My first post, on a subject that really hits close to home. The blunt truth is that it doesn't make a bit of difference to someone who isn't a competitor. There are more important things to worry about, and you should simply schedule your workouts at a time that you know you can get them in. That's why you'll find that a lot of "Dad's" will be working out in the morning, due to both a varying work day and needed time at home with the family.
I would fall into that Dad category. At first it was tough to get my CNS fired up in the morning. But as with all things, the body will adapt. It will take a few months though, so don't expect it to happen over night. I now even wake up before the alarm even goes off. And my body is now trained to peak at that time. I wake up and I feel great.
I think there are a few studies that show evening studies to be more beneficial than morning ones, due to cortisol levels being highest in the morning. But simply eating something prior to hitting the gym or sipping on a pro/carb drink will be sufficient in keeping the cort levels in check.
Some tips on making the morning workouts easier.....
1. Get up at least 1 hour before you plan to hit the gym.
2. Eat something like oatmeal and protein powder immediately upon waking.
3. Sip on a pro/carb drink while training.
4. Warm up for 20 minutes on a treadmill/bike (whilst perhaps letting the EC kick in,if you must).
5. Go to bed on time.
6. Wake up early every day so as to get your body used to that schedule.
