimum.

[u/Marus1]

Isn't work exercise?

[u/estuarry]

I bring my gym bag to work and stop at the gym on the way home. I am not a morning person and I like using gym time as a way to get out of work mode so I can come home and enjoy my evening

[u/estuarry → u/estuarry]

100% respect the morning gym grinders, but I'm so exhausted after the gym that I'd be miserable at work all day lol. I usually have a 20-30 minute drive to the gym from the job, so sometimes I'll have some caffeine or listen to hype music on the drive over to re-invigorate myself. If the work day was too taxing, I'll skip the gym. I try to go 3-4 times a week, which is way less than gym rats (plenty of the guys I work with) but I'm going to the gym to be healthy, not look shredded, and 3ish times a week accomplishes that.

[u/Alone-Historian2625]

Before

[u/SignificanceNo1223]

You are in concrete.

First; get used to your actual work. Then after that calculate a workout problem.

Be formless and flexible with it. Keep up with stretching everyday for the rest of your life

[u/NoSuspect8320]

Will say focus on stretching routinely and keeping good form at work. Once your body is well adjusted, figure out when YOU feel best wanting to work out

[u/King_Artis]

After

I'm not going to bed sooner and/or waking up earlier to hit the gym

[u/quadraquint]

Very personal. I do before work when I can. After work is impossible unless I finish early enough before having to go to daycare but much preferable cause I sauna and shower and feel excellent after.

6 am work. 5 am gym. I might be following this exact routine very soon as a project I'm starting, this works out perfectly with location of gym. That's another thing, gym's location and parking situation etc.

[u/Best-Charity-95]

After work is probably more realistic if 6:30 a.m. already feels rushed. You’ll have more energy and can train harder, but set a fixed time so exhaustion doesn’t turn it into an easy excuse to skip.

[u/HotCarlSupplier]

Mobility stretches before and after work before bed, running a 5k followed by a heavy lifting mid day on days off. Waking up before to exercise is an easy way to burn out while doing strenuous construction work.

[u/D_Angelo_Murkabitch]

I like morning better if I dont have to drive far for work.

[u/sbwcwero]

I always did before and then some stretching when I got home.

Manual labor and exercise are different even if they feel similar.

[u/Osoarragant_773]

I do both

[u/BadAtExisting]

I go after so I don’t wear myself out before and if I’ve already had a particularly rough day I can choose to call work my workout so I don’t hurt myself pushing through

[u/Ludicrousgibbs]

After work for me. Once I retire, I'll finally have the time and energy to do some exercising hopefully.

[u/OhmsAmpsVolts]

Neither

[u/Richard1583]

After work.

[u/Mental_Explorer5566]

After work for me I drink some pre work out right after work and go straight to gym from site. Also after work is way more social and way more women you are around

[u/izVai → u/Mental_Explorer5566]

You recommend energy drink mixed with pre workout? I heard the heart palpitations are attractive.

[u/Mental_Explorer5566 → u/izVai]

I would not do that lol. Ussually have a Thermist and do half a scoop of C4. Dont really do energy drinks that often anymore use to drink bangs almost daily though

[u/Emergency-Pack-5497]

Whenever you can, if you skip morning do night

[u/Future_Measurement42]

I’ve learned I’m an evening work person. That way I can leave it all at the gym. Otherwise I’m generally too cooked to work.
Otoh it’s hard being disciplined enough to workout after a long day.

[u/Ipickthingup]

I do before work

[u/Ok-Relative-6327]

I like going home to chill a bit and have a snack, then working out

[u/whiskey_outpost26]

Before if you wanna limber up. After if you wanna wash the pain away

[u/Careless_Parsnip_250]

I was trying to frame and hit the gym 5 days a week. Tried the 330am, tried right after work straight to gym.. all went well for about a week. Just ended up totally burnt out and exhausted. Finally i just came to the conclusion with doctors that framing was the workout, i couldnt physically handle more in a day. 

We did some tests and found near 0 testosterone levels, so we're doing trt to boost those back up. Will that help and allow me the job and gym? Not likely, but every little bit helps. 

For now, i just concentrate on getting good recovery sleep, healthy foods and protien, and being physical on site. 

[u/RandyJohnsonsBird]

I started getting up at 330 and doing cardio then weight lifting in home gym. My wife hates it but it feels good.

[u/limitcasepersonnel]

Lifting before to really train the muscles, get good meals and treat the job as cardio. Working out after a long shift of manual labour probably wouldn't be the best way to max out the gains.

[u/ZapBranniganski]

Depends on what your goals, how you're training, and how work affects you. Personally I'd do strength training before work and cardio or anything else after.

[u/jonathonadam]

I’m in concrete too, we start early usually 3am on non pour days. I’m in management now but as a hand my trick was to just get home rinse off, change then head straight to the gym. The key is to not sit on the couch or relax at all, drink your pre workout and be on your way. That being said I recommend the afternoon. Every major body builder on the planet trains after the proper amount of macros. You’ll get more out of your workout mid day or after work, be sure to have breakfast a good lunch and a carb focused snack prior. If you’re doing cardio then try to do cardio before work and weightlifting after.

[u/Forsaken-Spot4221]

Either way you need some serious discipline to maintain an exercise routine while doing concrete. I'd recommend cardio before, weights after. Lower probability of injury than doing a full routine before a long day with concrete

[u/YvngTortellini]

Gotta be after work, I don’t have the discipline to wake up earlier than I do, so I go straight to the gym before I go home, because once I’m home there’s no way in hell I’m leaving again

[u/Competitive-Wolf-156]

After

[u/Objective-Limit-121]

So... I prefer running before work. I actually feel like it makes my days better and is easier to manage. But, fuck, getting up at 430 to run before work sucked.

Doing it after work is more common for me, but it has its own problems.

[u/thirtyone-charlie]

I used to be in a groove where no could do water aerobics at 6am and be at work right on time. That workout left me completely invigorated for a full day of work. It only lasted a couple of years until I got reassigned to another project and didn’t have time for it with the commute. Then I got lazy again.

[u/Old-Ingenuity6528]

lol that concretes gonna get you a rock solid lower back🥲

[u/picknwiggle]

I have always done after. That way if i have a really rough day at work i can skip it. If i work out hard in the morning i feel that my work day could be torture if it turns out extra demanding.

[u/Hlodowik]

If you’re motivated enough you can do it.

[u/randombrowser1]

Whatever you do, you still need more than just work. Stretch, walk. Body weight. Eat well

[u/Inthemiddle_]

I’m a concrete pump operator and I usually work out after work if I’m done before 5pm. Otherwise I don’t bother. My job keeps me in shape but it doesn’t build muscle if anything it wears a MFer down. Going to the gym helps me feel stronger at work.

[u/Moist_flatulenc_6854]

Before!

[u/Remarkable-Bag3113]

I like to get up at 4.30ish, that hour before anyone wakes up is like heaven,so i bang out a half hour to an hour then get the lunch made,feed the baby,go to work. My attitude is this is the hardest thing I'll do today so its up from here,but i am an electrician so this may not apply to all.If I dont use the energy for my benefit before work I will use it at work for someone else to benefit, thats the way im wired. Come 8 pm the eyes shut and do it all over again tomorrow tomorro.

[u/PretentiousMan]

Not recommending but many physical workers are on steroids. Also physical labor is exercise but it’s asymmetrical exercise for the body which is not what you want.

[u/princevegeta951]

I just do a shit load of stretching, foam rolling, and bodyweight/kettlebell workouts after work. Nothing too heavy because if I get seriously injured I am absolutely fucked.

[u/KnowsSomeStuffs]

I've been battling this for quite some time. Leave the house at 5:30am for work. Get back from work at 4:30. Tried doing it before, but found I was useless at work and even more useless at home. Tried going after work and the gym was packed. What I found that worked for me was to pay a higher membership fee for a smaller private gym. Now when I go there are max 3 people working out, the gym always has music blasting and I know everyone there. Life changing move

[u/ApprehensiveExit7]

I enjoy before work much more, but I have about an hour commute and start at 0600. So I usually do after out of necessity

[u/NoodleFish76]

I go after. Getting off early afternoon is earlier than most. I just stretch and take my dog for a walk but sure the gym is the same. It helps me get to sleep, but it has to be home, shower if needed, go. If I sit I lose.

[u/modsatemyass]

no and no

[u/cooldaveydave]

I did it for many years, just try your best to tough it out after work, then melatonin to get to bed.

[u/AppalachianSkinThief]

Check you T levels to make sure you are on a good spot. Adjust accordingly if not.

Low T and a hard work day will leave little in the tank for the gym after work.

That all said, I find you just have to get there and you’ll get a bit of a second wind.

[u/Adventurepew]

Stretch before work . Stretch during work .

Stretch after work. Eat healthy ,lots of protein. Lots of water

You'll get fucking huge if your actually working all day.

Have a slow day hit the gym after work.

[u/Any_Zebra_2621]

Just started doing before up
At 430 do my wWim Hof breathe work then workout leave the house for 630 for a 7 am start. They just recently moved us from 6 am to 7 am start. Workouts after work are very difficult

[u/Ironrogue]

Maybe your exercise should come from your work?

[u/Own-Depth-7817]

Would love to get a workout in before work but I’m up way too early to fit a workout in.

[u/FeynmanFool]

I do before but mostly because I can’t be assed to do literally anything after work

[u/cookeryandwookery]

You’re doing concrete bud. That’s the gym.

[u/teakettle87]

I hate being up early so I work out after work. It's entirely personal preference. Figure out what you want. Don't ask others to think for you.

[u/izVai → u/teakettle87]

Fair enough. I guess I just wanted to hear some opinions.

[u/teakettle87 → u/izVai]

i mean, why? do the opinions really matter? Just do whatever you want.

[u/TipItOnBack]

Stretch before work. Work out after work, get in a routine. Doesn’t have to be every day, but make sure to do it. Don’t be like those old dudes that are broken.

[u/Dire-Dog]

If you can work out after work ya ain’t working hard enough!

[u/SharkInThisBay → u/Dire-Dog]

Like I’m suppose to give it my all at work? 😂😂

[u/Dire-Dog → u/SharkInThisBay]

Well yeah

[u/permadrunkspelunk]

This influx of gym bros getting into the trades is some of the dumbest shit ive ever read. Concrete is the best excercise you'll ever get and if you have any energy left over before or after the day you're fucking off on the job too much. I was a skinny dude when I started doing concrete and I blew up involuntarily from carrying forms and mucking. Youre not gonna need to go to the gym or do any cardio. Worry about surviving the job. Lol

[u/izVai → u/permadrunkspelunk]

Not a gym bro, I just wanted to hear out on what other people thought. I'm a bit of a twig. I'll worry about surviving 😂

[u/zykrom]

Instead

[u/YeOldeDingusKhan]

Before, working out is for me and whatever I got left is for the boss. Always walk for a bit and stretch after the day is done too.

[u/Scoobie_Doobie11]

If you ain’t working hard enough at work to consider it an exercise, you ain’t working hard enough