What time of day do you exercise and why?

petunia773 · November 2015

I have been exercising at night (just completed Week 2, Day 3 of C25K) but last night decided to set my alarm for 5:00 a.m. and do it this morning. It seemed like after I started exercising at night, after supper, that my weight stayed the same. Now I realize that could have been any number of factors, (TOM, etc.) but I thought I'd do this little experiment and see if it makes a difference. This morning I woke up, peed, weighed (down .4 lbs from yesterday), then got dressed and hopped on the treadmill.

Just curious what everyone else does and why? I know that everyone's lifestyles and free time differs, so thoughts???

Thanks!
Becky

Dragonwolf · November 2015

My primary workout (weight lifting, StrongLifts 5x5 program) is done first thing in the morning. It's the most reliable time I have to work out. Otherwise other stuff gets in the way too easily. It's also a good way to wake up in the morning, because it gives me a sense of accomplishment right off the bat.

For a while, I was taking walks around noon (and while I was doing the 100 Pushups program, I'd do those around noon, too), as that was my lunch break and it was a good time to go out and get some sun and take a break from the computer. That kind of went out the window when my son switched from daycare to preschool, though, because preschool's only half day, so he's home until just before 1pm, and company meetings are usually at 1 or so, and somewhere in there I have to get lunch myself. So that time block just got too hectic.

Emily3907 · November 2015

For the most part, I exercise on my lunch break. I work from home, so it is super easy to hop on my bike, treadmill, leash up the dog or whatever. It is just the most convenient and helps "reboot" me for the afternoon. If I miss it because of a short lunch, then I usually do it right after work and before dinner.

I would like to maybe do it in the morning before work, but my DH takes over our exercise room and the Roku (with dumb boy shows) in the mornings, so I just wait until I can get the remote to myself.

Plus, our exercise times are kind of our "me time" so I don't want to interrupt him, because I would not want him to interrupt me.

On the weekends, we both ditch the exercise equipment and usually make a date out of our exercise by going hiking or taking our bikes to a local trail.

ki4eld · November 2015

I exercise in the morning, because I know it'll get done. I have control of my mornings, but not my evenings. In the early morning, people are still asleep and my phone doesn't ring. So, I get up at 5a, stretch, and by 545, hubby, puppy and I are out the door for a 3-mile walk. It happens every morning, even the weekends. Weekend mornings are closer to 7a. I do yoga after he goes to work weekdays. Sometimes it's 30 minutes, sometimes it's 2 hours. I do it until crap falls apart and my phone rings.

So, early mornings, because I control that time. The other 16 hours a day belong to everyone else.

baconslave · November 2015

Usually after 3pm but before 4:30. By that point I'm getting antsy because I need to move, or I feel guilty because I haven't exercised yet and I'm running out of time to do so since it's about to be time for me to start on supper, or the kids are on my nerves and I need to get away. One of those reasons. I know that I should do it first thing in the morning. But I like sitting on my *kitten* enjoying my coffee and doing a snoop on my boards. And I'm not a morning person, even though I know it will energize me...I just can't be bothered to do annoying things, such as exercise, before coffee.

So anyway...if it's nice out, I do my bodyweight routine or walk or shoot hoops. If not, I lock myself in a room and do the routine or an HIIT or kick them out of the living room and do a video.

It is very important for me NOT to have an audience, unless the spectator wants their heads bitten off and chewed up.

ladipoet · November 2015

I get most of my walking in after I leave work and get home very late at night. Sometimes I go walking before dinner, and other times it's after dinner depending on things like (1) how cold it is outside; and (2) how hungry for dinner I am. Late night is the easiest time for me to get my exercise in though. It's what works for me.

V_Keto_V · November 2015

Aerobic/cardio shortly upon waking up around 5pm (reverse schedule/lifestyle). Anaerobic/weights around 3am more so as a break from desk work/errands/etc.....on non-working days. Mostly just done for compliance & convenience as I can run all over a gym at 3am doing super sets to my heart's desire.

SamandaIndia · November 2015

baconslave wrote: »

Usually after 3pm but before 4:30. By that point I'm getting antsy because I need to move, or I feel guilty because I haven't exercised yet and I'm running out of time to do so since it's about to be time for me to start on supper, or the kids are on my nerves and I need to get away. One of those reasons. I know that I should do it first thing in the morning. But I like sitting on my *kitten* enjoying my coffee and doing a snoop on my boards. And I'm not a morning person, even though I know it will energize me...I just can't be bothered to do annoying things, such as exercise, before coffee.

So anyway...if it's nice out, I do my bodyweight routine or walk or shoot hoops. If not, I lock myself in a room and do the routine or an HIIT or kick them out of the living room and do a video.

It is very important for me NOT to have an audience, unless the spectator wants their heads bitten off and chewed up.

Can you snoop on the boards and train? I combine both. I am typing this whilst at the 57 min mark on the eliptical trainer. Great for my abdominals as I now have enough balance to hold the phone and type without fholding hand rails or falling off. Reading is easier as one hand can hold handle. Main challenge there is not falling off if someone makes me laugh. 60 mins. Done. Log off n get off trainer.

now. Assuming you had the coffee first, of course!

baconslave · November 2015

SamandaIndia wrote: »

baconslave wrote: »

Usually after 3pm but before 4:30. By that point I'm getting antsy because I need to move, or I feel guilty because I haven't exercised yet and I'm running out of time to do so since it's about to be time for me to start on supper, or the kids are on my nerves and I need to get away. One of those reasons. I know that I should do it first thing in the morning. But I like sitting on my *kitten* enjoying my coffee and doing a snoop on my boards. And I'm not a morning person, even though I know it will energize me...I just can't be bothered to do annoying things, such as exercise, before coffee.

So anyway...if it's nice out, I do my bodyweight routine or walk or shoot hoops. If not, I lock myself in a room and do the routine or an HIIT or kick them out of the living room and do a video.

It is very important for me NOT to have an audience, unless the spectator wants their heads bitten off and chewed up.

Can you snoop on the boards and train? I combine both. I am typing this whilst at the 57 min mark on the eliptical trainer. Great for my abdominals as I now have enough balance to hold the phone and type without fholding hand rails or falling off. Reading is easier as one hand can hold handle. Main challenge there is not falling off if someone makes me laugh. 60 mins. Done. Log off n get off trainer. now. Assuming you had the coffee first, of course!

I have no wifi in the yard, I'm afraid. Otherwise, I probably would multi-task. I always listen to a saved podcast during. But I do whip out the phone if I'm doing the recumbent bike or the dreadmill. But my other go-tos are either no wifi or too vigorous. Though one day maybe I can do a one-handed pushup while surfing the web.

Fvaisey · November 2015

First thing in the morning works best for me, seems to make my whole day better. Usually an indoor recumbent or strength training on the bow flex. However I also have to walk my pooch in the evening to keep her on her weight loss program.

SamandaIndia · November 2015

baconslave wrote: »

SamandaIndia wrote: »

baconslave wrote: »

Usually after 3pm but before 4:30. By that point I'm getting antsy because I need to move, or I feel guilty because I haven't exercised yet and I'm running out of time to do so since it's about to be time for me to start on supper, or the kids are on my nerves and I need to get away. One of those reasons. I know that I should do it first thing in the morning. But I like sitting on my *kitten* enjoying my coffee and doing a snoop on my boards. And I'm not a morning person, even though I know it will energize me...I just can't be bothered to do annoying things, such as exercise, before coffee.

So anyway...if it's nice out, I do my bodyweight routine or walk or shoot hoops. If not, I lock myself in a room and do the routine or an HIIT or kick them out of the living room and do a video.

It is very important for me NOT to have an audience, unless the spectator wants their heads bitten off and chewed up.

Can you snoop on the boards and train? I combine both. I am typing this whilst at the 57 min mark on the eliptical trainer. Great for my abdominals as I now have enough balance to hold the phone and type without fholding hand rails or falling off. Reading is easier as one hand can hold handle. Main challenge there is not falling off if someone makes me laugh. 60 mins. Done. Log off n get off trainer. now. Assuming you had the coffee first, of course!

I have no wifi in the yard, I'm afraid. Otherwise, I probably would multi-task. I always listen to a saved podcast during. But I do whip out the phone if I'm doing the recumbent bike or the dreadmill. But my other go-tos are either no wifi or too vigorous. Though one day maybe I can do a one-handed pushup while surfing the web.

Thanks for that visual - sounds like a Jillian Michaels move!

Couchpotato39 · November 2015

Lunch time or after work. I choose these times due to convenience. I lift weights 2X's per week and try to incorporate a yoga or Zumba class once a week. On the weekends, I like to hike if the weather permits.

DianaElena76 · November 2015

I was exercising on my lunch break, but I haven't had time in a while. Heck, I haven't had time for lunch in a while, either. LOL The reason? My hectic schedule. I work 7am to 4pm with clients in front of me all but 7-9 and 12-1, have about an hour-long commute, and have 3 young children and a husband to tend to when I get home. Exercise ain't happenin' unless I can squeeze it in on my lunch break.

petunia773 · November 2015

Thank you for all the responses. I see everyone is different. I've gotten up at 5:00-ish the last two days to exercise. Yesterday I did C25K and this morning I just got on the treadmill for about 35 minutes without opening the app and did intermittent walking and running. I definitely like seeing my FitBit step count so high so early in the mornings and not feeling like I HAVE to exercise in the evening after supper because I feel guilty about my low step count. I think I'll keep this up for a while and see what happens. I also saw another pounds down this morning from yesterday morning, so there's that too!

slimzandra · November 2015

Lately it hasn't been much. Workdays - walk around the quad 1mile @1pm. Weekends - more active hiking sometime mid mornings.
I would love to get to the gym before or after work, but it just isn't happening. I forgot my yoga clothes again today for my class. Bumming out.

@Fvaisey - Awwww. So cute!! I want a puppy and a kitty..

lithezebra · November 2015

Any time of day is good for exercise. I like to do it in the morning, but if I don't, I enjoy it in the afternoon or evening too. I prefer to go when the gym isn't crowded.