My sons and I have been optimizing to do three things.
- Spend more time together.
- Consistently get our weight training sessions in.
- Get better sleep.
We have created a process to dominate all three in an hour.
Three days a week, my young men and I leave the house for the gym at 5:45 am. School starts for them at 8:00am. We could opt to go in the afternoon, but by the time the day is done, our schedules are so different that we wouldn’t be able to train together. Additionally, our physical and emotional bandwidth might conceivably be sapped. For camaraderie, the crack of dawn lift makes sense. For better sleep, it does too. From huffingtonpost.com:
Exercise at any time of the day will help you sleep better than no exercise at all, found the National Sleep Foundation, but there are a few reasons why working up a sweat in the morning might make for an even more restful night. First, sleep experts say that exposure to daylight soon after waking (during a run, bike ride or even a drive to the gym) has the effect of putting a time stamp on your brain: It reminds it when you woke up and when you need to power down at night. Health researchers at Appalachian State University have also found that morning exercise reduces blood pressure and causes an additional 25 percent dip at night, which has been correlated with better sleep.
We knew that choosing to lift weights together would be beneficial in a variety of different ways. What we didn’t know is that bonding over exercise has a very unique upside. From weighttraining.com:
When a person exercises, chemical changes occur in his or her brain. Levels of dopamine and serotonin increase which make you feel calm and happy.
When you are in this emotional state you are able to focus on tasks better and pay attention for longer periods of time.
Being able to think more clearly and focus gives the morale a boost, which encourages you to continue with the activity.
I’m certainly pleased with continuing the activity. I’m more thrilled, however, with the idea that I will be near my moppets with my (and their) senses elevated. There are few things more powerful than sharing time with loved ones while in as state of contentment. We are naturally buzzed together.
To recap, by training as a crew in the morning, we clearly check the aforementioned three boxes.
To family,
Kap
Jeremy says
Gabe, great post! What do you recommend for a quick snack before a morning lifting session?
Chester says
From Chester — This may depend on meal the night before. I have found early a.m.
workouts on some days need a bit of fuel — half or whole apple, maybe
part/whole energy bar. Some days just a quarter lemon squeezed into a
glass of water wakes this body up.
Basically listening to the body is worthwhile.
Kelebek Beyaz says
Oh the cuteness! Your boys are adorable love.
I am happy that you are able to get that quality time with your young men. They will never forget it. I will always have fond memories of the things I did with my parents and how despite having a tribe of kids, always seem to have time for me.
Happy, family time cannot be beat by anything else.
Kelebek
Chris says
Jeremy,
Check this out from a few days ago.
https://kaplifestyle.com/2014/12/training-while-fasted
Chester says
Exercising with the kids is an educational experience all the way around.
Early a.m. workouts — much easier for me in the summer than in the winter, and as you discussed the other day about working out early a.m. without eating prior to — this may depend on meal the night before. I have found early a.m. workouts on some days need a bit of fuel — half or whole apple, maybe part/whole energy bar. Some days just a quarter lemon squeezed into a glass of water wakes this body up.
Basically listening to the body is worthwhile. Later.
.
Msquared says
Very cool bonding outing.
Applause.
bill says
Kap, your boys will always treasure this quality time you share together.
Matt Dorsey says
My 14 year old and I hit the gym on Saturday and Sunday mornings and I really enjoy the time and it helps me keep an eye on his form and teach him to be safe in the gym. During the week, he is working out after school while I go early on my way to work. We are following the 5×5 for the most part and he is seeing some real gains in the squats and deadlifts, the upper body stuff is coming, just a little slower.
Breedlove says
Haha – how much would it rule growing up to have your pops be a big-league ballplayer…must be fun.
Nick says
This is great to see Gabe. As a former collegiate ball player I know what it means to spend time with my dad when it comes to athletics. Keep motivating them! When’s another grain free update coming?
magoopark says
Hi Gabe, wondering at what age it’s safe to begin some type of strength training for my son. He is 8 and loves sports. I get concerned about the nature of year round one sport obsession I notice. I want him to enjoy sports, play lots of them and learn to appreciate what a gift sports are to those who are able to enjoy them.