Working out at night time.

nlhill79
nlhill79 Posts: 60 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I have always heard that it is a bad idea to exercise at night time. That is going to be the only time available for me to exercise. (After the kids go to sleep.) So what's the big deal? My options at this point are diet only, or diet and exercise at night.

I am asking this here because I have been reading about how it's not necessary to eat breakfast if you don't want to. So obviously, I have been hearing a bunch of myths and letting them derail my health.

I need some good info!
Thanks!
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Replies

  • christyd4
    christyd4 Posts: 191
    I have never once exercised in the morning, most of mine are after work and I've lost 33 lbs and couting :) IMHO moving regardless of the time of day is always better than sititng on the couch
  • BeautifulBetsy
    BeautifulBetsy Posts: 60 Member
    I workout a night too. I'm never sure what I should be eating before and after my workout, cause I basically workout and then hit the sheets and I don't want food just sitting in my guts all night long. I do know that strength training is good at night cause then you rest and let those muscle repair themselves!
  • jagar07
    jagar07 Posts: 266 Member
    exercise is exercise. If you can only do it at night, at least you are doing it! Don't let anything keep you from being healthy. It's not like your body is saying, oops, its after 7pm, I am going to stop working the way I was created to now. Just move that body!
  • starbucksbuzz
    starbucksbuzz Posts: 466 Member
    Yep! I almost always end up exercising at night.
  • blonde71
    blonde71 Posts: 955 Member
    I have two kids so sometimes exercising in the morning or afternoon is NOT an option. I say, exercise when it's most convenient for you. Better than not exercising at all....
  • builtforlife
    builtforlife Posts: 259
    As long as it doesnt keep you awake at night, I wouldnt see a problem with it.
  • Anaconda62
    Anaconda62 Posts: 181
    I exercise in the evenings, after work. I've lost 30 lbs so far. I think you should do it when you can fit it in. If you're hungry for breakfast, eat it. If not, don't.
  • stfuriada
    stfuriada Posts: 445 Member
    The only bad thing I can see about it is if it revvs you up and you can't sleep til like dawn.
  • moriaht
    moriaht Posts: 251 Member
    I only don't work out at night time because it would take so much longer to fall asleep! If it works for you, why not? It's all about calories in and calories out. A calorie burned is the same no matter what time.
  • chivalryder
    chivalryder Posts: 4,391 Member
    It's ok to workout at night. The only downsides to it is that you won't burn off the fat as quickly, and you might have a harder time getting a good night's sleep. The reason for both of these is because working out increases your heart rate over a period of time after you've finished. Keeping your heart rate up during the day burns more calories, but if you go straight to bed, your heart rate will settle faster, reducing that added bonus.

    As for sleeping, it's pretty much explains itself. Your heart should be slow and relaxed when you're trying to sleep. Not jacked up from a good workout.

    Perhaps you may want to try going to bed earlier and waking up earlier to get your workout in before the kids wake up? If you do it outside, the air will be cooler, fresher, and cleaner in the morning than in the evening.

    If you're looking to build strength, at night is better than morning for the reasons posted earlier in this thread.
  • brittany17love
    brittany17love Posts: 66 Member
    I excersise in midday but that's only because it's my ONLY free time when my daughter takes her nap. I can't excersise at night because aat night I tend to be lazy. Plus I sweat more during the day so it helps me to shed some more weight. If the nightime is the only time you can do it, GO FOR IT! At least your doing it! Nothing wrong with that.
  • apilant
    apilant Posts: 87 Member
    I'm in the same boat as you. I generally have to workout at night after the kiddos go to bed and my husband is home(so I can go run). I will say that doing this two years ago, I lost 25 lbs that way. I prefer morning workouts way more than night ones because they seem to boost you more for the day, but I believe that a workout at anytime of day vs. no working out is better for you!
  • therealangd
    therealangd Posts: 1,861 Member
    Exercise at night is better than not at all.

    Most of my exercise is at night too.
  • gigiangelique
    gigiangelique Posts: 233 Member
    I work out when ever I have the time/energy. I try to get my Bikram Yoga in early just because its hot in Vegas but otherwise a good night run rules.
  • Prettygirl150
    Prettygirl150 Posts: 31 Member
    I exercise at night and all I want to do is go to sleep afterwards, lol ... the best time to exercise is the time you can fit it in, so if that is night then do it ... don't let all these crazy myths confuse you ... and definitely eat breakfast, so you can get that metabolism going for the day. I eat every 2-3 hours ...
  • brownju
    brownju Posts: 24 Member
    I say it doesn't matter when you work out. I have heard people that work out at night have trouble sleeping and I also have heard it helps them sleep. I think everyone is different. As far as breakfast goes...don't go without it!! Your body needs that jump start in the morning. I have read several places that when a person eats a good breakfast they eat less throughout the day. I ALWAYS eat eggs in the morning. It keeps me full until lunch!
  • AmyBecky74
    AmyBecky74 Posts: 437 Member
    I get so tired after a workout, I only workout at night and it helps me sleep. I don't know if it's better for the body in the morning or not but I know if you can't workout in the morning working out at night is better than no workout at all. good luck to you :smile:
  • winninga
    winninga Posts: 77 Member
    Unless I get up at 3:30 a.m., and I don't see that happening, my only choice is to workout at night. Sometimes I do have a difficult time falling asleep if I do it too late. If I'm done by 10, then I usually don't have a problem. I don't go to bed until 11:30 or 12:00. I get up at five, and start the crazyness all over again! :happy:
  • 17ChargerGirl17
    17ChargerGirl17 Posts: 441
    I used to work out in the evenings but I, personally, prefer to workout in the mornings.
    And I have lost more weight working out in the mornings. But that's just me.
    If working out in the evenings is working for you then do it!!
  • KXanthos
    KXanthos Posts: 189 Member
    It really depends on YOU in my opinion. Personally, I get so pumped up after a workout that if I workout at night I just can't sleep. Whereas, even if I have to get up at 5:30 am to do it, a morning workout gets my blood pumping and energizes me for the day. Everyone is different....
  • IllianaIman
    IllianaIman Posts: 131
    I actually never heard of that. I exercise at night as well, after the baby is asleep. my only option actually.
    Better someone thing than nothing
  • Alluring72
    Alluring72 Posts: 50 Member
    I have the same issues - I can get a walk in over lunch but a workout has to wait till evening/night. The main issue is getting a good night sleep - getting your heart rate up and then crashing doesn't work for some. Do what works for you.
  • tcunbeliever
    tcunbeliever Posts: 8,219 Member
    I have been working out at night for about 10 years now...it has proven to be a cure for my insomnia issues as I find the whole process relaxing overall - I workout hard, I cool down and stretch afterward, I feel great and accomplished, I get a snack, shower, and off to bed. For me it has been fantastic. I would recommend the snack afterward, if I miss my snack I either wake up at 3am unable to sleep because I'm hungry, or I end up with major blood sugar swings the following day...but I tend toward hypoglycemia, so that might just be something I'm sensitive to that won't happen to you.

    Give it a try and find what works for you!
  • Sarena3
    Sarena3 Posts: 49 Member
    I have always heard that it is a bad idea to exercise at night time. That is going to be the only time available for me to exercise. (After the kids go to sleep.) So what's the big deal? My options at this point are diet only, or diet and exercise at night.

    I am asking this here because I have been reading about how it's not necessary to eat breakfast if you don't want to. So obviously, I have been hearing a bunch of myths and letting them derail my health.

    I need some good info!
    Thanks!

    What I've found is that the work out winds me up and I can't go to sleep for about 2 to 3 hrs after. If you have the time between work out and when you need to get to sleep to wind down it should be okay. Better than not at all that's for sure.
  • EveyRose
    EveyRose Posts: 74 Member
    workout when it works best for you. each person has different energy levels throughout the day. your metabolism is still running no matter what you do, even if you eat late in the evening, you still burn calories while you are sleeping...the entire eat your breakfast thing is to get fuel in your body and to speed up your metabolism. I'm not big for eating first thing in teh morning btu i do feel better if i do, i prefer a big glass of veggie juice and keep on rolling!
  • powersurges
    powersurges Posts: 11
    I noticed when I walk at night I have trouble falling asleep, however even when walking at 8pm and having to get up at 4:30am I still seem to wake up better even if I have fallen asleep after 10pm. Very strange but its nice.

    Wish I had the motivation to wake up before work, however I am already listening to the alarm at 4:30am and don't get home till 5:30pm. This makes for a long day!
  • frank533
    frank533 Posts: 1
    The only reason you may have heard not to exercise at night is because when you work out you release endorphins. This tends to give some people more energy, which may keep them up at night. An important thing to do at night is to eat your last meal/snack at least 3 hours before you go to bed so your body has time to digest and burn off some of what you ate.
  • KXanthos
    KXanthos Posts: 189 Member
    As far as breakfast...we hear such conflicting information... "If you don't eat in the morning, you'll screw up your metabolism" and "don't eat if you're not hungry" completely contradict each other. What if I'm not hungry in the morning? Should I force myself to eat or should I skip the meal and screw up my metbolism? I choose to eat when I'm hungry and not eat when I'm not. This means I have breakfast some days and I don't on other days. It also means my first meal could be at 8:00 in the morning or 10:30 in the morning. Bottom line is that I try to listen to my body.
  • MFPBrandy
    MFPBrandy Posts: 564 Member
    It's not a bad idea to exercise at night. Do what works for you. With some people, exercising at night gets them too pumped up and they don't sleep well. With others, it gets them in just the right mood for sleep. Even if it's not your optimal time, doing it is WAY better than not doing it.
    As for eating in the morning -- again, do what works for you. I'm not particularly hungry in the morning (in fact, if I eat too much too early, I feel ill), but I also know that when I DO eat in the morning, I have a lot more energy throughout the day -- even compared to eating breakfast just a couple hours later. So I keep it small -- a smoothie with some yogurt & protein powder is enough to kick start my energy levels, but doesn't make me feel uncomfortably full or sluggish.
  • ladyfox1979
    ladyfox1979 Posts: 405 Member
    I work out at night and I find that I am exhausted when I am done. I usually make a protein shake right after my workout and then go to sleep an hour later.

    Its funny cuz I sleep better now since I moved my workouts to nightime

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