The case for morning workout

Morning is the best time to exercise for me.

I run in the morning and feel great the whole day. I think I can say that I am “energized” for the day. It's a good time to think clearly, plan my day, and relax mentally.

Starting the morning with running, before other distractions can intrude, is my best fitness habit. It assures that something else won't crowd exercise out of my schedule. When my days get hectic, exercise is likely to take a back seat.

And for those who are less motivated, if you exercise in the morning, it helps you to stick with it.

I am not able to run but I start each day with a vigorous walk. I totally agree that it is putting it first on my schedule that prevents it from being crowded out by other concerns. I go the gym two or three afternoons a week between 1:00 and 3:00 because that is a time when they aren't busy and because I always hated retirees who hogged services during peak periods. I try for three times a week but I often only make it twice because other aspects of my life get in the way.

I can do yoga in the evening but anything strenous tends to interfere with my sleep. So this is what I have learned about me but I would strongly suggest that regardless of when you are exercising if it is working for you stick with it.

I have been stuck with am workouts for the last few months. I live in AZ and it is just to hot any other time of the day to work out. Today we all overslept by 2 hours so it was not possible however the evenings are finally starting to cool down. If it was just me going out for a run I would just shorten the run to compensate for the heat but since I am a stay at home mom with 2 small children who can't handle the heat well I have to think of them as well. On days like this in the summer heat I would wait until they were down for a nap then I would work out with a tae bo dvd. I can't wait for the the next month when temps start to stay in a managable area for most of the day and we can start waking up a little later and naps can be a little shorter. Much more fun to take the 2yr old to the park and find different ways to use the equiptment for a workout for myself while watching the kids play then having them take a 4 hour nap because they were up at 5 am.

I agree, when I work out in the morning I feel a kind of buzz or higher energy for the rest of the day.

In reality though it's tough to get up and I end up working out in the evening after work.

This! Also I'm usually mentally burnt by the time I get home. Plus I teach ESL at night 3 days a week and getting it done in the AM is the BEST!

Morning workouts don't work for me. I am still so groggy that I only workout 1/2 hearted.

I love morning workouts. I work 24hr shifts with 48hr off so I have to get up at 0430 before shift. I try hard to exercise every day and when I work a full day, the only way I can sneak a work out in is if I do it before I leave, (have to be at work at 0800). On my two off days I usually workout around 0900 when I get home or push it till the afternoon before dinner if I need a nap after shift. I can't pick a mon/wed/fri exercise schedule, so I just committed to working out every day, that way on the occasion that I skip a day, (about twice a month) it is not a huge slip up and doesn't put me into one step forward, two steps back mode.

I agree with the morning workouts...I have my bag packed and ready to hit it after my 30 minute commute. I feel energized and ready to start my day. I feel less stressed when at work and if I do have a stressful day...I hit it again in the eveing.

I used to be a firm believer in late night workouts, then earlier this year I said let's try mornings and I LOVE them! I still will sometimes do something after work but in the morning I agree-it helps me get up and going and gives me so much energy throughout the day. There's nothing like an early morning brisk run

The homeless people are still asleep if I go out in the morning, and I feel kind of bad (and creeped out) waking them up. Rather go in the evening when the cops have had a chance to clear everyone out from under the bridges. Sad but true.

The homeless people are still asleep if I go out in the morning, and I feel kind of bad (and creeped out) waking them up. Rather go in the evening when the cops have had a chance to clear everyone out from under the bridges. Sad but true.

This made me laugh! I live in a rural place now, but prior to this, I've had some seriously creepy morning encounters involving sketchy people. Now, I have to worry about bears - but I think their responses are a little more predictable than Homo sapiens :P

Stay safe, lady, and let the sleeping folks lie!