A.M workouts

[gidget1978]

Every since I returned to work (over a yr ago) from Mat leave, I've worked out in the morning. I work shift work, so really its only 7 day shifts a month. It wasn't until yesterday that it clicked in that maybe I should workout in the evening.

I love working out in the morning cause I have it over and done. I have no problem getting out of bed and I don't have no problem moving my body But the problem is....I am starving ALL day! I ate way more yesterday then I burned but I am thinking that if I had saved that 5 mile run for after dinner, I (for 1) wouldn't have been starving all day (and 2) wouldn't have eaten wings and a drink before I went to bed

I couldn't workout this a.m b/c I thought I had to be here at 6, there was no way I was getting up at 4:30 in the morning to workout so I thought I could save it for tonight. I already gave DH the warning not to make any family plans (cause it always is on Sat evenings!) but then a friend turned around and invited us for supper...couldn't refuse. But, I may still be able to get that workout in.

Realisticly...Im not trying to lose weight. Of course (like everyone) there is a number in my mind I would like to reach by 2-5 lbs...but nothing that is going to change my body drastically. But when I work day shifts...the scale goes up a couple of pounds. I think its b/c I eat so much b/c I am FAMISHED! I think I could have sat down with a big meal yesterday and it wouldn't have taken my hunger away. I drank a diet pepsi with lunch though and I think that did the trick (for alittle while)

Anyway...anyone else have the same problem? Ever switch to night workouts? I don't have a problem with discipline so I know I will do a nightly workout, I don't put things off.

 

[Shadowpup]

I love to do something "cardio" in the morning, even if it is only a half hour brisk walk. It sets me up for the rest of the day.

For strength training, I prefer evening workouts. That's because my body is warmed up by then. Switching to evenings for my strength training has significantly reduced after-workout soreness; some of what I thought was DOMS actually turned out to be inadequate warmup. Also, I find that strength training with time pressure causes me to rush.

For HIIT on a cardio machine, I can do that in the mornings, and prefer it - the time pressure isn't an issue because I just choose a CardioCoach routine etc that I can finish in time.

For Step, again I find it's better for me to do that in the evenings. I'm just a little too stiff for the first few hours in the mornings. Oddly, kickbox from 4DS doesn't have this effect - I just can't go as high in the kicks in the first half as I can later on.

In a pinch, though, I'll workout whenever time permits The above is just what I do if I have options.

 

[jansherman]

Over the last several years I've done early morning workouts, late afternoon workouts, and some evening workouts. All factors considered, I've had much better luck with early morning workouts. I do have to get up at 4:30 a.m., but as soon as my feet hit the floor, I'm ok with being up that early. For that hour in the morning, it's my time - no interruptions, no phone... It starts my day right, and I feel a sense of accomplishment when I head out the door to face teaching 2nd graders. Also, at that hour, nothing gets in the way. I've decided that to reach my goals, there are simply no excuses for missing a workout.

I found with late afternoon and evening workouts that something usually happened that would cause me to either miss or shorten the workout. And, there were frequent interrutions as well.

As far as being hungrier throughout the day, how often are you eating? I know there are different opinions of meal frequency, but for me, if I eat SMALL amounts about every 3 hours, I don't get as hungry. I try to eat some lean protein (egg whites, lean chicken breast, tuna) and veggies, sometimes a piece of fruit in 3 hour intervals throughout the day. I eat about the same amounts, 5 or 6 times during the day. I don't more at lunch or dinner, and that seems to help me with fat loss, not being hungry, and building muscle.

 

[lrayburn]

I find that I'm more consistent with my morning workouts - its easier to skip the evening workouts. However, when I do morning workouts I struggle with feeling tired during the day (mostly for just a couple of hours in the late morning) and tending to overeat more throughout the day. I don't have the same problems with the evening workouts. Now that daylight saving time is here, I'll probably start doing more evening workouts.

Lisa

 

[clothesminded]

I get up at 4:30 and workout at 5. I've found that eating more in the first 1/2 of my day keeps me fueled the rest of the day. I go to bed around 10.

 

[Govtgirl]

...... I don't have a problem with discipline so I know I will do a nightly workout, I don't put things off.

Boy, I wish that was me, no matter when I schedule it try to put it off. But, with seeing the importance of exercise, I am scheduing it like anything else I need to do, and whenver I want to blow it off I remind myself that I am doing it so I can be active into my 80's or beyond. That is what's motivating me now.

In any case, I changed my work hours to 7-3:30 so I could workout when I get home, instead of the am. Working out in the am always took more time out of my day because I had to allow 1/2 an hour just to wake up enough to do it, then blow dry my hair, try to cool off, etc.

Now I come home at 4:30, have coffee, check my email, workout from around 5-5:30/45, shower, and only blow dry my bangs, and let the rest go. By 6:15 I'm done for the day, and I love sort of 'washing the day off me', you know?

Also, it puts work into a less important status in my day. I wake up at 5:30, do a quick hair and makeup, and I'm out the door at 6.

 

[ckoverman24]

Hi everyone!
I find that morning workouts are best for ME, for all the reasons mentioned in the above posts. That tiredness in the morning is usually fixed by a balanced breakfast IMMEDIATELY (within 20 minutes) after the workout. 20 minutes gives you time to shower and prepare the meal.
Evening workouts (if you have the discipline and good fortune to be able to follow through EVERY time) are best physically, allowing you to rest your body throughout the night. But I just can't get myself to switch to evenings.
And I got accustomed to waking up at 4:30 after about a week.

 

[SirenSongWoman]

I work crazy hours and I'm soooo not a morning person. Also, the seasons seem to impact my motivation at a given time of day. Lately, I've been doing cardio mornings (though not always) and weight training when I get off work (around 11:00pm) - but not always. I just heard a FitCast interview with the authors of The New Rules of Lifting for Women and all the authors were adamant about eating "something" before a workout because, as Alwyn Cosgrove indicated, you just can't go full throttle on an empty stomach. It was a real complaint of his ("at least half a banana and half a cup of milk" he said). I always get a little something before cardio (a very little) but it always feels like it's going to come back up when I eat anything less than an hour before weight training, if I'm going to be on my belly or doing any kind of ab work. So now, finding the proper motivation and eating the proper amount at the proper time beforehand is becoming a real job. I get it all in, it's just all over the place. Maybe once the there's some sameness to the weather (In central Ohio? Good luck to me.) I can settle in on some kind of schedule.

 

[jansherman]

I've heard that too - you can't do a quality workout on an empty stomach. For me, I workout 5 days a week on an empty stomach (ok, I have 1/2 cup of coffee and a glass of water first), and my workouts are very intense. On the weekends I usually eat first, wait 2-3 hours, then workout. Sometimes I feel more drained during those workouts than those that are done fasted.

Who knows?? I guess it's an individual thing, and eventually we figure out what time of day works best for us and our bodies.

 

[Jennifit]

I used to workout late (10ish) before I had kids...I loved it - it was always very peaceful for me and no one was ever at the gym. Now, I workout mid-morning and it just seems more stressful to me. (maybe being a mommy makes it that way )

I think it all depends on your body (and your mind!!) It took a few weeks for me to make the switch, but now I am used to it and am so tired in the night I cannot believe I ever worked out so late!?

Good luck finding a schedule that works for YOU@@

 

[Jennifit]

I used to workout late (10ish) before I had kids...I loved it - it was always very peaceful for me and no one was ever at the gym. Now, I workout mid-morning and it just seems more stressful to me. (maybe being a mommy makes it that way )

I think it all depends on your body (and your mind!!) It took a few weeks for me to make the switch, but now I am used to it and am so tired in the night I cannot believe I ever worked out so late!?

Good luck finding a schedule that works for YOU@@

 

[ckoverman24]

I've heard that too - you can't do a quality workout on an empty stomach. For me, I workout 5 days a week on an empty stomach (ok, I have 1/2 cup of coffee and a glass of water first), and my workouts are very intense. On the weekends I usually eat first, wait 2-3 hours, then workout. Sometimes I feel more drained during those workouts than those that are done fasted.

Who knows?? I guess it's an individual thing, and eventually we figure out what time of day works best for us and our bodies.

I guess our bodies learn to adapt, within reason, to whatever we subject them to. For me, cardio is best done on empty. I worry less about developing a cramp midway through, which interrupts my workout significantly. Before weight training? I try to keep it light: maybe 2 apple slices, a tablespoon of peanut butter or something. And I sip water throughout the workout (cardio or weights), rather than having some before.