TIME STAMPS 0:30 Why this video exists 1:02 Giant set explained 1:28 First Set 1:53 Second Set 2:19 Third Set and Critique 3:19 Feelings and Cues I’m focusing on 4:55 Fourth Set and Critique 6:23 Feelings And QUESTION OF THE WEEK! 8:48 Fifth Set and Critique 9:40 Feelings & Predictions 10:28 Sixth Set and Critique 11:41 Making Decisions on the Top set 12:37 Seventh Set and Critique 13:53 Final Thoughts, New News and Outro
Hey Brian Alsruhe, When you unrack the bar you seem to press it out too much vs pulling it out with your lats and it’s causing you to lose tightness. Perhaps move the J-cups up one position. I had this same problem, and great video. 👍👍
It would be interesting to throw in a reference to your current body weight in comparison to what it was when your strength numbers were higher. And, your thoughts on how much it does or doesn't impact your "numbers" as an independent variable. You are looking much leaner, smaller than I recall, especially in your trunk. (What do I know?) Pride and ego....it is a powerful thing. I intentionally dropped a lot of weight last year for health issues, and the obvious physical strength decline was a little too much for my weak mind to deal with.
I’ve trained 4:30am, 10pm, and everything in between. I like the morning grind as there is no one awake and I get the gym mostly to myself. However I have to take a longer warm up in the morning. At night I feel really strong but I have a hard time going to sleep after. I like afternoon but i can never get to the gym with work and stuff. Each time has its advantages and disadvantages!
I feel best in the morning working out but I it's a pain to get up 1-2 hours earlier to get a pre workout meal. Usually I don't eat past 7pm and then feel weak if I don't eat before an am workout.
I've got no grip strength in the morning unless I take a super long time to warn up. I'm definitely strongest or feel like it anyway in the afternoon, but if I had the time those midnight workouts are definitely the most fun
Incredibly humbling to see someone so strong and experienced point out so many flaws in their own technique. Definitely means my technique is nowhere close to as good as I think it is 😅
Hello BRIAN...Great to see you again.... Wow..‼ you're a very LATE lifter.... I'm a Evening lifter, my best lifts are around 530pm to 8pm... THAT'S WHEN MY ENERGY kicks in... I can't do mornings nor afternoons anymore...
I love this series. Great guides not only on the lifts themselves, but they also help show us how to analyze our own lifts. I'm excited for the next video! The only thing that would make this better is some John Madden style squiggly lines, circles, and arrows while you're talking over the freeze frame. Maybe throw in a "Boom!" here and there, haha.
I prefer to lift in the morning because it helps me build momentum for the day. But my strength and mobility also doesnt show up until later in the day. By night time i start feeling lethargic so i make it work mid day. Its been getting the job done havent missed a workout in 4 months.
I have tried all different times throughout the day. I found that my strength didn't really change no matter what time I trained. What I did notice is that my sleep was affected if I train later in the day. so far my sweet spot has been mid morning. My body is awake enough to train hard and there are plenty of hours left in the day to relax, eat and rest fully at night. Thanks for the vid.
I'm a morning lifter, but mostly it's about self-discipline. If i don't get up and get after it first thing, it's real real easy for me to make excuses and procrastinate on it later. This way, if for some reason I can't do it in the morning I also have more chances to fit it in later as opposed to something coming up unexpected in the evenings. Thanks as always, Brian!
These critique videos are fantastic Brian. So much useful information. Re your question I definitely prefer working out in the evening and it definitely has an effect on me vs the morning. My body just doesn't wake up first thing.
Between 10 and 1am is right up my street. You've always turned out great content from the first one I watched about getting and setting up a keg for training right through to all of these latest one, training and bush craft. It looks like you have found an amazing life balance👊👍
I've had my best training in the morning because it gets me pumped up and ready for the day. It's like a morning routine. It's when I feel the strongest and most alert. I get stressed if I miss a morning pass because then I'll just have the gym on my mind all day.
Late morning/mid afternoon is my favorite time to lift. The sun is high, it's a beautiful day, and the world seems its most energetic at that time. Enough time to digest my breakfast and get warm and awake from the morning, any later and I risk fatigue. I think it comes from that time frame being recess when I was a child, I get a big burst of energy whenever it reaches that mid day mark. But a 6am lifting session makes me feel awesome for the rest of the day too.
Love the details & explanation during workouts. We never realize what we do sometimes when lifting until we see actual footage & see what to do & not to do. Good shhh Brian 💪💪
I'm a morning lifter, but moreso because I feel more productive throughout the day. If I lift in the evening or night, I just end up looking forward to the gym all day and my productivity suffers. I'm the strongest in the afternoon though.
Nice video Brian. I’m liking this in depth content. I always like to think my form is ‘perfect’ but it seems every now and then I become de-trained and lazy with some movements. Have to use this to re-train these movements. As for the time of day? Morning I’m just too weak, even though it wakes me up nicely for a productive day. Afternoons after work I feel strong. Nothing a small cup of coffee or squirt of honey can’t fix
I’m the same way! I don’t require music to work out and I’m a night owl work out around 10 pm and sleep at like 2-3 am. Thought I was the only one. Love your videos and channel very informative and cool!
Definitely a morning trainer.......the few times I have had to workout at lunch or after work, my mind was in a different place and my workout suffered.
Definitely morning for me! Within 1.5 hours of waking up. I work 12 hours shifts, so I'm typically beat after work. An almost guaranteed poor workout. Don't do it immediately upon rising, as I need some time to relax, do parent stuff and get some coffee in me. Plus I'm 35 and have been doing this since my early teens, so I'm typically a little tight/sore in the AM.
In the morning i LOVEEE doing cardio and i think doing that in the morning just makes me feel so much better for the rest of the day in terms of mental clarity and what not. Then i like lifting in the miday/afternoon causes that fits best and also i feel pretty strong around then
More than the time of day, its the number of meals versus level of output that impacts my workouts. After work, as long as I ate all my food, it goes ok. I love weekends when I can eat breakfast and second breakfast, then workout before launching into any of my other projects. Always feel my strongest then.
Morning lifter, tried both morning and afternoon but just love getting it in the early morning 6am, just gives me so much boost throughout the day and feel like I perform also better
I'm a morning workout guy at the minute, this fits into my life well. But i am aware i am at my best later in the afternoon. I have adjusted to mornings now but it certainly took a couple of months to get it feeling normal
Great video as always! much to learn here as my bench SUCKS!!!! regarding your question i absolutely LOATHE morning workouts ( I actually loathe mornings PERIOD lol) my preferred time to train is around 6pm as i am kinda over the mid afternoon energy slump and plus it fits in with my work schedule. one other thing of note (maybe) is i always train in a fasted state so my 6pm sessions are at the tail end of a fast that usually ends up being around 20 hrs. i never thought in a million years i would prefer to train this way but once I tried it i couldnt believe how much more stamina and mental focus i have. Another plus is my post workout meal REALLY tastes good! Stay well, and good luck with the reopening of your gym!
Morning lifter for sure. I train fasted as well. To be honest, it’s 100% convenience though. I’m on third shift, so my morning isn’t “actual morning,” but it’s within two hours of waking up. The way I see it, if being fasted and training early makes me weaker short term, the numbers will still be there. IF I could deadlift 700 standing in sand, my guess is that 700 in a meet is cake. Love the channel!
I’m a 3:15am lifter. It’s good to get my training in with no distractions and before my family wakes up. And also when I do two-a-days 1230pm or 1pm is when I get a quick 45 minute to a hour workout done as well.
I’m the same Brian, I don’t listen to music when I train but I notice a big difference between training in the morning and at night and I feel training at night works best for me
Morning lifter. I find that it does alot for my mental wellbeing in that the first thing I do in the morning isn't getting up and going to work. I get to start out the day with something that I enjoy.
Evening lifter by default during the week. But on weekends, my preference is to have a hearty breakfast and coffee and go; I feel I'm most energized that way, instead of sitting all day and making my back uncomfortable. I love going fresh and fueled.
As a full time dad/self employed for me I find although I'm not as fired up on early mornings I have next to no stress from the day, so I find my focus is better and I don't feel burnt out during heavy sessions. Training at the end of a day after a stressful day can fry me out. On the bench, pls bare in mind I'm aware you're an absolute beast and have strength for days, but have you considered creating full body tension from the unrack instead of the off and on leg drive? The jerk type of leg drive although creates a lot of momentum off the chest it relies on a much looser body position, hence the bum popping up. Alternatively you just apply leg drive before unrack and continue to drive through the legs as you set, descend, pause or touch, then press. You likely know all this and you probably prefer relying on momentum more. Just thought I'd throw it out there in case and if you have tried both methods it would be cool to hear your experience and why you've gone for this approach. Love your stuff bud, and more than a little jelly of your back garden, otherwise known as a forest!!
I'm definitely stronger in the afternoon vs the morning. Every once in a while I'll go through a phase where I wake up super early and do my workout first thing and find that it makes for a better day overall...but I generally to be awake and moving until afternoon or evening to feel the strongest. As a side note, I've noticed that when I do dial in my schedule and life-variables to work out early every morning, I'm more consistent with my workouts. I have the circadian rhythm of an alien from a 36-hour-day planet and seldom get in that routine, but I'm preparing for some life changes to make it happen!
Definitely an afternoon/night owl at the gym because that’s when I feel the best. Im guessing it has to do with glycogen depletion from sleeping all night (presumably you should be fasted, unless you inhale a 2 am snack). If I work out later, the intramuscular carbs are restocked and I’m ready to rock
I prefer to and my schedule necessitates that I lift in the morning. As a result, I try to make breakfast one of my biggest meals. However, much like you said, I definitely feel strongest when I lift in the afternoon, but I try to look at the morning lifting as just another challenge/obstacle.
I'm a evening lifter. 6-7pm when i've put my kid to sleep. Prior I liked to workout at like 1-3pm. Don't function well enough in the morning, but I do it if I don't have any other way to get my workout in.
Afternoon lifter, I’m just not as motivated to work out at night but I do feel stronger. Ima t my weekday in the morning, or about an hour after I wake up but I’ve been having to do that lately due to work.
I live in Arizona and workout in my garage, so what time i workout depends on what part of the year it is. Right now my area is getting into the 120's, so I've been working out around 2200. During cooler times around 1600.
My best lifts were early morning, 5-7am. I am a huge morning person, I wake up and I am instantly awake, mix that with a few cups of coffee. Plus having an empty gym is always nice
Definitely an evening lifter, I have the most energy in the evening and later at night. In the morning I feel groggy, unmotivated, and tired. I think it has to do with personality types and hormone balances. Some wake tired and become more awake throughout the day and others are awake and become more tired.
Axle Rows. I love you for that Brian. I'm an after work lifter. It's nice especially if it's been a stressful day. So the 4-7 pm is my best time. However if I have to lift at 9am to get it in I do what I need to do.
Evening lifter reporting in. Since I work from home and work out in a basement gym, the time the first set usually starts is always the same +/- couple minutes (7:20 pm). Very rarely I have to start an hour or 90 minutes later, and something feels off, but I can just push through because I'm furious at myself for starting late. And if I have to start an hour earlier, I definitely feel more sluggish for the first couple sets. That being said, the last time I worked out in the morning or in the afternoon was 15 years ago at a kickboxing gym, so I can't really say that I definitely won't perform better in the morning. I believe that if I were to stick to a different schedule and push through for long enough, I'd be able to, at least, reach the same results.
I'm a morning lifter. Well, like 7:30-8:00 start. Can only make that work on wekends so I make afternoons work during the week. I tend to do better squatting and pressing in the morning and deadlifts seem to be better in the afternoon
Definitely an afternoon lifter for strength but always feel better if I train in the morning. If I train too late though I’ll struggle with sleep, no idea how people cope after taking my preworkout post 5pm.
Nighttime lifter. Usually start around 8 pm and finish by 9:30 or 10. Used to workout in the morning, but I don't love feeling myself get sore throughout the day.
My ideal lifting time would be around 10am. I feel really solid and ready to go then. Unfortunately due to work I am more of a 4am guy. Also! Quick question for you Brian. While both are great, if you had to pick just one exercise between overhead press and bench for your mma performance, what would you pick? I do jujitsu and karate as well and have been thinking a lot about carry over between both movements. Really love your content man! Hope stuff is going well
Time absolutely makes a difference to me! I am an afternoon lifter. I like to have a slow quiet morning then I feel awake and strong in the afternoon. Lifting in the morning just doesn't feel good. Could I get used to it? Sure, we all could, but for now I'll stick to my afternoon workouts.
These vids are just as helpful as all the other content you make man, greatly appreciated and hope to see you back at your old level soon! The whole knees-in problem, I never have given it any thought. Benchday today, lets see what I do (wrong) :) ("this video was uploaded 51 seconds ago", talk about timing!)
Brian - if you can't get tight in your upper back, maybe throw in some gymnastic rings work? They worked wonders for my upper back every time, mostly indirectly during dips, and while I'm nowhere near your fitness level, maybe some tempo or weighted variants could help you out. Best wishes.
I dont know that I'm anybsteonger but I definitely like to start the day with exercise. Usually 4:30-5:30am. This is a problem lately as I'm not going to my favorite box gym right now and I can't justify slamming iron around in my neighborhood at 4:30. So I've been squeezing sessions in right before I head off to work because its late enough that the neighbors are going to be up and likely gone.
Been 4am lifter since I started in 2016. Probably lifted 6 times since then at a different time. Yes lifting at those other times usually felt dramatically better. 4 am is the only time I can regularly get into the gym. Now if I dont workout out first thing I am a slug until about noon o'clock.
I train best in the evening. I do train whenever I can and sometimes that is morning but I feel I don’t have the fuel to lift heavy at such a time. So I lift a little lighter when I train in the mornings.
Morning lifter, but I work out then for convenience, and not having to deal with parents who just picked up the kids from school or the 5pm rush hour after work. I think I've adapted with time though. I'm no powerlifter/strongman so maybe later times are needed at a more advanced level.
Hey Brian curious what your thoughts are on those monolift attachments. I see them in the background of a lot of your videos but you never mention them. Thanks love your channel.
I like to get my workouts in early - if my schedule permits. That usually means in the morning before I start working, or otherwise before or around noon. Because I really like that feeling of "the day just started and already you have the most taxing thing out of the way". Makes me feel good about myself. Also, the commercial gym I go to is not as packed early in the day. Having said that, sometimes I just can't seem to shake off the sleepiness. It's hard to get excited about lifting weights when your body just wants to crawl back to bed. 😅
Critique geek. Just have to say it faster. Gets a little easier. For me anyway. I always work out in the morning before work though I do better at around the same time frame you described. I can't work out in the afternoon after work or I'll be too keyed up to sleep that evening. Been that way since I was in the Corps.
lifting between 6 - 8 pm works best for me. I'm super weak in the morning since I normally get my breakfast in at around 9am. Midday I don't have the time to go workout, so I stick to my 6-8pm workout time :)
Always lifted at night and thought I was a night lifter. Due to Corona I've been lifting in the morning, and it started out kinda shit (pulled muscles), but it's really turning out great. I think I'm a little more focused in the morning and prefer it now.
Evening lifter most of the time, I don't mind lifting in the morning if it's upper body, but when it come to lower body I've tweaked stuff too many time in the morning
night lifter or (late night-am lifter) Brian, excellent video again and welcome back. Question to add to your lists of questions for future reply. I was benching near the top of my 16 week range for doubles and 5 sets felt good and when I went up just 10 pounds I felt this "weird pull in my pec" like a pop. I still easily finished the rep and then stopped. NO injury today at all and no real pain last night just tightness Wonder what the heck that little thing was??? Any ideas what happened? Also totally get what you are saying when you do a weight and it moves slow and feels heavy and then 2 sets later it goes up like a feather. Hmm also don't know why.
I work later in the day during the week so I have to work out in the morning. On the weekend (if I don't have other plans) I'll work out in the afternoon. Between the two, I tend to feel like I have more energy during the afternoon work outs. Not sure if that's just in my head or not though.
I'm definitely an mid afternoon ~3pm lifter. Second best is 7pm. Morning i feel weak. Grip feels super weak in the morning, and I feel like i lift best once i've had 4-5 meals in me.
Late morning is 100% the best time for me to train. Work does not allow me to train at the optimal time except for weekends. Monday through Friday I start training between 4 and 5.
Mid morning is easily my favourite lifting/exercise time, up for a few hours, have a small breakfast for a bit of energy, make sure I'm well hydrated etc, I train then I'll have a big brunch. Problem is weekends/holidays etc is the main time I get to train at that time due to lifes demands :( so my regular workout time is either side of peak hour at gym normally (3-5pm or 8-10pm), can't stand going to gym peak hour unless I'm doing cardio which isn't as bad as there's normally plenty of free treadmills/crosstrainers etc Do enjoy a Saturday morning workout but, then have the rest of the day to look forward to
Afternoon/evening lifter. I'm stronger then and morning exercise makes me nauseous. I used to feel a lot of guilt for not being a "morning person" and as a personal trainer my clients would criticize me for not exercising in the morning.
Can u make a breakdown video for DB Bench Presses . I really had hard time on the technique and feeling the tensions on my chest and somehow lose the "press" grip tension when i start descending
That is sleepy time for me. I like to lift between 15 and 18h, but I can only do this in my holiday (I am a teacher, so get a lot of those luckely). But otherwise I will lift between 19.3o and 21.30h. I only do mornings if there is absolutly no other way. I feel very weak in the morning.
I lift whenever I can usually after school so afternoon I have tried mornings I am wayyy weaker and have done night times I am too sleepy , 3pm is perfect because empty gym and feel strong
For me it depends. I lift at 5am during the week. Definitely weaker at that time of the day, but it's the only time I've got due to work. On weekends though, I'll either lift late morning or late afternoon. Honestly don't care either way, I think my performance is the same, unless I've done a bunch of physical work beforehand. I used to train in the evening regularly, but it's definitely not my preference because all I want to do after dinner is chill on the couch, and it messes with my sleep. Do you still have sleep troubles? I hope that's improved....
