Best Time to Workout??? HELP!!!

T.,

Here's what I do...

In the morning my son wakes up at 6am roughly, and I get up about 5.45am and just to some basic stretches, squats and minimal strength training. Then, at nigth we eat dinner at 5.30pm and he goes to bed around 7.30pm. Once he's snug in his bed and asleep I do cardio and light strength training.

My friend who's a fitness trainer said that the metabolism slows down while you sleep, so doing the workout before bed is like giving it a jumpstart. And, doing the small stuff in the a.m. just gets the body going.

I found that I'm not as pooped as when I got up at 5am to do the full workout and it works better with my schedule.

Hi, T.,

For some years, I worked out in the morning and the evening (swimming, weight training, martial arts, dancing). I actually like working out in the evening better. I usually ate a low-fat dinner fifteen to thirty minutes before exercising.

Good luck,
Lynne E

I am a working mom and have found the only time that really works out for me to exercise is right after the kids go to sleep, which is at 8:30. It is late so I have started doing Yoga and a few other shows from the FIT channel. I try not to do intensive cardio since it is so late at night. Finding time for exercise is definitely a struggle!

It is best and boosts your metabolism to workout first thing in the morning, sometimes but not always before you eat....but if you are getting too tired later then just working out when you can is fantastic. Working out before you go to bed also helps release stress and unwind the mind allowing you to get better rest as well. I would wait about 30-40 minutes before you workout, especially if you will be doing ab work. Then after you could have a small 'recovery' protein shake which will help replanish the body and help you burn fat and replace with lean muscle.

Be well! Enjoy the ride!

Working out any time of the day is better than not working out at all! I prefer to work out at night because I have more energy and it is so hot in Vegas that I am too lethargic during the day. The only negative to working out at night is sometimes you get a burst of energy and might have a hard time falling asleep. For me personally, it helps me sleep better. Everyone is different, so give it a try. Eat a light dinner and you should be ok to work out after an hour or two. If you feel hungry after you work out, have a light snack. Good luck!

Hey T.,
I have worked out in the evening and it really depends what kind of workout you are doing. If you are doing a workout that gets your heart rate up (has cardio exercises) that may produce a lot of adrenaline and you may have trouble sleeping. If you did it before dinner, than that could supply you with enough adrenaline to get through the last part of the day and give you a sound night's sleep.
Also, you should never work out just after eating. It can give you an upset stomach. Hope this helps.

It honestly doesn't matter when you work out. Early, during naps, at night, whatever.

Some people find that working out at night wakes them up, others find it makes getting to sleep really easy. At night, you're not interrupted and the only thing you have to "do" next is rinse off and climb in bed, which is grand. For awhile I'd "run" on the elliptical for two hours a night watching a movie. (Whooohooo two birds with one stone). Another thing is to go for a long walk with the kids in strollers, or go swimming.

My favorite waist trick, btw, is to use a broomhandle, put it over your shoulders, drape your arms over it, and twist left and right. Hello helicopter girl. Work up to about at least a thousand a day...about 15 minutes. You can do it in your living room during a movie, or during commercial breaks. It tightens the interior abdominals, which then hold your organs closer...does nothing for the exterior abs that you can see...but it will take inches off of your waist.

If you eat light you don't have to wait at all. I'd usually wait about 15 minutes.

I've heard that people are up at that time of the morning and able to function, but I have never seen one since Im NOT up that early... specially to workout...

I have lost a lot of weight and I can say that it did not matter when I worked out as long as I wasn't phoning it in.... use the time that you do set aside to go hard. Some days I would only do about 20 minutes of cardio and that was it... other days I'd throw in some weight training. It's important to do the weight training as it is the muscle that burns fat.

I personally, don't like to workout in the evening because I then had a hard time falling asleep at night. It wakes the body back up. I prefer to workout in the morning or mid morning because then I have the rest of the day to myself...doesn't conflict with family time, etc. Every person is different.

Remember one thing.... losing weight is only 20% exercise....70% diet and 10% attitude.
I help people professionally with the food aspect of losing weight so if you are interested let me know. :)

You may get a lot of answers to this but I believe that it is always a good time to work out. First thing in the morning is great because you boost your metabolism and start your day on the right foot. Also you won't have an excuse to not workout because of after school events or homework and life. I would go to bed earlier. Just start trying to go to sleep 15 minutes earlier each night until you can get to bed by 10 pm. I usually go to the gym from 5:30 to 7am and do a class everyday and some weight lifting or stretching. Then after dinner we all go for a walk and get some exercise before bath story and bed.

Hi T., when i lived overseas and had 3 young children, I worked out every night, at a certain time I sent the kids up stares to play, and I did my work out. We ate dinner between 5:30 and 6:00 so i didn't concern myself with working out at night. I found it all good no negatives for me working out at night. J.

For me, its in the afternoon..

I've done both and either are fine. Just wait an hour after eating before doing your workout. As long as you're doing your workout, it really doesn't matter when you do it.

I say it's whatever and whenever your body is up to working out but you have to stay at it every day. I sometimes pick morning when I have that strong drive to workout and somedays when my body fails me in the mornings, I suddenly feel it at the evening. I used to workout and run in the late afternoon early evening hours, which helps me to rest well at night, and feeling good in the morning. Then I started going to school. So I switched to early morning, but still continuing to stay at it everyday. I know somedays we are so exhaustedly tired and that little voice starts telling ya to skip that day of workout. Then that gets you to skipping another day, and another day, and before you know it, your drive just fades along with it. Our minds tell us to start again, but our bodies tells the opposite of "tomorrow," or "I'm tired," or "not today," etc...lol...there is no specific time of the day to choose from. It's all up to you but once you start, you have to stay at it and stick to it no matter what...you can do it... :)

Pro to working out in the morning is added energy once your body adjusts. If you work out in the evening you may end up wired and unable to sleep. At least that is how I am. Maybe you should tried to get in bed a little bit earlier if you can. 6 hours of sleep for a bf'ing mama is not enough in my opinion. Good luck to you.

I work out at 5:00 a.m. five or six days a week. I found that working out in the evening didn't work because something ALWAYS got in the way and then it wouldn't happen. I generally go to bed between 9:00 and 10:00 p.m. this way I'm not so tired. You might want to give the mornings another shot. It takes about six weeks to form a strong habit, so one week probably wasn't enough to do it. And then try going to bed a little earlier (I know, I know easier said then done). The best part about working out in the morning is it really sets the tone for your day in a good way. Also you don't have to agonize over when you are going to work out because you've already done it. :> Good luck!

The best time to workout? Anytime you will do it! My husband and I are currently training for a marathon, and some days it works for us to get up early and train and some days we do it in the evening. This is the only way that we can get training in everyday!

If you have a little time to work out in the evening and it would help you to feel a little less stressed (I know that when I was breastfeeding, getting a workout and then a shower felt like a spa vacation!), then by all means do it! Be nice to yourself too. =D

The best way to work out is a way that you can keep doing for long periods of time (I mean months, not the number of minutes that you work out). So maybe you should just start with walking or yoga or something that is a little bit more gentle and will not make you really tired so you have a hard time doing it again the next day. You can always put your little one in the stroller and go for a walk for a half hour. Good luck and stay healthy!

Can you fit in a workout when your little one goes down for a nap? I try to do a dvd as soon as my 18 month old goes down, then shower and chores. Also after the kids go to bed is good, but I found it interferred with my personal time with my husband. I like to wind down at the end of the day. Good luck!

u don't have to workout so early...when my son was an infant i would run around 9:30am pushing him in the stroller on the path in the park..then at naptime i would do about a 20 minute workout..abs/arms switch it up every day..or u can jump rope for like 10 mins..then at night i would do this big P90X workout..then i joined the gym..Equinox..they have a daycare..i've been able to cut my workouts way down b/c i get it there..taking classes..and i also get a break from my so for 2 hours for $7.50 that's how much the daycare is for 2 hours! :)
so i take like a spin class or 2 of the classes they offer at that time..or yoga ..pilates..mix it up..

but u can work out at night..i used to...i was a size 8 or 10 before i got pregs am now a size 4/6 my body is in the best shape ever and i'm 44..so don't worry about the time..do the dvd's but consider a gym..b/c u get that break! and that makes u want to workout..i enjoy working out getting a break around 5pm to 7pm and then i take a sauna and use their showers..saving water at my house ..good luck :)

any work out is a good idea! Do it when you have time.

I know that there are better times to work out than others but that doesn't always fit into our schedules. Work on finding a little time everyday to exercise and then find the "perfect time." Which I have been told is in the morning or afternoon. At least a few hours before going to bed so that it doesn't interfere with you going to sleep at night.

Best time to work out is whatever time works for you. :-) If you do best exercising in the evening, go for it. Personally I get side stitches very easily if I do strenuous walking or running on a full stomach (after dinner) but if this doesn't affect you, then by all means work out after dinner. There are studies showing that people who exercise in the morning tend to stick with their fitness program longer, probably because if you do it first thing in the morning, other unexpected things that happen later in the day can't force you to cancel your workout. So maybe try getting to sleep earlier so you can get up early to do it? But if that really isn't working for you, don't stress. Work out when you can. Meanwhile I STRONGLY recommend www.strollerstrides.net The site will let you find a Stroller Strides program in your area. Cardio + strength training several times per week and your young child is right there with you. It is a very good, thorough workout and the social time with other moms with young children is priceless. Not an expensive program. Check it out. Whatever you do, good luck! You can make it work!

I think no matter when you work out, the biggest thing is that you do work out.

I'm a working mom, so I'm up at 5a every morning just to get dressed and get us all out the door, to school and work on time, so the only time I have is the evenings...it works just fine for me. It's a mad rush to get home, get everyone fed and then hand them off to my husband so that I can get to my gym, but I figure it teaches them that Mommy takes care of herself and that's a good lesson to learn.

Good luck.
-M

I usually work out in the morning because I thinks it's a good start to my day. The experts say it jumpstarts your metabolism. Working out in the evening is Ok too, provided you are disciplined and DO it. Your meals should be the evening should the lightest of the day. I have heard it explained to eat like a king at breakfast (biggest meal), a prince at lunch, and a pauper at dinner. If you plan to workout at night, don't eat too heavy. Also drink lots and lots of water. I hope this helps,and good luck.

P.S. Leslie Sansone has a great walking at home DVD program. She has a website if you wnat to check it out. :)

Hi T.,

Check out http://www.blissnine.com/blog/?p=547 for our fitness expert's response to your questions. Don't hesitate to contact me if you need anything else.

J. S

workout whenever you have the energy. I myself am a morning person, but you could do it during nap or at night. When you eat doesn't matter. Although when I used to workout at night it wired me up and I couldn't fall asleep, then I was tired in the a.m. Maybe end w/yoga or pilates to help you wind down for sleep.