Does anyone workout at night?

[Terri_A]

Okay, so I need to get off my a$$. I've been counting calories, I'm down 11 pounds, but I want to help this process along. I can't workout in the morning since I can't leave the weeone home alone. It was suggested to me to workout at home after she goes to bed at night. Here's my question for anyone who works out after 8pm...am I going to be too wired to sleep? Or will it knock me out and help my little sleep issues too???

[tbb113]

Terri -
I think that will screw up your sleep since it is too close to your bedtime. But...I could be wrong ;)

Can you wake up earlier in the morning and do it before work?

(This is why I don't exercise...no time)

[PamWA]

I don't work out at night, because when I do, it keeps me up for hours and hours. Not worth it to me!

Good luck! I hope you find a solution that works for you.

[LaraW]

I work out at night, and haven't had any trouble with my sleeping. It might mess you up a bit at first, but if you stick with it, it may help you. You could also try doing a short yoga session after your workout to settle yourself down.

[Andrea_2]

I've been working out every night (it is just the ONLY time I can find to do it, plus I do seem to get better results when I work out at night), and it doesn't keep me up. I usually start somewhere between 8-9, although I've started as late as 10:00 (:eek:), and I have been working out for one hour. When I first started working out, it kept me awake a little the first few nights, but then I think I just adapted to it or something, because it never keeps me awake now. Maybe give it a try some time when you don't need to get up early the next day just to see how you do.

[wallycat]

I've done yoga at 8:30pm but I can't recall the last time I did aerobic type stuff later than 6.

If 8pm is the ONLY time you can find the time, maybe you can do a less strenuous type of aerobics (like walking on a treadmill)...any movement will burn calories.

[JuliN]

Since I work early hours, all my exercise is in the evening -- usually around 8:30 - 9:30 p.m. My bedtime is about 10:30. Never had a problem falling asleep, particularly after yoga. In fact, after yoga, I can barely keep my eyes open.

Juli

[Angelina]

When I exercise, it's at night. I just don't have the time to do it in the morning (or the desire to get up even earlier than what I do already!!).
It has never kept me awake. If anything, it melts away all the day's stress and frustrations, leaving me clear headed and happy.

I sleep like a log!

Angela

[Terri_A]

Terri -
I think that will screw up your sleep since it is too close to your bedtime. But...I could be wrong ;)

Can you wake up earlier in the morning and do it before work?

(This is why I don't exercise...no time)

As it is, I'm up between 5:45 am and 6:00 am to get myself and DD ready for work and school and out the door by 7:20 am. I am willing to try the morning but can already see myself rationalizing why it's okay to hit the snooze but justone more time!!!

It's just really hard to find the time when you're a single mom....ugh. How silly is it that I wish someone else was in the house just for this!!!

[srahndennis]

My DH and I get up just before 5am to exercise. He runs on the treadmill and I use exercise tapes. It's not perfect - and sometimes we do hit snooze one more time - but it's what works best for us. I know I wouldn't exercise as regularly if I tried to do it at night.

[Natasha]

Hi Terri!

It sort of depends on the individual, but you may well find that working out late doesn't negatively affect your sleep. I know people for whom it works, and others who remain wired for quite a while afterwards. You said you wanted to start your workout around 8 - what is your normal time to go to bed?

Personally, I work out at all hours of day and night depending on my schedule and don't find that it hurts my sleep (in fact, it helps me fall asleep quickly and sleep soundly). The latest I'll work out is around 9 PM (did that yesterday, in fact), and I was in bed and asleep by 11. For me the trick is to unwind and read or otherwise relax afterwards.

Good luck! :)
Natasha

[SusanPC]

Terri, could you join a gym with Daycare services and go after work? I know this may not be ideal since the little one may be in daycare all day. But, it is just a thought.

I generally need to unwind for an hour or so after working out, and, I can't eat dinner first...for obvious reasons so I always end up eating late dinners when I go to the gym at night.

Best of luck to you.

[Gumbeaux]

Wasn't someone in your family critical of your weight? If this was the case, I would tell them that you are really serious about getting in shape and need their help with baby sitting and/or picking your daughter up from daycare while you go to the fitness center.

[applecrisp]

A bit off topic ....to get in some exercise time, what about taking a walk after lunch while at work?

[SusanMac]

Like Natasha, my workouts are all over the map in terms of time of day. Each day is quite different. I have had good luck training in the evening w/out it impacting my sleep. The trickier part, I think, is figuring out what/when to eat dinner. Can't really do it after you workout, but if you eat before you workout, it's got to be light & very early.

With all that said, I'm a really, really solid sleeper and have issues eating too close to a workout. Everyone will be different for both of these issues.

I say go for it -- whenever you can squeeze it in you will be better for it. But, as said above, give it a month before your body really gets used to the new sleep schedule.

[Terri_A]

You said you wanted to start your workout around 8 - what is your normal time to go to bed?

I'm usually getting in bed around 10, asleep by 10:30pm.

Terri, could you join a gym with Daycare services and go after work? I know this may not be ideal since the little one may be in daycare all day. But, it is just a thought.

Yes, I've considered this and just can't bear the thought of picking her up from school, excited to see me, and then dumping her into daycare for another hour+. It may end up being my only option, however.

Wasn't someone in your family critical of your weight? If this was the case, I would tell them that you are really serious about getting in shape and need their help with baby sitting and/or picking your daughter up from daycare while you go to the fitness center.

Yes, Gumbeaux - my mother is rather critical of my weight, but since I'm in Houston and she's in Vero Beach, FL I'm a bit screwed there. I don't have any family here other than DD, so that route is out. Thanks for trying though!!!

I think I'm going to try a combination of things. I belong to the YMCA and may move my membership closer to where I work. I'm a rep, so often busy through lunch but at least 2 days a week I have 1 1/2 hours around lunchtime. I could workout for an hour, shower and go back to work in that time. Also, I'm going to try both the early morning and evening workouts and see what feels right for me.

Thanks to everyone for your insights...I'll figure out something eventually!!!

[badunnin]

Hi Terri!

It sort of depends on the individual, but you may well find that working out late doesn't negatively affect your sleep. I know people for whom it works, and others who remain wired for quite a while afterwards. You said you wanted to start your workout around 8 - what is your normal time to go to bed?

Personally, I work out at all hours of day and night depending on my schedule and don't find that it hurts my sleep (in fact, it helps me fall asleep quickly and sleep soundly). The latest I'll work out is around 9 PM (did that yesterday, in fact), and I was in bed and asleep by 11. For me the trick is to unwind and read or otherwise relax afterwards.

Good luck! :)
Natasha

I'll ditto this. I'm a night runner, and as long as I come home, stretch, and have a warm shower, I'm ready for bed in no time!

[tamawrite]

I'm another one who works out in the evenings, any time between 6:00 and 9:00 depending on what else I have to get done. I do either 50 minutes of aerobics (using a video) or half an hour of aerobics plus 20 minutes of strength traning.

I don't have trouble sleeping -- in fact, I find it feels really good to get into bed after I stretch and cool off, maybe take a warm bath if I'm not too sleepy already. :)

If I've worked out earlier in the evening, it's even nicer to change out of shorts and into comfy sweats, then buzz peacably around the house cooking dinner, cleaning, working on my novel, etc.

Why not try it for a few days? I'm sure it doesn't work well for everyone, but it might be a good bet for you.

[hollysmom]

Terri -

I wish we lived closer to you because I face the same problem with Scott out of town so much. Race to get out the door to drop Holly and Robin and beat the traffic to the Galleria, race out the door at work to beat the traffic back to Pecan Grove, feed said children and get them to bath and bed.

If we were closer than 25 miles, we could trade off.

Could her dad pick her up and feed her supper on some non-visitation days to give you some exercise evening time and then you meet somewhere to swap her? At least then she is with dad, not a babysitter.

SSM

[Valerie226]

We get up at 4:30 so DH can work out before going to work. He leaves around 7:30. I work out after him. I can't sleep at all if I work out late, even 4-5pm is late for me. I also have problems if I try to workout after eating dinner. Probably the only way to tell is to try it for a while & see if it causes sleep troubles.
We go to bed around 8 so we can get up early without a struggle. Maybe you could do 20 minutes before going to work in the morning & get another 20 or so in lunchtime walk. breaking it into smaller chunks may work for you if evening workouts disrupt your sleep.

[donleyk]

Terri-

Is the bambino stroller age? I was thinking about those 3 wheeled stroller so you could maybe walk quickly, even if it's around your high school's track. If she's older a helmet and bike seat or I've seen those extensions for bikes for the older kids. Just a thought! Good luck to you.

[Terri_A]

Terri -

I wish we lived closer to you because I face the same problem with Scott out of town so much. Race to get out the door to drop Holly and Robin and beat the traffic to the Galleria, race out the door at work to beat the traffic back to Pecan Grove, feed said children and get them to bath and bed.

If we were closer than 25 miles, we could trade off.

Could her dad pick her up and feed her supper on some non-visitation days to give you some exercise evening time and then you meet somewhere to swap her? At least then she is with dad, not a babysitter.

SSM

I wish you lived closer so we could trade off too!!! I'm 5-10 minutes from the Galleria but quite a way from Pecan Grove!!! As for the Dad idea...he lives in Pearland with the "new family" so I doubt he would go for it. Also, he travels a lot for work, so it would be hit or miss at best. I may ask though.

Terri-

Is the bambino stroller age? I was thinking about those 3 wheeled stroller so you could maybe walk quickly, even if it's around your high school's track. If she's older a helmet and bike seat or I've seen those extensions for bikes for the older kids. Just a thought! Good luck to you.

DD is 4 1/2 going on 34. She won't do the stroller thing anymore. I haven't looked into bike extensions simply because I rarely ride a bike. It's something to consider though.

DD does love to run ( although I'm a bit heavy for running at this point - too hard on my knees ), so we may try the running around the park a couple days a week. I ffigure if we're out there about an hour or so I should get a good 30-40 minutes of aerobic activity!!!

[badunnin]

Terri - would it be feasible to try something like Curves, which is only 30 minutes?

[PAMMELA]

Is working out at home out of the question? I ask because when I get home from work I'm in my PJs and done for the night, so I have to work out in the morning or I wont' do it, and I'm just not a gym person.

I do an aerobics workout tape for 20 minutes, then a series of leg lifts, then 200 crunches on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Usually a total of 45 minutes. This way I only get up "early" 3 times a week.

[badunnin]

Is working out at home out of the question? I ask because when I get home from work I'm in my PJs and done for the night, so I have to work out in the morning or I wont' do it, and I'm just not a gym person.

I do an aerobics workout tape for 20 minutes, then a series of leg lifts, then 200 crunches on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Usually a total of 45 minutes. This way I only get up "early" 3 times a week.

I believe in the original post she said that someone suggested working out at home after the weeone had gone to bed, so I'm assuming this is an option.

[Terri_A]

Terri - would it be feasible to try something like Curves, which is only 30 minutes?

Do they have childcare? If so, 30 minutes would be doable I think!

[sage]

Hi Terri---

Do you have any parks near you? I was able to shed some pounds walking. We had a small park right near my house and it had a walking trail. I think we started with a goal of 15 minute miles? We'd try to do 3 miles each evening. While not as an aggressive cardio activity as running---if you keep your pace up---you should be able to elevate your heartrate and its good for your legs. You can add hand weights too.

You mentioned your daughter liked to run but you weren't much of a runner; so it sounds like she could keep up with you if you were walking briskly and it would be something you could do together.

Not sure if it would already be dark by the time you got home---but if not and you had a suitable place to walk near you it might be worth a try (maybe a mile to start with?).

Good Luck. I've found that the biggest part of the battle is just getting myself up and moving---once I do that---momentum helps out a little. :)

[cindy47031]

Hello, Terri.

I used to belong to a YMCA that had an evening water aerobics class. We used part of the pool and the other part was open (so kids frequently played in there.) Y's almost always have good childcare too. Working out in the water helped me sleep. Sometimes I struggled to stay awake on the 20 mile drive home!

Good luck!

[Meganator]

We recently got a treadmill at home, and I have been doing my "treading" at night - sometimes stepping off then immediately showering and going to bed. I've been sleeping better than before, I think!