When do you exercise?

I'm just curious as to when people actually exercise. Is it possible to have a different time of day for different days in the week? Anyone work out in the evening, about an hour before bed and find that it affects sleep either beneficially or adversely?
I'm really trying to come up with a schedule, but I don't even know what that really means to me. Any advice is appreciated!

Tue. Jan 17, 10:18pm

I have been wondeing a similarily to you....is it more benificial to work out during the day....would the time & energy I spend working out at night get me farther if I did it in the morning or afternoon?? im not sure myself, i cant help thinking that it may be a bit better in the day, thinking it may burn more fat and/or calories. Once again, Im not sure though. I mostly work out at night, because that is usually the only opportunity i get to do it...but if I knew for sure, that it would b way better to do it during the day....I would figur out something to juggle it in.

Tuesday, January 17, 2006, 11:01 PM

I think it just depends on you - whether or not you're a morning person or a night person. For me personally I'm definitely a night owl, and so I have more energy in the afternoon/evenings, but as part of my new years goals, I have been trying to get my workouts done in the mornings. It actually FEELS better to have them done in the morning. Not only is it done for the day, but it helps me to stay on track with my eating better throughout the day.

Even though people will debate over whether or not there is proof that it is better to do it in the morning vs. evening, it doesn't matter. You're going to burn the same amount of calories whether you do it at either time as long as you put the same amount of energy into it.

Tuesday, January 17, 2006, 11:12 PM

My work and family don't lend themselves to a very regular schedule, so I just workout whenever I get an hour free, sometimes on my lunch hour, sometimes in the evening, in the morning on weekends. Maybe a regular time would be better, but I'm just happy if I get at least three workouts a week!

Tuesday, January 17, 2006, 11:23 PM

yep - best time to work out is when you're most likely to actually do it. I like working out in the evening because I find it relaxing to do so after a stressful day. And I think that because I grew up doing lots of outside, physically demanding work that I sleep better because I associate tired muscles with a good day's work. According to my doctor evening workouts usually wake people up, but not me.

Wednesday, January 18, 2006, 12:07 AM

I currently work out 9am-12pm, but I do occasionally take a yoga class at 8pm or do a toning video at midnight. I can't say that I've noticed any effect on my sleep unless you include peace of mind that I did something good for my body. I do, however, note an increase in overall energy levels throughout the day on my current routine, though I don't know if time of day has anything to do with it.

I would suggest not planning to workout the morning after a late night workout. It feels kind of weird, like the quest for fitness is taking over your life.

Wednesday, January 18, 2006, 12:39 AM

I work out in the evenings because that's when I actually have time...

However, I'm hoping to eventually retrain myself to get up earlier and work out befor going to the office... I wonder if it will help my concentration throughout the day....

Wednesday, January 18, 2006, 1:04 AM

I do cardio in the morning and strength training or pilates in the evening.
I find it easier if I get the cardio out of the way as soon as I get up, and then I feel better for the rest of the day just knowing that I've done something.
Doing pilates in the evening just helps me relax after a long stressfull day at work. I find it helps me sleep better because it gets rid of the stress that's been building up all day.
But as with everyone else my workouts revolve around my schedule. Breaking it up into two seperate workouts is the only way I can squeeze it all in.

Wednesday, January 18, 2006, 8:32 AM

I work out in the evenings, after work and dinner have digested. :)

Wednesday, January 18, 2006, 8:56 AM

I work out at lunch time which I know is not possible for most. I LOVE it. I feel more productive at my job and my workouts are more effective because I feel like I really have to give it my all because I'm on limited time.

Here's my true confession: I just blow dry the sweat back in to my hair. If I think about that too long I get sort of grossed out but then I think, "do you want perfect hair or a healthy, confident body?" The healthy body wins everytime!

Wednesday, January 18, 2006, 10:20 AM

I work out right after work - come home, put on gym clothes, and right back out the door. If I sit down for even like 5 minutes, I'm staying in for the night! But once I get to the gym, I can stay for as long as it takes.

To do this, though, the days that I plan to go to the gym, I have to make sure to eat something around 3:30pm (get off work at 5), b/c otherwise I'm starving when I get home and want to eat, then I need to wait until I digest, and by then, I have no motivation left... So those days I eat a smaller lunch so I have some calories left over for the afternoon snack.

Wednesday, January 18, 2006, 10:51 AM

I like to work out during my lunch break because it is harder to talk myself out of it then if I were to wait till after work. I tried going in the mornings a couple of times but when the alarm clock goes off my first initial reaction is to hit the snooze, I am not a morning person at all. I had a trainer tell me one time that it doesn't matter what time of day you work out but that you just do it. :D

Wednesday, January 18, 2006, 1:02 PM

Workout

I think the best time is whenever you have time. I don't believe it matters, it may be more convenient in the morning if you work during the day and that way you get it over with. Other than that, just doing it, always works for me.

Thursday, January 26, 2006, 10:20 AM

Lots of great thoughts on this thread. I am training for a sprint triathlon, and have a training schedule that I'm sticking to. I was worried that I wouldn't have time for all the workouts, but having a schedule makes it easy to work other activities around it.

Working out in the morning works well for me, as long as I get to bed before 11:00. If I go to bed after that, I just can't make myself get up at 6!

Working out right after work is good for me too, some days. Right now, I hurry to get a quick run before it's too dark or anything. I agree that having your stuff ready (whether it's your bag for the pool, clothes for the gym, bike accessories, etc) really makes a difference.

I really like to mix it up so that I'm not always working out in the mornings or always in the evenings. Try some of each and see what works well for you!
Good luck.

Thursday, January 26, 2006, 12:45 PM

I normally work out around 7 or 8 p.m. For about a year I worked out at 9:30 p.m. 4 nights a week and two mornings a week. I had no problem sleeping, I think I actually slept better when I worked out from 9:30 - 11p.m. When I work out too early, I don't do as well.

Thursday, January 26, 2006, 12:47 PM

I read that you burn the most fat by working out first thing in the morning on an empty stomach

Thursday, January 26, 2006, 1:03 PM

morning workout

I work out at 6am because there's no other time for me. I'm juggling a job and kids.... It's OK as long as I can get out of bed!! Someone told me though that it isn't good to train on a completely empty stomach first thing in the morning as your body doesn't have the energy left to really build up fitness. Not sure if this is true or not. Not sure if it burns more fat this way either as per the previous post.

Thursday, January 26, 2006, 11:01 PM

I'm also a night owl...I work 8-5, and getting up at 730 is a challenge!! So working out in the mornings would never happen. I might start going right after work, simply because the gym seems to be too busy for me at 7, when ive been going.....but I so far have been coming home, eating a light dinner, letting it settle for 45 min, then going to the gym 7ish.

on the weekends, my gym closes at 5pm....so if i missed a day during the week, i hafta go on the weekend...and I found that I simply do NOT have the energy/stamina to go as hard or as long on the treadmill at say, 12 or 2pm, as I do at 6-7 pm.

Thursday, January 26, 2006, 11:26 PM

I do 10-15 minutes sessions through out the day and depending on the day do the longer session while the kids are at school or when they go to be..sometimes I make them do it with me before they go to bed :)
Red :)

Friday, January 27, 2006, 6:33 AM

Experts recommend that the most successful work out people are the ones that work out in the morning, because as the day goes on we think of more reasons as to why we can't work out. Yes, admit it we have all cancelled an afternoon/evening work out because something else has come up, we are too tired, we had to unexpectedly pick up the kids at school, etc.

Friday, January 27, 2006, 9:01 AM

I get up at 4:45 to work out between 5 and 5:45. If I don't do it then I won't do it al all. I find I'm more alert throughout the day and your body keeps burning calories for a while afterwards. But as all others say, do it when you're likely to make it a habit. Anything anytime is better than nothing all the time!

Friday, January 27, 2006, 9:50 AM

Get in Tune with Your Inner Clock

I recently read in Time magazine the differences between early birds and night owls and the times of day they were most alert. This was great insight for me, because all along I thought I was a morning person. Wrong! Learn when you are most effective, when you have the most energy etc. and adjust. Listen to your body, there is nothing wrong with alternating early morning workouts and evening ones. Personally I find both times beneficial; I love the morning sessions, because the gym is less crowded - you will only find the most die hard people there, however the evening is great for inspiration since this does tend to attract the beautiful crowd, who are there to flaunt more than anything!

Monday, January 30, 2006, 7:15 PM

i work out in the morning and the evening i find it more beneficial for me at night time though because Iwork out for longer. I do 1 and 1/2 hour in the morning at least 30 minutes in the afternoon and 1-2hours at night. I work out at home so i can focus more on me. I also workout close to meals before and after to keep the energy going to get more out of my workout. I agree that you should listen to your body more than anything.

Monday, January 30, 2006, 9:27 PM

I have to work out as soon as I get home from work; otherwise, I would find myself on the couch not getting up! It is especially difficult when it is cold outside, and that's where I like to run. So, as soon as I get home, I hurry up and get changed and head outside.

Wednesday, February 01, 2006, 1:25 PM

Never. That's the problem.

Wednesday, February 01, 2006, 4:12 PM

My best time of working out is in the morning. I find less excuses to not go. On the other hand, I have found workout partner that can only do it in the afternoon. So on days I workout with her, I go in the afternoon. On days I am by myself, I go in the morning.

Good luck at staying motivated to go!!

Wednesday, February 01, 2006, 8:40 PM

I get up at 4:00 AM to work out, as this way I know I will get it done. Too many other things can come up later in the day to disrupt a planned workout. If it is a long workout, or I have to be somewhere a bit earlier than usual, I may get up at 3:30 to make the timing work.

Depending on time, weather, etc., I may also get in an afternoon/evening workout, particularly with cycling.

Digby

Thursday, February 02, 2006, 8:43 PM

if I plan to workout at night I just never get around to it. There's so much to do when I get home from work. When I get up to workout in the morning I know I am getting up for a purpose, and there's no other reason to be up. Also there are no phone calls or kids calling to me, everyone is still sleeping. It's my time.

Thursday, February 02, 2006, 9:01 PM

working out in the morning is the best, and it really does give you more energy throughout the entire day. That being said, I love sleep and have not be able to get out of bed early enough to workout since high school when my cross country coach forced me to do so. I have the schedual of a college student (all over the place) so every night I try to fit a workout into tomorrow's schedual. It doesn't always fit, and that's okay. But when it does, I write it down and I do it, at all different times of the day. It works for my crazy life right now, but I'm weak at forcing myself so I signed up for an aerobics class so I could just love/hate someone else for forcing me to work out. Best choice of the semester.

Friday, February 03, 2006, 12:35 AM

morving is the best, since there are no excuses later. being a college student and working, things come up and so do excuses so morning is the best. Also there are less people around and I can get to the machines a little quicker. it may be hard but worth it.

Friday, February 03, 2006, 7:45 AM

hi

i go to curves and workout about 8:15am me and my sister and our cousin and my sister-law i love going to curves

Tuesday, February 07, 2006, 9:40 PM

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