When do you exercise?

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-15-2004
When do you exercise?
8
Sat, 01-24-2004 - 2:36pm
I am trying to figure out the best time to exercise. For a while I was going to the gym in the early afternoon then I switched to doing a pilates DVD at night, a couple hours after dinner. Anyone noticed any advantages to working out at night as opposed to day or vice versa?

Thanks

Susan

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-1999
Sat, 01-24-2004 - 4:16pm
I like to do my workout in the morning because I get it over and done with.

I can make plans after work and not have to make room for my workout. Or I can go home and just relax because I already did my workout. It's just so nice to not have to worry about it when you workout in the morning.

I also find that by working out in the morning that I make healthier decisions because I'm not telling myself "You can have this cookie because you still have your workout to do this evening." Instead, I'm thinking..."Don't have that cookie because you won't exercise again until the morning!"

It's all about what works best for you. I get up at 5am and am at work by 7am. I get off work at 5pm and pick my daughter up so I get home at around 6pm. Supper gets cooked when I get home and then shortly after that I have to put my daughter to bed. It's just easier to wake up earlier for me.

Anyways, good luck and hopefully you figure out what works for you!

~Dana

Avatar for angelinoh
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-19-2003
Sat, 01-24-2004 - 5:30pm
Hi, i exercise at different times, depends on the day. If i am going to the Y i go in afternoon. If i am doing an aerobics tape or using my arm weights at home i do it in the evening. If i am up i do Densise Austin's workout i do in morning(7:30am)..I have never been a morning person so i tend to enjoy later workouts or i'll workout out a lil in morning and again in evening. To each their own i guess =)
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-04-2004
Sun, 01-25-2004 - 12:29pm
Hi Susan,

I enjoy working out in the morning (when I can drag myself out of bed LOL!) I'm not a morning person, but when I do get up and exercise, I feel that I have more energy throughout the day. Also, if I wait until I get home from work, I tend to be too tired and don't do it. We're all different, though. I guess you just need to experiment until you find what works for you. That's what I had to do. Because I'm not a morning person, I would avoid even attempting to exercise then, but now that I tried it, I feel it works best for me. Good luck!

~~Linda

~~Linda

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-04-2003
Sun, 01-25-2004 - 1:57pm
Basically I agree with everyone else.
 
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 01-25-2004 - 1:58pm
I normally workout during the morning time.

  Shawna-- Proud Cl for 100 Pounds or More to Go 

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-15-2004
Sun, 01-25-2004 - 2:23pm
Rely-

What pilates tape/DVD do you use and do you like it? I have 2, I use Denise Austins Pilates for every body and The Method Target Specifics. I try to switch between the two (although I have to be in a mood to tolerate Denise Austins overly-cheery attitude LOL). Some of The Method moves are really advanced but some of the Denise Austin moves are too easy. I am thinking of getting a new one. Anywho...let me know what you think and also anyone else out there who might have a good idea. Thanks for all of the exercising advice too everyone!!!

Susan

btw..I updated my profile in case anyone was wondering who the heck I am :)


Edited 1/25/2004 2:41:00 PM ET by lucyfan81

Avatar for jess9802
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2003
Sun, 01-25-2004 - 3:53pm
I usually go in the evening (or late afternoon if I've got plans). I am NOT a morning person. In college, the gym closed early on Fridays, and I wasn't able to go after getting off work. So, for a while, I tried going first thing in the morning. What a disaster. I was groggy and my workouts were lackluster and not very intense. Then I'd spend the rest of the day trying to wake up. I finally gave up on trying to go in the mornings. An evening work out, OTOH, wears me out. I'm so ready to crawl into bed when it's all over, and I actually sleep really well on the nights when I work out.

There are slight advantages to working out in the morning, but they don't do you any good if you don't exercise! It's best to pick a time that's convenient for you, because you'll be more likely to stick to it.

Good luck!

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-04-2003
Mon, 01-26-2004 - 7:02pm

Susan,