Working out late night/early hours of the morning

[Jimster]

Hey guys, just a quick Q for some of the experienced out there.... Basically, I have an extremely demanding job that sees me working from 7:30 am until close to 6:30 at night (Sometimes as late as 8) and my lunch break isn't really sufficient for fitting in a work out session as I have other things to take care of much of the time.

As a result of all this, I find myself working out at home (Have a small-arsenal of gym equipment) at about 11PM - 12:30 AMish (Just before I go to sleep), as it's the only time I can really make for it. Is this worse than doing it in the middle of the day like most do, or am I just paranoid?

[95cord]

I think you are just parinoid i get off of work at 5pm everyday and i wait untill about 10pm to workout every other night so i can take a shower then go to sleep.

[-Jayson-]

actually ive heard that working out at night time is the best time to workout. Just because your body build ups alot of excess energy during the day from all the food you eat and drink. Then once your done working out your muscles get the best rest they can. Sleep. And most of your muslce is built while you sleep.

[Oz]

Jim, try doing a weights session first thing in the morning and a cardio session just before bed. Should help minimise the recovery time and get the lactic acid out of your muscles just before sleep to minimise cramps.

[Ridenour]

I thought I personally noticed better results if I worked out first thing in the morning - due to my high metabolism, I would very easily digest my food / supplements, and would keep feeding my muscles lots of protein throughout the day - and drinking tons of water / milk, and after sleep that night, the next day would feel great and like I had grown.

[Implode]

Ridenour I recently have been thinking the exact same thing. My workouts usually happen at night, 7ish or 8.

[lamehonda]

I would do the cardio in the morning to help you wake up and then do the lifting at night (but not too late). You may not be sleeping as well as you think you are because you are not going to be relaxed and have a low heart rate if you go to bed too soon after strenuous exercise. Do you ever experience insomnia?

[Porsche]

I typically workout at night, but I prefer early. I never seem to get around to going to the gym until aobut 7 and as late as 9 (today I finished at 10) but I find that at night it is a little better.

For me, a university student, our tiny weight room can get awfully packed during the day, and so night is idela for me when there's fewer people. I enjoy working out with less people, and have been by myself in a gym a number of times before, it's awesome. The gym back home was 24 hours, and it's pretty sweet when it's you and your buddy at 1:30 am working out, we also broke into a gym to workout a few weeks ago, at night.

As for morning workouts, I wish I could but I'm simply not in gear in the morning, I'm still usually tired, but hopefully this summer I'll try the morning thing. Arnold once said he's had his best workouts at 5:00am, so giv'er.

[lamehonda]

You broke into a gym so you could workout?

[lickem]

I have heard that working out in the morning is more effective, as in the energy you burn in the morning is carried throughout the entire day, and you will typically see more gains.

[Porsche]

Originally Posted by lamehonda

You broke into a gym so you could workout?

More/less, part of the building was open, but the gym wasn't, so we just went in and did our thing for 2 hours, in almost total darkness (only some lights from a hallway) and we just had our shorts and shoes on, it was pretty hardcore.

[jacks336]

ok personaly I work out in the morning. Well im military so we dont have a choice but i find that working out in the morning then eating gives me more energy for the rest of the day and it wont effect your night sleap in any way.

Also sometimes when you get off work there is no way you can find the energy to work out.

[grease monkey girl]

I think someone already said it, but doing a heavy workout at night can keep you from hitting REM because your body can not relax. working out in the morning can give your metabolism a boost plus give you an evergy boost for the day. I also find that a morning workout will keep you in a "healthy" frame of mind for the rest of the day, makes me want to turn down the cheeseburger for lunch, you know? lol

[speeddemonGtV6]

i usually work out midday, but late night workouts arent bad for u as long as u arent pushing yourself to do it

[Andy88]

I'm not a morning person :/ I always work out at night.