Everyone talks about eating before bed what about exercise

HeavyLiftGirl

I always exercise later. Usually between 8pm-10pm. I love it because a) the kids are asleep b) no interruption c) I can take a hot shower before bed and it feels great.
Go for it!

jkrod81

For a year and a half, the only time I could fit in a decent workout was after 8:30 pm. I would workout for 90 minutes, shower, read from my Nook Color (so I wouldn't have to turn on a lamp and disrupt my husbands sleep), and pass out. When I first started this routine, I think I might have had a harder time falling asleep right away, but it didn't take long for my body to adjust. Many times I would nod off with my Nook in hands, lol! Now I workout early in the mornings. I do prefer morning workouts because I feel like I am better able to control my caloric intake. I have a better idea of how much I am able to consume because I have a better idea of how many extra workout calories I get. Otherwise working out in the morning or night doesn't really matter to me. Workout when you can. Night, morning, afternoon... it doesn't really matter. You are getting your exercise and that is better than not workout out at all.

SaundraM2009

I personally can't sleep if I exercise too late. But you can try.

Same. I exercise in the morning before my husband and daughter (17 months) wake up. It wakes me up and doesn't cut into my time with them. I've also found that eating a handful of almonds before I work out is enough to power me through and keep me from getting hungry without being too full to really push.

Kayleighpaul1985

I have a 4 years old and a full time job so my workouts are always in the evenings anywhere from 8pm-10pm

I never have trouble sleeping xx

skinnybearlyndsay

I do both. I have kickboxing class 7:40-8:40 Tuesday and Thursday and I go to bed about 10pm. I sleep so much better, too, but exercising that close to bedtime.

You're going to find a lot of differing opinions and research on both subjects. Personally, I think that both are fine, but it depends on what you eat before bed. When I go to bed hungry, I wake up in the middle of the night.

Hksalex

I work out twice a day, in the morning 1hr after my breakfast, and at night 1hr after my dinner

and I spend a Hour at the gym, + the 15min drive

don't have a problem sleeping right after, my normal bed time is 1am.. i cant seem to function if i sleep more than 5-6hrs >_<

iWaffle

I do cardio in the morning but I almost always do my strength training at around 9:00 pm. Like you said it just gives me more time with the family and I like it because the gym is less crowed later. Personally I sleep like the dead after I workout. I come home, grab a protein shake and a shower and I can go right to sleep so easily after that. It's actually nice that I don't have to struggle with feeling like I'm out of energy because I sleep through the recovery time. Try it out for a couple weeks and see how you like it.

movn4ward

I say give it a try. I am always able to go to sleep after I work out, but what helps most is my after work out routine. I have to wind down in order to fall alsleep most nights. Showering and getting things prepared for the next day always helps me drift right off to sleep.

Then again, I do a midday workout and that makes me sleepy. LOL. Everyone is different when it comes to these things, it is basically a try and see. I say as long as you work out doesn't matter what time of day.

mommab23k

First off, KUDOS to you for trying to figure out how to fit in your exercise daily while making time for your family!!! Seriously, good for you:) Your wife I KNOW appreciates it, talking from experience here:)

Try it and see if it works. If it doesn't affect your sleep pattern, go for it. If you can't sleep and you end up cranky and tired because of it, no good.

Do you typically help out a lot in the AM before work? Could you go early in the morning before your wife and daughter wake up? That way, if you do get an energy burst after your workout, you could use it to your benefit at work and still make it home at your regular time to be w/your family. My guess is your wife is pretty tired at the end of the day and doesn't stay up too late and then you can go to bed together too. I work out at 5:30 each AM, and rarely am I up past 10 pm.

ChristineDiet

Lovely idea to go later so you can spend time with your wife and baby, but I'm guessing you would struggle to sleep, or at least get a deep sleep. I would suggest getting up earlier and doing it first thing. You still get to spend the whole evening with your wife and baby, but may also get some alternative exercise on the evening too - bonus! x

kimama01

I think it just depends on your body... I can work out shower and fall right to sleep. BUT that's my body. I would say just try it out and see if it works for you.

justal313

Over the years I have usually done my workout in the early morning before work. However, now that we have a second child I am finding it difficult to have enough time for a good workout. I have been trying to decide if I should do it after the kids go to bed. After reading this I am going to give it a shot. I look forward to a longer less 'time-pressured' workout.

You know, I have on occasion cut my workout slightly shorter than I might have wanted because things were going on. I like the idea of having less "time pressure"

Plus I think I would be tempted to hit the snooze button rather than get up in time for the gym. Staying up to go at the end of my day shouldn't be a problem. Plus added bonus, I'll know exactly how many calories I need to burn to get under my goal and how much I need to workout if I want milk & a cookie before bed.

justal313

Well it's only been a little over a week but here are my observations


I like the extra time with my daughter and wife
I have definately made things easier for my wife
NO WAITING TIME for the next machine when I'm lifting.
I haven't had any trouble falling asleep
I get to see exactly how many calories I need to burn so I can have milk and a cookie (probably why I can fall right asleep)
At age 42 I am definately the oldest person in the gym that late at night, in fact I could be the father of all the 20 somethings there.
I enjoy cooking and I get to cook once/twice a week now.

justal313

Well it's 3 weeks now and here are my thoughts

Someone had mentioned getting in Gym clothes right when you get home so you won't be tempted to skip the gym. Skipping the gym isn't really an issue but I can get my non-gym clothes in the wash before leaving if we need to do a load. Also, big bonus is that I'm not grabbing a locker, getting changed and then grabbing my stuff out of the locker after I'm done. Shaves about 5-10 minutes off the whole thing and that late, that's a good thing.

It hasn't been an issue for me going that late. Maybe 2 or 3 times in the last 3 weeks I've gone earlier. One day I went after work so that going the next morning first thing wouldn't have been too soon. Going first thing is not my thing but I'll do it when I need to.

Since I've logged my food for the day including my after gym snack I've been able to better plan out my exercise and get just over my net for the day.

As I said before I'm not waiting for machines when I lift and I'm clearly way too old at 42 to be at the gym that time of night.

My wife is considerably less stressed coming home and having me there right after work to help with my daughter. I get extra time with the two of them which is invaluable.

So this works out well. Next monday though I'm going right after work as the gym has free pizza day and while I won't eat 10 bucks worth of free pizza (as I don't want exercise for an extra 1500 calories just for pizza) I'm getting some of my monthly fee back