iron addict
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Lifters that don’t understand, or downplay the importance of full CNS capacity are often trainees that have a tough time with overall progress. Simply put, if your mind cannot send a STRONG signal to the neural net and the motor units, you just will not lift to your capacity. Like anything else related to the body, CNS capacity is a finite thing, and there are limits to what you can do, how hard you can do it, and the frequency of time it will take you to recover from it. Without going into all the factors involved, I’m going to address one simple aspect of CNS “firing” capacity--time of day.
There are many neurotransmitters and various metabolic systems that determine CNS capacity as it applies to weight training. You likely know many “morning people”, as well as “vampires”. Some of this has to do with personality of course, but much of it is also related to levels of neurotransmitters. Some people start the day firing on all cylinders at full power, and others need a warm-up. Some a LONG warm-up.
As a trainer, I frequently get calls by clients that are dismayed by a bad days lifting performance after changing their lifting session time by a large time-span. The most typical is an afternoon or evening trainer that has to do an early morning session because of job or family requirements. Often performance is HORRIBLE. And I speak from experience on this one because I can only be described as a vampire. I wake up SLOW, and it takes a couple hours for me to feel totally awake, and me trying to lift before I have been awake at LEAST 4-5 hours is just a waste of time. For me, the longer I have been awake the better the session usually is. For others, once they are awake, or past a certain time threshold, more time doesn’t make any difference in performance.
On the other end of the spectrum are the “morning” guys. I train a lot of lifters that get right up and are in the gym 45 minutes to an hour or so after waking, and do spectacular. CNS is at a peak for these guys in the morning, and they capitalize on it.
Though most of you are locked into when you can train because of work and family obligations, it will pay off for the ones that have options to find the best time of the day to hit the gym and be at full capacity. And if you are forced into flopping your schedule for a time, especially to an early morning schedule, don’t be surprised if you do less than anticipated.
Iron Addict
There are many neurotransmitters and various metabolic systems that determine CNS capacity as it applies to weight training. You likely know many “morning people”, as well as “vampires”. Some of this has to do with personality of course, but much of it is also related to levels of neurotransmitters. Some people start the day firing on all cylinders at full power, and others need a warm-up. Some a LONG warm-up.
As a trainer, I frequently get calls by clients that are dismayed by a bad days lifting performance after changing their lifting session time by a large time-span. The most typical is an afternoon or evening trainer that has to do an early morning session because of job or family requirements. Often performance is HORRIBLE. And I speak from experience on this one because I can only be described as a vampire. I wake up SLOW, and it takes a couple hours for me to feel totally awake, and me trying to lift before I have been awake at LEAST 4-5 hours is just a waste of time. For me, the longer I have been awake the better the session usually is. For others, once they are awake, or past a certain time threshold, more time doesn’t make any difference in performance.
On the other end of the spectrum are the “morning” guys. I train a lot of lifters that get right up and are in the gym 45 minutes to an hour or so after waking, and do spectacular. CNS is at a peak for these guys in the morning, and they capitalize on it.
Though most of you are locked into when you can train because of work and family obligations, it will pay off for the ones that have options to find the best time of the day to hit the gym and be at full capacity. And if you are forced into flopping your schedule for a time, especially to an early morning schedule, don’t be surprised if you do less than anticipated.
Iron Addict
