AM workouts vs. PM workouts

Gionni

I trying to explain the benefits of AM workouts to a friend, can you help? I am an avid MORNING workout person. The reason is that I feel the morning is when all the SUPER serious people go to workout because :

-It's less crowded

-You burn more calories

-You start the day off with a bang

-You workout after being well rested.

Most of the SUPER fit people that I know workout in the morning (or at least try). I am not saying that "afternoon people" are not as motivated BUT you have to admit that the PM is where you see all the "posers" and the fashion shows at the gym. Also afternoon people tend to flake and fail more often. What do you think ?

beccala18

While I understand where you are coming from and the afternoon does have the fashion shows, I am not able to make myself go nearly as hard at a workout before work (7am) as I can at night (7pm). Personal preference. The few times I tried to make myself do it before work, I ended up cranky and starving all day!

I stick to my evening workout followed by dinner and some really good sleep!

Jwanguy

I love working out in the mornings. That's my time. I'm a stay at home mother so I'm pretty busy throughout the day. Plus I think it's just better to get it out of the way. I feel better afterwards

skywa

i don't see how you burn more calories in the morning.

i don't think it matters when you work out.

i do it when i have time. either before work/school or after.

lizzie1030

I read somewhere recently (I think it was prevention magazine) that you should do cardio in the morning and your strength training in the afternoon. I prefer morning for all, I like to get a good sweat before I start my day (I get up at 4:30 every morning, but I'm used to it now.) Sometimes I will do a workout at home after work in the afternoon, it keeps me from snacking.

Gionni

i don't see how you burn more calories in the morning.

i don't think it matters when you work out.

i do it when i have time. either before work/school or after.

You burn more calories in the morning because your body has burned through all the readily available energy ( recent eaten meals) and has to use more "reserve" energy ( stored fat).

I guess I should re-phase and say "You burn more FAT in the morning"

SteveHunt113

I use to workout in the evening. Did that for a few years until I changed jobs and got off work later. So, I started going in the morning. It wasn't an easy transition, was very tired in the beginning. Once I got use to it, I really liked it! My reasons:

1) It is less crowded, and most of the people there are there because they are committed to their workouts.
2) I know how many calories I've burned so I can keep track of my day better.
3) The endorphin high is a great way to start the day!
4) Only need to take 1 shower a day.
5) My evenings can be spent with my family.

I didn't know that about burning more fat!

jsapninz

"I trying to explain the benefits of AM workouts to a friend, can you help? I am an avid MORNING workout person. The reason is that I feel the morning is when all the SUPER serious people go to workout because :

-It's less crowded

-You burn more calories

-You start the day off with a bang

-You workout after being well rested.

Most of the SUPER fit people that I know workout in the morning (or at least try). I am not saying that "afternoon people" are not as motivated BUT you have to admit that the PM is where you see all the "posers" and the fashion shows at the gym. Also afternoon people tend to flake and fail more often. What do you think ?"





Uh, WOW.

WTH are you talking about? I could combat every single thing you say with my own opinions about how afternoon work outs are "better."

It is ALL ABOUT WHAT WORKS FOR YOU. Why are you trying to convince people they should work out differently when they are getting it done their own way? Sounds like you are way to focused on other people and what they think/how they look.

Get over it and just get it done!

Blueyedtine

What's wrong with a fashion show?? We gotta look cute at the gym! haha

TheAliCrock

I try to work out in the AM purely because it's easier for me to commit to then, but I wonder if I could work *harder* if I waited til after I'd eaten a meal. I'm always exhausted at the end of my 30 Day Shred workout or whatever I'm doing. Then again, I suppose I am later in the day as well, but I wonder if I might work out more efficiently later in the day in terms of actually improving things like strength and endurance.

But yeah - overall - do it whenever, just make sure you do it

rjo921

I work out in the PM because I just cannot get up in the AM to work out. I barely can get up in the morning much less the thought of exercise. So I do it in the PM.
But it all depends on you and what your preferences are....there is no wrong time...what's important is that you are working out.

Summersadiva

I'm not a morning person, but even if I was, if I workout in the AM, the rest of my day is shot. I have no energy. Working out in the PM after work relaxes me. I can shower and sleep like a baby.

I think people should listen to their bodies and decide what works best for them. It's as individual as we are.

SteveHunt113

Something I've noticed is that the late PM people DO NOT KNOW HOW TO RE-RACK THEIR WEIGHTS!!!!

There are days when I get in at 4AM and the place is a mess! Often times it's the AM people who put the place back in order. I've done it, and I've seen others do it. By the time I leave in the AM, the place looks good.

BTW, the gyms policy is that the staff should be going around when there is a shift change to make sure the place is clean. Unfortunately, the shift change is at 5AM!

yesthistime

With all of the other responsiblities that compete for our time, any time that you can dedicate to your health and fitness is the perfect time to do so :happy:

Graciecny

Honestly, I work out at night a lot of the time, and it is no fashion show. IMO you should work out whenever YOU have time for it. When you have time will vary from person to person, and lifestyle to lifestyle, job to job. You get the idea...Personally, I have kids to get up and on the bus and a job to go to. Mornings simply won't work for me (DH often does a 5:30am swim, but the time he gets home it is too late for me to do the gym).

What is right for you might not be a good fit for your friend. I'd just encourage your friend to get in there and do it, and not be so worried about when it happens - just that it DOES happen!

And no, I'm not super-fit, but I run into an instructor in the Health & Phys Ed department some days, so clearly there ARE some super-fit peeps working out when I do. I'm just not one of them.

Meaganandcheese

This is so rude and judgey.

The best time to work out is when you can do so consistently. Other peoples' schedules don't impact you. MYOWLJ.

Gionni

This is so rude and judgey.

The best time to work out is when you can do so consistently. Other peoples' schedules don't impact you. MYOWLJ.

This is a discussion forum and I am DISCUSSING this with other members of this site. I am neither rude or judging anyone. The fun part of posting on civilized forum is getting opinions from others! This fun is ruined with comments like that.

Meaganandcheese

you have to admit that the PM is where you see all the "posers" and the fashion shows at the gym. Also afternoon people tend to flake and fail more often.

Explain how this is not judgey?

kappy_hollowell

In my experience, you also burn more FAT by doing morning workouts..... I also read this somewhere. I used to do nothing but morning workouts, and I lost weight like freddy cruger was after it! Gained it back.... Now I exercise at night, and haven't been able to lose as much, but I never used to eat back exercise calories or log on mfp... that's another story... Now I'm pregnant, no more trying for at least 9 months!

shaky115

Personally, I work out in the PM because of time restraints. I use to work out in the AM and it is much better. I was told from a Personal Trainer morning workouts are more beneficial because you burn more calories throughout the day. I lost more weight when I worked out in the mornings.....JUST SAYING...but on a side note.....a calorie burned is a calorie burned.

SteveHunt113

you have to admit that the PM is where you see all the "posers" and the fashion shows at the gym. Also afternoon people tend to flake and fail more often.

Explain how this is not judgey?

I took it as an observation.

mes1119

I work out better midday, personally. I'm NOT a morning person. And around 3PM there is NO one there.

I'd like to hear why you burn more calories in the morning though....

taso42

I have looked into this extensively and my findings are the following:

AM workouts are the workouts which occur between 12 midnight and 12 noon (of your current timezone), whereas PM workouts occur between 12 noon and 12 midnight. The tricky case is when a workout crosses over the noon or midnight boundary. There is no simple solution to gripping problem. But I'm sure there are at least a dozen studies going on right at this moment to try to solve the problem.

When in doubt, try to limit workouts only to the AM or PM hours.

stephl81

Great response!

Ive recently changed to a lunch time exerciser. I cant get up early because I live alone my young son . Lunch is perfect because it frees up my evenings to spend time with my family.

With all of the other responsiblities that compete for our time, any time that you can dedicate to your health and fitness is the perfect time to do so :happy:

Jess11079

With all of the other responsiblities that compete for our time, any time that you can dedicate to your health and fitness is the perfect time to do so :happy:

^^^^^Well said

I work out when I can which is when someone can watch my kids whether its am or pm and i look cute too....i have nice clean fashionable gym clothes and guess what.....i hit the gym just as hard if not harder then the person at 4am with the holey tshirt

*****So long as your working out who cares what time your doing it or what your wearing.

killagb

I've heard that people that work out in the mornings feel more self righteous.

Taylerr88

nothing about am or pm workouts.. but i've learned to never work out on a monday... every program in the world works out on mondays!.. evil day at my gyms..

as for workout. i like nights.. around 9-10

jsmcintyre

Totally a morning workout person, before everything else in life gets in the way. I also work in an environment that lets me workout at lunch, so I do that when I can. Almost impossible to squeeze it in when I get home to the wife and kids.

girwilleatchew

i am a young mom of two children. i dont work but i work out when the kids take a midday nap and after my fiance comes home. i have workout equipment so if i were to start in the am id wake the kids and theyd be grouchy all day. so i normally get a midday workout in and a evening in. but i do admit im not as hungry after workouts. so i understand why mornings is better. on the other hand its not worth grumpy children

needtolose50lbs

I'm not sure if this is true, but I heard that if you workout in the morning when you first wake up and before you eat that you are actually burning stored fat. I have no idea if it's true its just what I heard.

Graciecny

I'm not sure if this is true, but I heard that if you workout in the morning when you first wake up and before you eat that you are actually burning stored fat. I have no idea if it's true its just what I heard.

Honestly, when I work out at 8 at night, I haven't eaten a meal in about 9 hours. Lunch for me is at 11am, and all I have is a light mid-afternoon snack. Since I sometimes eat dinner at 11pm (sometimes even later) if I were to get up and work out at 5:30am like my hubby, I'd be eating closer to a meal than when I hit the gym after work at 8 or 9pm!

As I said earlier, to each their own!

And killagb, your comment totally cracked me up!