Ugh, afternoon workouts.

jaga13
jaga13 Posts: 1,149 Member
edited November 20 in Health and Weight Loss
For the past two years my little one went to preschool a few mornings a week which is when I got in my workouts.

Now she's starting kindergarten but it will be 1/2 day in the afternoons. Wasn't expecting that.

So I can't wrap my head around the new schedule and how it affects when I can workout. I love morning workouts because I have the energy and then I'm done and only need to shower and get ready once. If I have to wait til the afternoon I guess that means getting showered/ready twice a day when I have somewhere I need to be.

Any insight about this challenge? Maybe some of you get ready for work in the morning and then workout late in the day?

I guess I should add that I like to run 3 times during the week and get very sweaty!
«1

Replies

  • MommaGem2017
    MommaGem2017 Posts: 405 Member
    I'm a Mom of two wee ones, so I know how crazy this suggestion will sound, but...

    Can you get up before your daughter and run? Or can your husband/partner get her ready for school while you work out?

    Or can you just wear your workout clothes in the morning while your watching her, and then just do the get ready part after you exercise in the afternoon?

  • Mezzie1024
    Mezzie1024 Posts: 380 Member
    I'm not a fan of afternoon workouts for the same reason (plus, I tend to have less energy in the afternoon), but my school schedule this year means that will be my only option. I think the hardest part will be the first two weeks; after that, it should be routine. (I hope!)
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Are you married or otherwise have a SO?

    Fitness is pretty important for both my wife and I so we alternate our fitness with domestic/child responsibilities.

    She runs in the AM on Tues/Thurs/Sat/Sun. She lifts in the gym on Friday after work.

    I ride in the AM on Wed/Fri...sometimes Saturday or sometimes I go to the climbing gym...I lift on Tues/Thurs evenings after work and Sunday morning. I also usually ride on Tues/Thurs while my wife is out running, but I do so on my indoor trainer so that I'm home and available for the kids.

    My wife is on KP Tues/Thurs since I go to the gym right after work. I'm on KP most other nights while she focuses on getting the kids bathed, homework, etc...I cook pretty much 5 nights per week, though we often get a pizza or something for Friday night...



  • jaga13
    jaga13 Posts: 1,149 Member
    I'm a Mom of two wee ones, so I know how crazy this suggestion will sound, but...

    Can you get up before your daughter and run? Or can your husband/partner get her ready for school while you work out?

    Or can you just wear your workout clothes in the morning while your watching her, and then just do the get ready part after you exercise in the afternoon?

    I'll probably just wear my workout clothes most mornings and then run/shower in the afternoon. Unless we have to go somewhere in the morning (I'd like to occasionally look out together!)
  • rybo
    rybo Posts: 5,424 Member
    I've worked out right after work (or school) pretty much my entire life. You get used to it.
  • jaga13
    jaga13 Posts: 1,149 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    Are you married or otherwise have a SO?

    Fitness is pretty important for both my wife and I so we alternate our fitness with domestic/child responsibilities.

    She runs in the AM on Tues/Thurs/Sat/Sun. She lifts in the gym on Friday after work.

    I ride in the AM on Wed/Fri...sometimes Saturday or sometimes I go to the climbing gym...I lift on Tues/Thurs evenings after work and Sunday morning. I also usually ride on Tues/Thurs while my wife is out running, but I do so on my indoor trainer so that I'm home and available for the kids.

    My wife is on KP Tues/Thurs since I go to the gym right after work. I'm on KP most other nights while she focuses on getting the kids bathed, homework, etc...I cook pretty much 5 nights per week, though we often get a pizza or something for Friday night...



    That's a great partnership! Yes, I'm married. But since I'm a stay at home mom and will have a few hours in the afternoon, I feel I need to do it at that time.
    When I used to work outside the home, hubby and I alternated who got up with the kids so the other could workout.
  • jaga13
    jaga13 Posts: 1,149 Member
    Lol.
    I wake up at 5am. Run. Shower.
    Take kid to school/camp. Go to work.
    Lunch break, lift. Shower. Get dressed.
    Go home. Play grown up and mom. Shower.

    And so on...
    Lol. That's a lot of showers! Go girl!
  • bobshuckleberry
    bobshuckleberry Posts: 281 Member
    So my daughter is all grown up and she is also the person I now go to the gym with. I get up get ready go to work, change at the office then drive to meet her for crossfit three days a week and volley ball one day a week. I do not always have the energy when we start out but once I get moving I feel great. And yes I end up showering twice a day a lot.
    If your child/children are asleep and your honey is home when you work out in the morning, it should not inconvenience them. You can still take a walk or add some kind of activity for yourself when your child is in school.
  • Ironandwine69
    Ironandwine69 Posts: 2,432 Member
    jaga13 wrote: »
    Lol.
    I wake up at 5am. Run. Shower.
    Take kid to school/camp. Go to work.
    Lunch break, lift. Shower. Get dressed.
    Go home. Play grown up and mom. Shower.

    And so on...
    Lol. That's a lot of showers! Go girl!

    It sucks. But that's what I can get done with 30 mins in the morning and 30 mins during lunch.
    It will be an adjustment to work out in the afternoon, but it will be fine.
  • jaga13
    jaga13 Posts: 1,149 Member
    rybo wrote: »
    I've worked out right after work (or school) pretty much my entire life. You get used to it.

    If you don't mind me asking, do you shower and do the whole makeup/hair routine both before work/school and then again after your workout?

    Part of my issue is since I quit my job to be a stay at home 2 years ago I prided myself on showering and getting someone presentable every morning so I feel great about myself when we're out and about.

    I guess I could still do that and then just take a fast shower after my pm workout and nix the makeup, etc. or pick and choose which days it makes sense to get fully ready (like if I'm not going anywhere in the morning, just wait til the pm). Sorry, I'm sort of working out my thoughts out loud lol.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    edited August 2017
    jaga13 wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    Are you married or otherwise have a SO?

    Fitness is pretty important for both my wife and I so we alternate our fitness with domestic/child responsibilities.

    She runs in the AM on Tues/Thurs/Sat/Sun. She lifts in the gym on Friday after work.

    I ride in the AM on Wed/Fri...sometimes Saturday or sometimes I go to the climbing gym...I lift on Tues/Thurs evenings after work and Sunday morning. I also usually ride on Tues/Thurs while my wife is out running, but I do so on my indoor trainer so that I'm home and available for the kids.

    My wife is on KP Tues/Thurs since I go to the gym right after work. I'm on KP most other nights while she focuses on getting the kids bathed, homework, etc...I cook pretty much 5 nights per week, though we often get a pizza or something for Friday night...



    That's a great partnership! Yes, I'm married. But since I'm a stay at home mom and will have a few hours in the afternoon, I feel I need to do it at that time.
    When I used to work outside the home, hubby and I alternated who got up with the kids so the other could workout.

    I usually shower twice per day on Tuesday/Thurs...and often Saturday...once after my morning rides during the week and then again after I get out of the gym in the evenings. Saturday just kind of depends...if I go out early and ride then I just shower after...If I'm going to hit the climbing gym, I usually shower because I usually then run errands in the AM and then hit the gym and shower again after.
  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
    edited August 2017
    I usually take a shower in the AM before work and after my lifting on evenings I lift after work. My morning shower the next day is usually just a quickie to help wake me up and get me fresh, as I likely didn't really get too dirty after the evening shower.

    And I've found that I sometimes have more energy in the late afternoon to lift, as I've eaten breakfast and lunch those days. It's also nice to not necessarily need to hurry my training, because I don't need to get to work on time.

    PS: I'm a guy, so there's no makeup to be had and my hair is pretty easy.
  • Ironandwine69
    Ironandwine69 Posts: 2,432 Member
    jaga13 wrote: »
    rybo wrote: »
    I've worked out right after work (or school) pretty much my entire life. You get used to it.

    If you don't mind me asking, do you shower and do the whole makeup/hair routine both before work/school and then again after your workout?

    Part of my issue is since I quit my job to be a stay at home 2 years ago I prided myself on showering and getting someone presentable every morning so I feel great about myself when we're out and about.

    I guess I could still do that and then just take a fast shower after my pm workout and nix the makeup, etc. or pick and choose which days it makes sense to get fully ready (like if I'm not going anywhere in the morning, just wait til the pm). Sorry, I'm sort of working out my thoughts out loud lol.

    I don't think he has a makeup routine
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    edited August 2017
    jaga13 wrote: »
    rybo wrote: »
    I've worked out right after work (or school) pretty much my entire life. You get used to it.

    If you don't mind me asking, do you shower and do the whole makeup/hair routine both before work/school and then again after your workout?

    Part of my issue is since I quit my job to be a stay at home 2 years ago I prided myself on showering and getting someone presentable every morning so I feel great about myself when we're out and about.

    I guess I could still do that and then just take a fast shower after my pm workout and nix the makeup, etc. or pick and choose which days it makes sense to get fully ready (like if I'm not going anywhere in the morning, just wait til the pm). Sorry, I'm sort of working out my thoughts out loud lol.

    I don't think he has a makeup routine...I don't have either makeup or hair routine as I'm bald...but in your situation I'd likely do just what you said.

    also, when my wife worked out in the afternoon is was typically later in the afternoon so afterwards she was generally home for the rest of the afternoon/evening so there was never or rarely a need to get fully ready after her afternoon/evening shower.
  • jaga13
    jaga13 Posts: 1,149 Member
    Haha! Didn't realize I was asking a guy about makeup. I mean, you never know
  • HarlemNY17
    HarlemNY17 Posts: 135 Member
    I'll get a lil bike or elliptical for like 100 dollars for the meanwhile until things are situated.
  • ritzvin
    ritzvin Posts: 2,860 Member
    I only shower at night.

    After running/cycling, I normally
    [1a] Turn on car (and A/C or heat)
    [1] throw on a loose running dress and remove my workout clothes.
    [2] change from running shoes to my regular shoes.
    [3] blot my face dry
    [4] retouch my makeup - blotting papers, quick re-powder, re-apply lipstick. I normally wear my hair up, and run with it like that, and leave it as is to dry afterward with no re-touching.
    [5] re-apply antiperspirant
    [6] Once sweat has dried (aided by car's A/C while refreshing makeup in rear-view mirror), put regular clothes back on
    * This normally only takes a few minutes. I do realize it's not the norm for most people.. I tend to get the "how on earth did you do that?!" looks when I step away from the car ready for a formal milonga minutes after the group run. - but this is how I fit it in between work and dancing.

    The icky post-workout feeling generally goes away once the sweat has dried (with the possible exception of when it is mixed with large amounts of sunblock and insect repellant which feel icky in their own right).

    Caveats: Not an option if you are someone who smells bad after working out (this is usually just 1 or 2 people on any group run I've ever been in - everyone else will be fine with a quick deodorant re-application if even that is needed); liquid makeup does not touch-up well unlike small areas of concealer and powder foundation; too much salt on the skin (where you have white flakes coming off) will start to sting a bit if you don't take a shower (for me this takes about 10 miles in August in Buffalo. YMMV. some people sweat more than others, some are in hotter climates than others.). Also- wet wipes exist if needed.
  • WickedPineapple
    WickedPineapple Posts: 698 Member
    edited August 2017
    I'm generally an afternoon/early evening exerciser. I'll either shower in the morning and then again briefly in the evening after a run, or I'll just shower exclusively in the evening (then usually I put my hair up in a ponytail or braid the next day). I try not to shower more than once a day if I can help it.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    jaga13 wrote: »
    rybo wrote: »
    I've worked out right after work (or school) pretty much my entire life. You get used to it.

    If you don't mind me asking, do you shower and do the whole makeup/hair routine both before work/school and then again after your workout?

    Part of my issue is since I quit my job to be a stay at home 2 years ago I prided myself on showering and getting someone presentable every morning so I feel great about myself when we're out and about.

    I guess I could still do that and then just take a fast shower after my pm workout and nix the makeup, etc. or pick and choose which days it makes sense to get fully ready (like if I'm not going anywhere in the morning, just wait til the pm). Sorry, I'm sort of working out my thoughts out loud lol.

    I'm a female who works from home. I feel absolutely no need to get "presentable" at home or for errands. That is one of the perks of working from home IMO.

    I too prefer to workout in the AM, but it no longer works with my current sleep schedule, so I do it at lunch time and/or in the evening. During gardening/tick season I often take multiple showers per day, but still only wash my hair every few days. I reserve full makeup for special occasions.
  • SuzySunshine99
    SuzySunshine99 Posts: 2,989 Member
    Lol.
    I wake up at 5am. Run. Shower.
    Take kid to school/camp. Go to work.
    Lunch break, lift. Shower. Get dressed.
    Go home. Play grown up and mom. Shower.

    And so on...

    Just curious...why the third shower? I know my skin and hair would not be happy if I showered three times a day.
  • __TMac__
    __TMac__ Posts: 1,669 Member
    Just put together some cute workout outfits to spend the morning in, then shower and put on regular clothes after the workout. I only wear make-up for special occasions, which simplifies things.

  • aeloine
    aeloine Posts: 2,163 Member
    Why not nix the morning shower and just shower after you work out? I've never really been a fan of showering in the morning anyway, since my hair takes FOREVER to dry and doesn't get the texture I want for styling after a blow dry. Get ready, go about your day, work out, shower, and then be mommy for the rest of the evening!
  • Ironandwine69
    Ironandwine69 Posts: 2,432 Member
    Lol.
    I wake up at 5am. Run. Shower.
    Take kid to school/camp. Go to work.
    Lunch break, lift. Shower. Get dressed.
    Go home. Play grown up and mom. Shower.

    And so on...

    Just curious...why the third shower? I know my skin and hair would not be happy if I showered three times a day.

    Third one is just me being a freak lol.
    I do not wash my hair all three times, just in the morning after cardio. Usually I don't sweat during lifting. So it goes on a ponytail for that. I have nice hair only half of the day, morning til noon. Then it's ponytail.
  • Psychgrrl
    Psychgrrl Posts: 3,177 Member
    I change at work and go directly to the yoga studio or campus rec center. I shower quick when I get home, usually not hair. If I need to do hair, I do that in the am. I love dry shampoo/oribe dry texturizing spray.
  • GonzosaysMeow
    GonzosaysMeow Posts: 16 Member
    edited August 2017
    As someone with thick hair, I've found it does best with less washing. That being said, I shower once every 2-3 days. No complaints from the wife or anyone else about smelling, but I change my clothes often. This is working out 5 days per week.

    I don't know what the obsession is with showering... Bacteria are good for us and keep us healthy.

    Also, if I feel stinky or sticky, a quick handful of water to the face and/or whorse's bath with washcloth or baby wipes helps.
  • jaga13
    jaga13 Posts: 1,149 Member
    Thanks for all the ideas! I'll have to experiment and maybe change it up Day to Day depending on what I have going on each day.
  • CMNVA
    CMNVA Posts: 733 Member
    You guys who don't have to wash your hair are LUCKY. I have short hair. It is fine, somewhat limp. It cannot be pulled back into anything. For me to get it to look good (and I can!!), I need to use mousse and a root lifter. Topped with hairspray.

    My hair looks awful after working out (and I'm a head sweater to boot). It looks awful when I wake up and can't even be fixed into something presentable. I really wish I could grow my hair out and just do a ponytail but it's awful when it's longer.

    But I am very jealous! :s
  • jayemes
    jayemes Posts: 865 Member
    CMNVA wrote: »
    You guys who don't have to wash your hair are LUCKY. I have short hair. It is fine, somewhat limp. It cannot be pulled back into anything. For me to get it to look good (and I can!!), I need to use mousse and a root lifter. Topped with hairspray.

    My hair looks awful after working out (and I'm a head sweater to boot). It looks awful when I wake up and can't even be fixed into something presentable. I really wish I could grow my hair out and just do a ponytail but it's awful when it's longer.

    But I am very jealous! :s

    I'm right there with you. Fine short hair that's a hot mess 90% of the time. If I managed to pull it into a ponytail it would look like the one babies have for their first photo shoot :lol
  • DamieBird
    DamieBird Posts: 651 Member
    FWIW, I work out in the afternoon, and shower before work in the am and in the evening after my workout and evening walk/ before bed. It doesn't take much time to use soap and water on one's body, so really it's just hair and makeup that you have to worry about. I totally get the make-up everyday thing; I usually wear at least mascara every day whether I'm planning to go out or not.

    Some time saving tricks: invest in 'sweat proof' or waterproof makeup and stick to a light makeup routine for day to day. That way, if you don't get *too* sweaty on your run (i.e. your makeup isn't melting off) and you don't have sensitive skin, you can do your makeup in the morning and then just use a make-up cleansing wipe if you need it and touch up anything that didn't make it through the midafternoon shower. Just make sure that your evening skin care is up to snuff to make up for it!

    Someone upthread mentioned dry shampoo. I love that stuff! I only wash my hair every other day and let it dry naturally after my workouts, so on some days a little dry shampoo first thing in the morning keeps my hair style-able and looking nice. Also experiment with cute updo styles that you can throw together with a few bobby pins for those days after your workout when your hair just doesn't seem to be cooperating, but you don't want to keep in in a ponytail all day.

    You can still get up every morning and get ready and feel pulled together, and then after your workout the showering shouldn't take too much time. Good luck!
This discussion has been closed.