When To Exercise?!

[jaded 11]

I have not been sleeved yet, but I want to get into a routine that I can stick with before and after surgery. My problem is I just can't get into a groove. My question is, when is a better time to exercise, when I wake up or shortly after, or before bed? I don't want to be tired before work, but I'm afraid if I workout before bed I won't be able to wind down. Any advice or personal experience would be very welcome!

[happy1957 138]

I think in general it's different for everyone. I would find an hour in your life that can be consistent. I personally can NOT exercise at night or after work. I actually get revived from my day when exercising and therefore can NOT sleep if I exercise late. I enjoy it first thing in the morning. I get up at 4:30 and work my way out the door by 5. Although in recent days I am in the pitch black outside and soon will be doing my workout inside. Morning exercise actually makes me have more energy all day.

The most important thing is to find something you enjoy and a time that is consistently available to you. Starting now is good too since it will not only help you get accustomed to exercise, but may help you lose some weight pre-surgically.

Remember, don't go into it full speed ahead. Start walking maybe 10-15 minutes the first day and then add 5 minutes a day until you reach your goal. Also keep in mind that it takes 3 weeks to make a habit and 3 days to break a habit, so set your goal to do this every day for 21 days before taking a day off. Good luck to you!

[nyxa 159]

people that are pretty serious about fitness usually wake up & start working out ASAP.. they usually exercise even before drinking their morning coffee, before they eat anything.. etc.. because then your body burns body fat.. there's nothing in your stomach & so your body can just burn the calories off of your excess fat stores.

typical workout would be like 15-30 minutes doing some kind of cardio.. like a treadmill, exercise bike, swimming, some kind of exercise video (like walk away the pounds, belly dancing, yoga booty ballet, turbo jam, etc).. followed by 45-60 minutes weight training (or rather "resistance" training.. so weights, exercise bands, cans of green Beans, milk jugs, body weight, whatever you have to work out with that adds some kind of resistance)..

then if you want to, you can do some more cardio after you eat your last meal of the day..

my trainer had me working out with weights 4 days a week (different parts of the body those 4 days), and had me doing 1 hour of cardio (minimum) a day 7 days a week.

for routines, you could check out a book called body for life.. there's a newer one by bill philips called "Transformation: The Mindset You Need. The Body You Want. The Life You Deserve"

if you're a female, here's a workout for women who typically want a jessica simpson/jaime pressly kinda look: http://www.t-nation....e.do?id=1305014

[Sleevorama 56]

I picked a gym that is on my way home from work, and I change into my gym clothes before I leave work. This helped me get into the frame of mind that this was routine. It took a week to get used to, but now much like other people I feel weird if I miss my gym time.

[jaded 11]

Thank you guys for the input! It helps to know people are there to listen and help out. :-)

[jason 12]

I wake up at 415 make coffee and get to the gym at 5. Then I do 30 mins of cardio. Then lift weights. It gives you energy for the whole day

[danyelleb 386]

I'm a morning person too! Get up at 4. Eat a small bowl of specialk Protein Cereal. Run from 5-630. Drink a Protein Shake and then take a wonderful shower and get ready for work. It works for me! I do this on Tuesday's and Thursday's. I also run on Sat for about two hours.

[Butterthebean 8,146]

I'm a morning person too! Get up at 4. Eat a small bowl of specialk Protein cereal. Run from 5-630. Drink a Protein shake and then take a wonderful shower and get ready for work. It works for me! I do this on Tuesday's and Thursday's. I also run on Sat for about two hours.

How far do you run? I just started running and I'm running about 2 miles in 35 minutes.

I love working out before dawn but I work shift work so my schedule is constantly changing.

[jason 12]

I run 2 or 3 miles a day depending on how I feel. I get really sore now so as long as I do cardio first I'm good

[danyelleb 386]

How far do you run? I just started running and I'm running about 2 miles in 35 minutes.

I love working out before dawn but I work shift work so my schedule is constantly changing.

I run at least seven miles on tuesdays and thursdays. Im up to a little over nine on Sats! Yay 2 miles, I remember when u posted about starting c25k. That's awesome!

Aack, shift work. That can be hard on the body if ur shifts r rotating. Heck, being on grave constantly can stink too.

Before dawn workouts r the best! I like that it's out of the way for the rest of the day. I know that if I didn't do it in the am it would be way easy to put off in the afternoon.

[jason 12]

I'm lifting in the morning now and running in the afternoon