morning vs evening -- a realization

M

maxwells

Cathlete
Hi everyone --

I just wanted to share a realization I had last night regarding the debate between AM vs PM workouts.

First, I believe people should exercise whenever they *will* exercise and so I don't really pay much attention to the different discussions of AM vs PM. I am an AM exerciser for a number of reasons. It gets me going. It doesn't get cancelled due to other priorities. And nothing is on TV at 5:00am so I may as well be exercising :)

But last night I found another reason and I've never heard anyone mention it before. I overslept and so had to workout at night. I started SJP and started the warmup. But something didn't feel right. My feet felt really tight in my shoes and my joints felt achy and my low back hurt a little. I don't usually experience that kind of thing. So I ended up stopping when the warmup was done (which is also unusual).

I starting thinking back to when I was a PM exerciser and remember feeling the same way. My body swells over the course of the day -- I guess depending upon what I'm doing and what I'm eating -- and it actually makes exercising in the evening painful (cardio only...weights are fine).

I'm wondering -- does anyone else experience this problem?

Shonie
 
Hi Shonie:

I guess I never really thought about it much, either, but you are right. I feel much more energetic once I get going in the morning and I'm much more tired when exercising in the evening. I'll have to pay attention to both and see if I am feeling those other discomforts like you. Very good observation, though..... :)

I do agree with you, too, on the fact that whenever a person can exercise than "do it". As long as you actually get it done it doesn't matter when.

Take care, Marcia :)
 
I have been trying to decide which is better for my body. Unlike some people I do not have extra energy throughout my day when I exercise in the morning. I do have more energy if I exercise the night before. But if I exercise in the morning I don't have to think about fitting it in later in my day. I am so confused:7
 
Hi Shonie, the only workout I can do early in the morning is cardio because I don't have to have that much food in my system to get through one. I do my strength/endurance workouts either late in the morning or in the afternoon when I'm pumped with enough food to lift weights. I've strength trained late at night many times before, but I'm not as strong as I want at that time than I am during the day, especially when I'd been chasing a toddler all day. The time of day I choose to work out depends largely on my schedule, which changes a lot. I do love working out in the afternoon because it's that time when I feel most awake and most active.

Piniky
 
I have an "opposing" reaction. My body WILL NOT move in the morning. I teach a morning aerobics class on Saturdays. It is so bad for me. Fortunately, it's a beginners class, so I don't have to move that much. My body screams the entire time I'm teaching. It is all I can do to smile for these ladies. Within an hour of completing the course, I'm ready for a major nap--not just a cat nap but a nap like a little kid takes!

When I come home from work at night, I eat dinner, wait until 7PM & get moving. I feel AWESOME. My body moves the way I want & I can lift heavier. When I'm finished working out, I have a light snack & go to bed about an hour after working out. I sleep like the dead & wake up refreshed.

So, it just goes to show, it is all a matter of personal preference. You have to work out when your body allows you to work out, not when someone tells you that you should work out.
 
Hey Debra, thats what I do too! Except I come home around 5 and start right away. If I don't, I wind up getting too involved in TV or cleaning or whatnot. Then I eat dinner, and a few hours later have a small snack. I feel great too. I have been able to stay awake all day so it defintly keeps me energized. A morning person I am NOT. I did try setting my alarm once so I could try a morning workout, but I got right up, shut it off, said to my self "I dont think so" and fell right back down.
Maybe ill try again someday.

Karen
 
I'm another 7pm exerciser.

I can barely walk in the morning, much less try to exercise. :) And I sleep like a baby after an intense evening workout.

I try to keep water and carbohydrates to a minimum during the day. I used to drink large glasses of water all day long, but I found that I needed to adjust this and now I feel much better.
 
In the morning, it's all I can do to stand up and walk to the bathroom! It's funny how different people are. If I'm ever financially independent, I dream of working out in the early afternoon every day instead of just on weekends. How lovely that would be! Hey, I can dream, can't I? I'm another 7 pm-er.
 
I’m an AM/PM exerciser – have been since I was 15, that’s some 22 years and I feel no different either way. I've had bouts of mornings only -v- bouts of evenings only. Can't say I notice any differences. The advantage for me, though, with doing an AM workout is that if, for whatever reason, I can’t make the PM session then at least I got a workout in that day during the morning.

Personal choice is what it's all about. Nothing set in stone!
 
I couldn't work out in the morning if my life depended on it. I work out immediately after work, because as others have noted, otherwise I get too caught up in other activities. On the weekends, like Nancy, I prefer a workout somewhere in the 2-4 range, and that would be my choice if I didn't work.

My body feels very mentally alert starting at around 8 am, but at 2:30 I start feeling an urge to workout physically. It passes if I don't start by 7:30 or 8 pm. I do not get puffy during the day, or else I'm used to it, so that is not a problem.

I am more impressed by people who can get up at 4:30 or 5 and do Cathe workouts, then go to work, than I am by Aquajock's mishmoshes! And I am impressed by those!
 
Last year due to a really tough class and being drained physically and emotionally when I came home from school I had to workout at 4:30 or 5:00 a.m. or I wouldn't do it. This year has been a much better year and I am able to workout as soon as I get home from school. I find that for me it has more to do with my body getting used to my schedule. I have my great days, good days, and not so good days, but I had those last year in the a.m. also. I just adjust my workout schedule to meet my needs. I did like the fact that when you workout first thing you are done for the day and anything else you choose to do workout wise is a bonus!:7
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top