Best time to exercise

[happymomto4]

Does anyone have a theory on WHEN to exercise? I was reading an old article that I had pulled out of Good Housekeeping years ago that suggested exercising within 30 minutes of eating a meal for at least 20 minutes. I try to exercise at least 30 minutes at a time but I haven't been doing it so soon after a meal.

I don't remember Dr Atkins suggesting a specific time to exercise so I'm just wondering what others have found to work for them. I personally don't love to exercise, but when I do it in the morning, I'm more likely to get more exercise in later in the day. When I save my workout for evenings, which is 90% of the time, its the only movement my body gets. Maybe that's the problem! Have you noticed better losses when you exercise at a certain time?

[Reborn_Warrior]

Re: Best time to exercise

You need to be moving all day!

I exercise in the morning, before work. I exercise on an empty stomach.

At work I get up a few times a day and go for a walk for about 10-15 minutes at a time. If it is cold I wear a jacket, if it rains I wear a poncho. No excuses. Every other night I go out for a 15-20 minute walk.

The best answer is to exercise when you have the time to do it nonstop and for a duration. Also, for some extra work out time, getting up throughout the day at work, using the stairs, parking farther from the building or when you go to the store, every little bit helps.

[happymomto4]

Re: Best time to exercise

Oops, when I wrote "the only movement my body gets" I meant, extra, intentional, exercise-type movement. I'm in health care and am on my feet while I'm at work. I can't count it as exercise though. That said, I could take a brisk walk outside or do some stairs to break up the day instead of lounging or talking on my breaks. Thanks for the input.

[liv]

Re: Best time to exercise

Exercise when you have the time and when it is convenient. For some it would be before work for some it would be after. I do not eat before exercise and I exercise in the morning for the most part. I don't think the time is going to make any difference on losses. Sometimes I think the reason exercise is good is because I do not eat when I exercise.

[JulieB]

Re: Best time to exercise

I'm just happy when I manage not to talk myself out of exercising (I'm exceedingly lazy!). Mornings just isn't going to happen, so I try to exercise right after work: I prefer to exercise on an empty stomach and that way I can relax the rest of the evening because I've done what I needed to do

[chinadoll]

Re: Best time to exercise

I like to exercise in the morning because 1) I get it done and finished for the day and not hanging over my head (late in the day I am often dragging a bit and less inclined to do it) and 2) I feel better all day long.

I eat before and after working out if I am doing heavy weights, but I prefer to do my cardio and pilates on an empty stomach.

Its really what works best for you.

[Suzanne_H]

Re: Best time to exercise

Personally since I'm trying to produce permanent lifestyle changes I don't know that forcing a huge schedule change around exercise would work for me.... or at least it hasn't worked so far. I find the times that work best in my schedule and work with that.

[jake1970]

Re: Best time to exercise

ill go to the gym before work at 06:00 ,ive tried going after work but im tired then ,im always awake early and seem to have the most energy first thing in the morning

[d33na]

Re: Best time to exercise

I was walking every morning then it got hot...so now Im walking every night...the worst thing about night walking is I can smell everyone's dinner cooking! lol

[Whatsername]

Re: Best time to exercise

I was walking every morning then it got hot...so now Im walking every night...the worst thing about night walking is I can smell everyone's dinner cooking! lol

I have been walking during the day but now it is getting cold! (I am a baby about that). Though someone I know told me it is better to walk when it is cold because it is more of a workout. Hmmmm.

I try to exercise in the morning. If I don't, it always seems other things come up and get in the way or I get tired and make excuses. That said...what it comes down to is that I will exercise whenever I find the time (yesterday it was at 8 pm).

Jane

[nimbinpaul]

Re: Best time to exercise

With my work schedule I exercise in the evening between 6pm and 7. I used to spend a lot of time working out best times to exercise.... fasting, after eating, early or late etc etc. Now I just exercise when it suits me. Remember that at least some of the benefit of exercise is that it raises your metabolic rate for the next 24 hours, so its not only the calories you burn when you're running or whatever, but also the extra calories you burn in the hours after you exercise. My understanding is that a combination of cardio and weights maximises this effect.
In any case.... enjoy your exercise, make it sustainable and know that every time you get out and move youre maximising weight loss and the efficient use of fat metabolism.

[soon2bslim]

Re: Best time to exercise

i'm really trying to exercise more but time constraints get in the way - so i have to be creative about fitting in exercise into my daily responsibilities.

i love to exercise in the AM but some days i'm just so busy that i exercise whenever i can even if it's not a solid 30 -60 min. I keep weights in the kitchen and do some arm exercises in between peeling vegetables, then at night -get the kids upstairs -pajamas- brush teeth - i go into my bedroom and do some situps, leg exercises, maybe squats - then one of my kids will go downstairs again for 'another drink of water' and i can squeeze in some arm exercises or whatever.

i do these leg lifts standing up - anywhere as long as no one is looking, i've always had stretch bands at work for some quick arm or leg work- u get the idea, sometimes u have 2 fit it in to your day whenever/wherever/however and then there are days that i have more time for an organized workout.

i try to just keep moving whether it's climbing stairs instead of the elevator (even going down the stairs is still moving!) i google short video workouts (youtube has tons) and fit in a ten minute workout routine if all i've got is 10 min.

One morning i was a little lazy about getting out of bed so i did arm lifts while lying in bed, not ideal, but it woke up my body to prep for the AM rush to get the kids off to their different schools.

I can't seem to correlate the exercise times to eating, although i believe some people do better if they can eat something beforehand- fo me the priority is to get a full workout done before i shower for everyone's sake!