Late Night workouts

M

mari27

Cathlete
Hi Cathe,
I was just wondering why is it that late night workouts are not recommended. I have a 4 month old and all she wants is mommy I also have a 5 year old and 11 year old so by the time they are all in bed and do all I have to do it is about 10:00 pm or 11:00
and I like to workout that late I have no problems going right to sleep but I don't want to exercise in vain(heaven forbid)so can I still get results working out that late.
Or can you please explain to me why it is so bad to workout so late.
I appreciate your time
Thank You,
marisol
P.S Hope you're having tons of fun with the little guys
 
I have also wondered why it is not recommended because if you don;t eat anything before you go to bed then you would think that your bodies metbolism is up and it as nothing to strive off of pnly fat.
I think why it isn;t recommended is because most people can't get to sleep a few hours after they excercise.Now ,I never have a problem.Last night I was planning on going for a run when company came by and I didn't get a chance till 10:30.I thought about going but I decided against it.Mainly cause I thought that people may think that I am a freak running up the road that late at night.
I really don't think that it makes a difference.With your scehdule I would be happy just getting the chance to excercise..Have you ever thought about going to bed early and then getting up earlier to do whatever you need to do? Just a suggestion...like I said before....if that is when you have to fit it in then do it.Just be proud that as a mother of 3 and a wife, that you even put excercise as a priority.
Lori
 
I actually have tried to get up early and sad to say I am just not a morning person.
I am up with the kids by 7:00am and I tried getting up earlier but no dice,maybe it's because my baby still wakes up for a night feeding so the broken sleep is not too good.
But I am glad to know I am not the only one who likes to work out at night,I thought that there was something wrong with it as far as not receiving any of the benefits from the workout.
Thanks Again
Marisol
 
Don't feel bad! I actually prefer working out in the evenings. I can't see that it has ever hurt me any. At least I am working out! I think you should do what you feel like. If you can sleep okay after working out then why not?

Lynn
 
I have not heard much about this much. Every now and again I read something, but I also think the issue is it disrupting your sleep more than anything. It is difficult for me to imagine that you wouldn't still burn calories, improve your cardiovascular health and fitenss, and build strength even if your workout is late at night. I think it is fine to work out at this time if that is what works for you --surely it beats not doing it at all! Jeanne
 
Hi Mari27! I workout late at night and I never had a problem. Just make sure you eat something light for dinner (i.e., salad & tuna fish or salmon) w/some whole wheat crackers and make sure you eat your main meal in the afternoon (i.e., sweet potato w/chicken or turkey or a Boca burger and veggies). As long as your getting enough sleep, I don't see anything wrong in working out so late. Thank goodness you can get it in at all!! Take care, Kathy
 
Mari,

I was doing the SAME thing when my children were little. I would start exercising between 10-10:30. I never had any problem falling asleep. I think you still benefiting from it just like anybody else. The way I see it --- it's better than NOT doing anything. I lost my about 8 lbs (my last 8) by exercising at night. Now I realized that it was better for me to workout late at night since my stomach was not too full. I still exercise at night, but not that late.

Haslina
 
Lori

I am a night shift nurse,(have been for years) and have always worked out later in the day. On workdays, I'd be up by 3pm and work out from 3:30 or so until 4:30.(I work twelve hour shifts, so I had to be ready to go by 6pm). On off nights, I didn't get started with a video until 6:30 or 7:00pm, and often workout for an hour (or more, depends). I lost over 65 pounds doing it this way, and had little problem with being asleep on my off nights by 11:00pm or midnight. As far as eating, I found it easier to stick to a high protein diet and little or no late night snacking when I worked out in the evenings.
I guess you just have to take the time when you get it, or just listen to your body. I have tried to be a morning exerciser...ie, working out in the morning after a night shift, but I found more excuses not to workout after a long 12 hour shift than you could shake a stick at!<VBG>
So, IMHO, listen to yourself and do what works. After all, a little of something is far better than a lot of nuthin'!
Lynn
 
Hi Marisol, I too am the Mom of two young kids, work full time, and volunteer three evenings a week at my YMCA. The only time I can fit in a work out is past 9 p.m. I've never had a problem with sleeping, in fact after I've cooled down, had a shower, I'm generally out like a light!! Since January 2001, I've lost 75 pounds with late night exercise, so obviously it works, at least for me. Also, that time of night is the absolute worst for the "munchies" and exercising keeps them under control. If it is working for you too, don't get too wrapped up in generalizations about what may be "right". We all don't fit in the cookie-cutter norm. Just my thoughts, Cindy
 
I think some of the reasons early workouts are recommended are because it suppossedly keeps your metabolism up throughout the day, your more likely to eat better (that doesn't work for me!), you'll sleep easier at night, and you're more likely to actually workout and not put it off.

Some of these points may be valid, but I think you should just do it when you have energy and at least some motivation. It's dumb to force yourself through a workout at 6am if you're a night person- you'll hate it, eventually resent it, and maybe not do it at all.
 
I'm a night owl, so working out at 9 or 10pm wouldn't be a problem since I go to bed around 1-2am. The only reason that I don't work out at night is because its too easy to skip working out at the end of the day.

But, if you have the energy and motivation to workout after taking care of kids all day, go for it!:) Really, what's the difference between working out at 10pm vs. getting up at 4am to workout?

Yas B :)
 
I work out late at night too. I like it because I'm already warmed up from the days so I don't feel as stiff as I do when I try to work out in the morning. I'm very much a night person. For me, it's late night workouts or none at all. I've done this for almost seven years, except for when I was sick for a while.

Jenne
(I used to visit as jencrispin)
 
I always work out anywhere between 7pm and 11pm. I can't get up early and do anything but get ready to go to work end of story. And early for me is 8 am too. Gotta be to work by 9


Edith
 
Hi Marisol! You say you enjoy working out late, have no problems working out late, and even have the time to work out late. My response to that is "keep working out late". It works for you and you are getting results. Working out late is sometimes frowned upon because it can cause late night binging and sleepless nights. You don't seem to be complaining of this so keep going you night owl ;-)!
 
So glad to read Cathe's reply to this post. You guys are going to think this is totally weird, but I work out from 1:00 am to 2:00 am - that's right, am!! - had have been for over 10 years. I'm an artist/actor with strange hours and have always prefered to begin my day with yoga (noonish) end my day (after coming home from the theatre) with meditation and a workout - then a carb snack and bed! Totally bizarro, huh? I guess it takes all kinds... :)
Robin
 
Wow Robin , I do on occasion as well!
:)
I don't think it is weird at all!
personally the night workouts are calming, and seem to go faster.
Plus in the summer, it is SOOOO hot and at night it is very cool.
Plus everyone else in my house is asleep so I can really work it w/o feeling like a weirdo!
You are not alone!!
Generally I workout in the afternoon (3-5pm) but I do like to workout at night either from between 10-1 or on!
Jaime
 
YES!! A kindred spirit!! Thanks, Jamie!!
I'll be thinking of you as I do those final crunches in a cool, calm and quite house while the moon starts to set outside my window and the stress of the day has just melted away.....

Robin
 
It WAS relly nice to hear cathe's response to this topic.Last night I took the dog for a walk and got home at 11:00.Now, that was late enough for me.But as long as you have the energy to do..then that's all the matters...
Lori
 
It WAS relly nice to hear cathe's response to this topic.Last night I took the dog for a walk and got home at 11:00.Now, that was late enough for me.But as long as you have the energy to do..then that's all the matters...it was so nice and quiet,made me sleep better
Lori
 
It WAS relly nice to hear cathe's response to this topic.Last night I took the dog for a walk and got home at 11:00.Now, that was late enough for me.But as long as you have the energy to do..then that's all the matters...it was so nice and quiet,made me sleep better
Lori
 
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