I know the answer to this is going to be something along the lines of "whatever time of day you will actually do it" which is why I am not going to get up at 5 in the morning to run because I am not a morning person! But I just bought an elliptical hoping that the convenience factor and the fact that I spent money on it will help motivate me. The two options that would probably be most consistent would be in the late evening or in the late afternoon right before dinner. I usually eat dinner around 6:00 and could probably do it on some days at around 4:00 as I am usually home by then. The other option would have to be after dinner sometime but how late would be too late? I would love to hear your thoughts on which of these times may be more beneficial.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Best time of day to work out
- Thread starter dman
- Start date
Totally personal. I find that I get the best workouts first thing after I wake, before I do anything else. In reality I do 2 of 3 weights sessions late in the day just before bed, which is why the days often slip.
If you find a time that you are able to guarantee getting to train that is the best time. If you are consistantly able to train before dinner but tend to relax and not unglue yourself from the sofa after, train before, if you are buzing around sorting before dinner and feel ready to go after, you get the idea.
There is no best time of day to do aerobic excercise regarding effectiveness etc. so it comes down to you all the way.
If you find a time that you are able to guarantee getting to train that is the best time. If you are consistantly able to train before dinner but tend to relax and not unglue yourself from the sofa after, train before, if you are buzing around sorting before dinner and feel ready to go after, you get the idea.
There is no best time of day to do aerobic excercise regarding effectiveness etc. so it comes down to you all the way.
After eating depends on activity. I can cycle after 10 to 15 minutes after food, running I would get to see how well digested it is. I would say for safety low or no impact 1/2 hour minimum, high impact of stomach compressing an hour minimum.
Bedtime irrelevant. It is not unusual for me to finish minutes before bed, though I would prefer it to be the other way around. Good dose of endorphins are great aid to sleep anyway.
Bedtime irrelevant. It is not unusual for me to finish minutes before bed, though I would prefer it to be the other way around. Good dose of endorphins are great aid to sleep anyway.
All people have different choices. I have seen that many people do workouts in the morning and as per researcher, It is very great time to exercise in early morning. I have also doing different exercise like Yoga, walking in early morning.
Even though I am just starting out, I have done it after dinner each time. Either a couple hours after or sometimes as late as 11:00 at night. I actually liked doing it that late because although I was tired before, I managed to get myself to do it and then felt great going to bed after that nice and tired and I slept well!
Before dinner is probably a great time to exercise and it sounds as if you might be consistant which is really beneficial. Eating right afterwards should not be an issue. If you end up exercising after dinner, you can likely start within 15-20 minutes unless you've eaten a really heavy meal. In the summer, I eat breakfast and then almost immediately set out for a 3 mile run. I find what matters most is not drinking too much liquid with my meal as that makes me uncomfortable. Some people will find their sleep may be interrupted if the workout is very intense over a longer period of time as this sort of workout can trigger some of the flight/fight hormones. An appropriate cooldown and a little stretching would likely mitigate that response.
'In the summer, I eat breakfast and then almost immediately set out for a 3 mile run.'
How do you do that? Not a critisism, genuine admiration and envy here.
That sort of behaviour would enable me to see how well I had digested my breakfast.
I find intense power work followed by stretches is great for sleep, all aggression gone and tension released, zzzzzzzzzzz!
How do you do that? Not a critisism, genuine admiration and envy here.
That sort of behaviour would enable me to see how well I had digested my breakfast.
I find intense power work followed by stretches is great for sleep, all aggression gone and tension released, zzzzzzzzzzz!
I just do it?
I wake up desperately seeking coffee, have a cup, and a short time later, a couple of eggs with some cheese and/or a little potato. By then the spouse is up and we head out the door. We live in the middle of nowhere and have a wonderful 3.3 mile loop that goes through the woods. The first mile is a little slow as it is rough, uphill, and we are getting warmed up so we don't push. We do the middle mile fast - often going for little "records", and the last mile to get home is usually moderate - a bit uphill but smoother! As long as I don't have a second cup of coffee it's not a problem. When we get back, I have a glass of water and a glass of juice or milk to take some vitamins and then head into town. If we have hill sprints planned, I am careful to eat less as those are intense and I don't want much extra, but I wake up starving so it's rare that I do anything active without eating first.
I wake up desperately seeking coffee, have a cup, and a short time later, a couple of eggs with some cheese and/or a little potato. By then the spouse is up and we head out the door. We live in the middle of nowhere and have a wonderful 3.3 mile loop that goes through the woods. The first mile is a little slow as it is rough, uphill, and we are getting warmed up so we don't push. We do the middle mile fast - often going for little "records", and the last mile to get home is usually moderate - a bit uphill but smoother! As long as I don't have a second cup of coffee it's not a problem. When we get back, I have a glass of water and a glass of juice or milk to take some vitamins and then head into town. If we have hill sprints planned, I am careful to eat less as those are intense and I don't want much extra, but I wake up starving so it's rare that I do anything active without eating first.
One thing I hate with my running at the moment, start of journey in both directions has a long downhill either right there or after very short distance. I am too impatient, aka stupid, to take this easy because I want a decent overall pace, so know that food would make a comeback tour.
My run is 4.75 miles and very few other people walking or running that way, most are in queued cages.
I prefer to eat first thing but often don't now beacuse it is up ready out the door for commute run or cycle. But I eat after showering.
My ultimate nightmare is having to take medication that requires empty stomach more than once a day. First thing, empty, rest of the day spent browsing. Some talk about eating every 3 hours, for me it's more like every 3 minutes while awak and not too close to training. I have asked many times for tips on eating while asleep, no-one has given suggestions, disappointing really.
My run is 4.75 miles and very few other people walking or running that way, most are in queued cages.
I prefer to eat first thing but often don't now beacuse it is up ready out the door for commute run or cycle. But I eat after showering.
My ultimate nightmare is having to take medication that requires empty stomach more than once a day. First thing, empty, rest of the day spent browsing. Some talk about eating every 3 hours, for me it's more like every 3 minutes while awak and not too close to training. I have asked many times for tips on eating while asleep, no-one has given suggestions, disappointing really.
Not so much the IV as getting rice, oats etc. to go through the needle!