Working out at night

Options
Shetchncn1
Shetchncn1 Posts: 260 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I like to work out first thing in the morning but in reality I have to work it in when it works in. So it has come down to kicking myself awake earlier or working out later. Earlier being 4:30 and I am such a putz that it is more of an idea at the moment. For those of you who work out later in the day even after dinner time - do you find that the effects are the same and/or do you have a hard time winding down for bed afterwards? Just asking - I know everyone has different effects- just trying to see what you guys think.
«1

Replies

  • astrampe
    astrampe Posts: 2,169 Member
    Options
    If I do cardio later than 8pm, I am wide awake for longer than usual - but when I do weights I fall asleep easily at the normal time....
  • ThinLizzie0802
    ThinLizzie0802 Posts: 863 Member
    Options
    My two problems with working out late:

    I can't workout within three hours of eating a meal or I have terrible heartburn and want to vomit. So if I'm waiting until 6:30 or later to workout then I'm going an incredible stretch between lunch and dinner

    Or I work out later than 7 I am super wound up and can't sleep at all. I had a week of working out at 9 every night and I didn't sleep a week and got burned out.
  • Iknowsaur
    Iknowsaur Posts: 777 Member
    Options
    I agree with what other people have said.
    Doing cardio within a few hours of bedtime gets me too amped up, but lifting weights exhausts me.
    As a side note, the "next day burn" from lifting seems less irritating for me if I lift in the morning.
  • Becoming_A_Butterfly
    Becoming_A_Butterfly Posts: 2,534 Member
    Options
    I work out as soon as I get home from work. It helps work off tension from the day, I have more energy in the evening than in the morning, and it's early enough that it doesn't interfere with my sleep or dinner (I eat after I work out).
  • No_Finish_Line
    No_Finish_Line Posts: 3,661 Member
    Options
    i usually hit the gym for weights around 8 pm, no issues. sometimes i dont want to go, but usually after i get there it might as well be 5pm (prime time for me to workout).
  • sriley7682
    sriley7682 Posts: 48 Member
    Options
    I also work out right after work. I agree with previous poster who says it helps work off the stress of the day. I'm a night owl, so this sort of activity timing works for me. It doesn't interfere with my sleep or dinner or anything. In fact, I think I probably sleep better on those days because I'm more physically tired.
  • auburngirl06
    auburngirl06 Posts: 153 Member
    Options
    I work out around 8:30-once my kids are in bed. It doesn't seem to effect my sleeping pattern or anything. I hop in the shower for a quick rinse and then am usually ready for lounge time and then bed.
  • GlitterrMagpie
    GlitterrMagpie Posts: 302 Member
    Options
    I work out a couple of hours after my evening meal, usually around 8 or 9 pm. I'm not a morning person so it works out best for me and hasn't affected my sleep, actually I sleep better when I've been out for a run.
  • Julettashane
    Julettashane Posts: 723 Member
    Options
    i do cardio and weights usually the same night and i usually go after 8pm and i have no issues i got home and sleep good.
  • JaxNole82
    JaxNole82 Posts: 21
    Options
    I havent had any issues working out at night. I get off work at 6pm, dinner at 630 and gym at 715 for weights are cardio. I am usually in bed by 1030, 11 at the latest.
  • Pirate_chick
    Pirate_chick Posts: 1,216 Member
    Options
    I work out in the evening. I have a light snack beforehand and dinner when I get back home. If I eat a full meal before working out I get ill.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,868 Member
    Options
    I hit the gym around 6 in the evening on lifting nights and eat dinner afterwards. I haven't had any issues.
  • Whyareyoumad
    Whyareyoumad Posts: 268 Member
    Options
    I go whenever I can, sometimes I wait for my wife, other times I dont. I prefer the mornings on the weekends, but during the work week its frequently 6:30 or later. I have been as late as 10:30, still sleep like a baby. The point is go whenever you can, no matter what time. At least it is something, and something is better than nothing.
  • Rerun201
    Rerun201 Posts: 125 Member
    Options
    I workout 5 days per week with a 7:30 or 8 PM start, go for about 1/2 hour to 45 minutes, then in bed, lights out by 10 PM to get my 8 in before starting all over again. It beats getting up at 4:30 or 5 AM to workout. I've done both and prefer the later in the day sessions, but I will do early morning if no other time is going to be available. I haven't noticed any issues with my sleep being messed up with doing either aerobic or resistance training after dinner (5:30 PM). I'm thinking that some of the more intense forms of exercise, like High Intensity Interval Training, might have an impact on your sleep/ability to fall asleep afterwards. I'd try to avoid those before bedtime.
  • janicebinva
    janicebinva Posts: 99 Member
    Options
    Everyone is different. I think you should try it and see if it works for you. Good luck.

    My life is now structured so that working out at 8:30 or even 9 PM works best for me. I would rather do it in the morning, but circumstances and laziness make it easier to do it at night than to get up early. Regardless of whether it's cardio or weights, it tires me out. After a shower and drying my hair, I just want to go to sleep.

    I wish you the best in finding the right schedule for you.
  • BoxerBrawler
    BoxerBrawler Posts: 2,032 Member
    Options
    My main work out is at night at either 7 PM, 7:30 PM or sometimes around 6 PM. I definitely have more energy and get to bed later than I used too and I can't eat a meal before the workout either. I've learned to have my afternoon snack at like 4 or 4:30 in the afternoon, like a yogurt or something. That way it holds me over and gives me a little energy boost for the workout. I eat dinner shortly after my work out so that my body can restore, refresh, refuel, etc. and then go to bed about an hour or two later. So far this routine has worked for me pretty well.

    I also do a quick 15 or 20 on the elliptical first thing out of bed as a way to really wake up and get my system going. I also hit the fitness center at my work in the afternoon for some cardio.
  • JulieE1002
    JulieE1002 Posts: 162 Member
    Options
    I also work out right after work. I agree with previous poster who says it helps work off the stress of the day. I'm a night owl, so this sort of activity timing works for me. It doesn't interfere with my sleep or dinner or anything. In fact, I think I probably sleep better on those days because I'm more physically tired.

    I agree. I workout from 5:15 - 6:15 daily, so I'm typically home by 7:00 - eating is the first thing I want to do! I do little things around the house and maybe watch a bit of TV, but by 10:00 pm I'm ready for bed and I sleep like a baby. I have gone to the gym later in the evening and like others have said, I find it hard to fall asleep. I am not a morning person, so early evening workouts are best for me - and I love that I can kick and punch away all the stress from the day!
  • BlueBombers
    BlueBombers Posts: 4,065 Member
    Options
    It has been working for me.
  • ToughMudderAddict
    ToughMudderAddict Posts: 290 Member
    Options
    If I had to work out in the morning I'd never work out. I have tried and failed miserably to get my butt out of bed early enough to work out in the morning. That said - I LOVE working out after I get home from work (between 5-6pm). I do not allow myself to get in the house and sit down, I put on my workout clothes and get to it right away (I workout from home, running, Insanity and biking). I haven't found this to interfere with my evening energy or ability to sleep - most of the time I exhaust myself pretty well with my work out that after my shower and eating I'm good and relaxed/stress free for the evening.

    Give it a try! What have you got to lose?
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
    Options
    Doesn't make it harder to get to sleep got me.

    Have had cases of going for an hour run with dogs at might! (I'm great at procrastination, me - but does mean nice clear trails with no worries of coming up to other people out with dogs etc :).)

    Also had cases where I've been finishing off my weights at a similar time or doing half an hour on the punch bag to make my calories up.

Categories