Hi Moms,
I want to begin a light exercise routine. I have a never used brand new treadmill and a Netflix account that I want to put to good use.
My question is that during the week, I can't exercise until about 8:30 at night. I have heard that you should exercise earlier or it may keep you awake. Any thoughts on this? I'm just not a morning person so getting up earlier is not an option that will work for me long term.
Thanks!
Thanks, everyone!! Well, I guess you all killed my last ditch attempt at not exercising. I"m going to give it a try.
I agree with Sue W, anytime you can exercise is the right time. Sex is exercise and many of us do that before bed...just sayin. So there are no excuses. ;)
I suggest some great protein right after the exercise (I will PM you a link to my fav) and then a warm shower.
B.
while I do think exercise can give you energy, for others it relaxes.. if you are an evening person, then do like many... exercise in the evening..
for me. I have to do it in the morning..
I have often exercised just before bed and never struggled with not sleeping. True it energizes you. But if you then go to bed, you still get sleepy. Its not like caffeine. In any case, It won't keep you up all night. Just do it. Evening exercise can be a good thing. I've been doing it lately myself if the morning just does not work out.
Like already mentioned, everyone is different. A friend of mine can get up at 5 am and work out for an hour with no problem. I have to be up at least an hour or I get nauseous and have trouble breathing unless it is a light walk, As long as I am done by 9 pm, I have no problems getting to sleep. The best time to workout is the time you will do it. Try it for a few weeks and see if it is right for you.
After night time exercise let your heart rate calm down a bit and get down on the floor and you could do some nice whole body stretches, then a little bit of deep breathing and relaxation and you should have no problem getting to sleep.
When I exercise too early in the day I am starving later on and eat twice as much, so it kind of defeats the purpose.
Think about it this way ----- It's better to exercise in the evening than not to exercise at all.-------
I like to take a walk late at night durning the warm weather. I like the quiet. And it does help me sleep maybe because it also helps me relax.
Go with the time that works for you. If you have sleep trouble, look into taking a small amt. of melatonin the nights you exercise.
With exercise, it all comes down to finding something you don't mind doing and making it a part of your schedule so you stick with it. If 8:30 is the time that works, run with it (no pun intended).
You'll never know if it affects you unless you try :)
For me, it depends on what kind of exercise. If I do treadmill or yoga at night, I fall right to sleep. When I go to zumba at night or do a hardcore workout, I tend to be a bit more wired and it takes longer to fall asleep. But it isn't crazy bad, certainly not enough to make me not exercise at night when that is what my schedule allows.
After your exercise, take a relaxing warm shower and you will likely have no problems drifting off. What time do you normally go to bed? Unless you are planning to run on your treadmill from 8:30 until 9:00 and go to bed at 9:15, you're probably ok. ;)
8:30- 9:00 on the treadmill. 9:00- 9:10 some stretches on the floor. 9:10-9:15 a big glass of water. 9:20-9:40 relaxing warm/hot shower.
10:00 or anytime after... bed. Sweet dreams.
I have a hard time winding down after doing exercise at night, it keeps me from falling asleep and I end being more tired the next morning. I made the switch to running in the morning, I wasn't ever a morning person but after about 3 weeks my body adjusted just fine. I feel better throughout the day and by nighttime can fall asleep with ease.
The best time to exercise is the time you have! I often run or go to a workout class later at night. Sometimes I do it on purpose so that I can stay up and get work done. If I want to sleep, I take a warm shower, then cool off, then go to bed. It's been shown by studies that that type of body temp change helps us sleep.
I exercise at night on a stationary cycle with netflix too. It doesn't seem to be impeding my sleep.
Best,
F. B.
I usually exercise at night... Only chance I get.
It's never affected my sleep. :)
Everyone is different. I can drink a cup of coffee and go to sleep, although many people cannot do this.
Try it and if you find that it is not working, rearrange your schedule. After your work out, try a warm bath as opposed to a shower.
