Exercise in the PM?
- Thread starter slenamond
- Start date
Boy, I really hope that's not true! I do 90% of my exercising in the evening. The only time I work out in the morning is on the weekends, and even then it's only after I've eaten breakfast. As for working out on an empty stomach, I can't do it! Over the summer I jogged in the morning a couple of times a week to beat the heat, but even then I'd have something, like half an energy bar, to get me going. I tried doing it on an empty stomach and really crashed about halfway through the jog. I'm one of those people that needs some food before they can get going.
I would think that it's not true; I mean, you're burning calories, right? I'm curious to see what the educated crowd has to say about this one....
-Marie
I would think that it's not true; I mean, you're burning calories, right? I'm curious to see what the educated crowd has to say about this one....
-Marie
Bobbi
Cathlete
Hi, I cut and pasted this from a web article and I think it probably applies to you. There's also a link regarding why it is good to work out in the morning but I think it really varies from person to person. One of the points you'll find in the link is that PM exercise can affect your sleep but I remember reading that people who are in good shape don't become over stimulated from evening exercise. Consistency is the most important thing!
"Most personal trainers do recommend working out in the morning, but it's not the best option for everyone. Aside from the time constraints imposed on people who work early in the morning, some people are so sluggish that they won't get the workout they'd get at a different time.
I've found that whatever a person will STICK with is his/her best option, in all aspects of fitness. Studies have shown that morning people are usually more energetic and more driven than non-morning people, so they would naturally be more vigilant about exercise. I don't think it's the morning itself that determines this, but a person's tendency to be a morning person.
There are certainly benefits to exercising early in the day, getting your metabolism revved up before you've had any big meals, but you won't burn twice as many calories or anything, and if you're not a morning person, you probably won't enjoy it and therefore won't keep doing it.
If you do exercise later in the day, try to do it at least three hours before you go to bed, so your body can wind down. Otherwise, you might have trouble sleeping, which is totally counterproductive.
Some trainers even take into account the rise and fall of a person's body temperature throughout the day, but I don't think you need to get technical. Whatever fits into your life in a manner that you can comfortably stick with is your best bet!
http://www.weightlossessentials.com/exercise.html
Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/nosmile/peacesign.gif
http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/person/smilejap.gif
"Most personal trainers do recommend working out in the morning, but it's not the best option for everyone. Aside from the time constraints imposed on people who work early in the morning, some people are so sluggish that they won't get the workout they'd get at a different time.
I've found that whatever a person will STICK with is his/her best option, in all aspects of fitness. Studies have shown that morning people are usually more energetic and more driven than non-morning people, so they would naturally be more vigilant about exercise. I don't think it's the morning itself that determines this, but a person's tendency to be a morning person.
There are certainly benefits to exercising early in the day, getting your metabolism revved up before you've had any big meals, but you won't burn twice as many calories or anything, and if you're not a morning person, you probably won't enjoy it and therefore won't keep doing it.
If you do exercise later in the day, try to do it at least three hours before you go to bed, so your body can wind down. Otherwise, you might have trouble sleeping, which is totally counterproductive.
Some trainers even take into account the rise and fall of a person's body temperature throughout the day, but I don't think you need to get technical. Whatever fits into your life in a manner that you can comfortably stick with is your best bet!
http://www.weightlossessentials.com/exercise.html
Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/nosmile/peacesign.gif
http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/person/smilejap.gif
I agree with Marie. It's not true. There are too many people just on this forum alone that are in fantastic shape that DON'T work out in the morning on an empty stomach. And I'm sure whoever wrote or "researched" this bit of information has never tried to do IMAX 2 with no calories to keep them going 
. I think the key is to exercise when you have time, have energy, and to eat as much as you need to allow you to feel good working out.
Sara
. I think the key is to exercise when you have time, have energy, and to eat as much as you need to allow you to feel good working out.Sara
I read this over and over again in all those muscle building sites. I've also noticed that these sites have lots of photos of big, burly men and are replete with articles written by male body builders. So maybe this would work better on a male body. Maybe.
I've actually tried this. At the end of the workout I was lightheaded from hunger. That said, I know it's something I might do if I'm really pressed for time. My body is used to -- and likes -- having at least a protein bar 30 minutes or so before a workout. I still do most of my cardio in the afternoon. My body is simply more alert and responsive at this time of day. I am STILL seeing results, so I guess it really doesn't matter when you do cardio as long as you eat right and exercise regularly.
Pinky
I've actually tried this. At the end of the workout I was lightheaded from hunger. That said, I know it's something I might do if I'm really pressed for time. My body is used to -- and likes -- having at least a protein bar 30 minutes or so before a workout. I still do most of my cardio in the afternoon. My body is simply more alert and responsive at this time of day. I am STILL seeing results, so I guess it really doesn't matter when you do cardio as long as you eat right and exercise regularly.
Pinky
I used to be a morning exerciser. Not hungry at 5:00 a.m., but would down a little Gatorade prior to working out. Last winter was verrrry cold here in the Northeast, so I switched to evening exercising so I could spend that extra hour under the covers! This past year, I've seen better results. In my opinion, it's because I'm awake, alert and fueled. I can lift heavier in the evening, have more stamina and concentration. I am definitely a morning person, but working out at night just makes more sense for me. I work out on the weekends in the morning, but after a big breakfast.
Bobbi
Cathlete
It's madness, I tell you! Madness! LOL!
I rise very early, try 4:00 AM, although I am trying to stop that since I am perpetually tired these days but that's another thread!
Anyhoo, I find that if I don't work out in the morning while the kids are at school, I get too distracted and blow it off. But for awhile PM workouts were my only option and I worked out vigorously, ate well and slept like a baby.
One thing I find is that, although I am often hungry when I wake up, I hate food in the morning but if I work out on an empty stomach, I feel sick. I have been force feeding myself by 6:00 or 6:30 so I have the energy to exercise. In this household, 3 out of 5 members, are owls and are afternoon or night people. The other Lark (doesn't that sound nice like you should wake up singing like a little bird instead of groping for the switch on the coffee maker), my daughter Sydney, is very unLark-like if it's a school day!
Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/nosmile/peacesign.gif
http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/person/smilejap.gif
I rise very early, try 4:00 AM, although I am trying to stop that since I am perpetually tired these days but that's another thread!
Anyhoo, I find that if I don't work out in the morning while the kids are at school, I get too distracted and blow it off. But for awhile PM workouts were my only option and I worked out vigorously, ate well and slept like a baby.
One thing I find is that, although I am often hungry when I wake up, I hate food in the morning but if I work out on an empty stomach, I feel sick. I have been force feeding myself by 6:00 or 6:30 so I have the energy to exercise. In this household, 3 out of 5 members, are owls and are afternoon or night people. The other Lark (doesn't that sound nice like you should wake up singing like a little bird instead of groping for the switch on the coffee maker
), my daughter Sydney, is very unLark-like if it's a school day!Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/nosmile/peacesign.gif
http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/person/smilejap.gif
Cathe Friedrich
Administrator
Hi Slenamond! This is one of those fitness topics that resurfaces in articles every now and then but never seems to have enough hard core evidence to support the claim.
My opinion is that you should simply focus on exercising when you can. Over the years my schedule has always changed. I have worked out nights, afternoons, and mornings and always got results no matter what time of day I worked out. The key thing was that I was focused and making the most of that time.
Hope that helps
My opinion is that you should simply focus on exercising when you can. Over the years my schedule has always changed. I have worked out nights, afternoons, and mornings and always got results no matter what time of day I worked out. The key thing was that I was focused and making the most of that time.
Hope that helps
Glad to know I'm not the only one, I exercise 6 days a week, or very close and I get it done when I have the time and energy, morning, afternoon, or in between, with a 3 yr old under foot and tons of stuff always to do I have to make the time. Diet plays a bigger part for me.
Traci'
Traci'
I am in awe of people who get up at O dark-thirty and exercise. I am not one of those people. I start getting ready for work every day at 5:30 am. Since I'm not a morning person, that alone is a chore. I workout in the early evening and get re-energized!
Why this junk sticks in my head is another topic, but I saw a while ago that John Travolta goes to the gym at 1:00 AM to workout and he's looking good these days. Alexis
Why this junk sticks in my head is another topic, but I saw a while ago that John Travolta goes to the gym at 1:00 AM to workout and he's looking good these days. Alexis
Bobbi
Cathlete
If I do anything at 1:00 in the morning, it had better be in my dreams! I am up between 4:00 and 5:00 but, the only lifting I do is the coffee pot. I work out when I get back from dropping my Kindergartener at school at 8:00. I would really like to start doing yoga in the PM since I find myself unmotivated to add it to my morning workouts and I have been neglecting my flexibility. My sister just told me she doesn't like yoga because it's "too stretchy". How's that for a non sequitur? After the boy is bathed and brushed, crawling into bed with a book seems a much better idea than pulling out the old sticky mat. Then sleep beckons and I vow to do better tomorrow and by 9:00 I am snoozing like a baby!
Bobbi
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Bobbi
http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif Chicks rule!
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i've read that too. but i've also read that we all operate on different internal clocks. some of us have more energy in the afternoon or the evening than in the morning. and that the key to keeping a regular fitness schedule, is to find the time that is best for you.
i used to do cardio on an empty stomach first thing in the morning, but since i have to rush to get ready for work - time was an issue. so now i've switched to weight training in the morning, and running in the evening so i can have longer runs.
i used to do cardio on an empty stomach first thing in the morning, but since i have to rush to get ready for work - time was an issue. so now i've switched to weight training in the morning, and running in the evening so i can have longer runs.
