Ok, just a little background: I am 26 years old. I started weight watchers 7 months ago, and have lost 65lbs since. I am very good about my eating. Even though i slip up every once in a while. I have been walking and jogging, doing sit ups and arms curls, and have even went so far as to dance around in my basement for cardio.

I work a weird shift. 430pm-1230am monday through friday, waking up around noon, and going to bed around 430am. I am really a night person, so this works out good for me. When i first started, i was doing my excersize during the day before work. But, as i said, i am a total night person, and after about 6 months, the "morning routine" just wasnt working for me anymore. I have a stressful job, and really like to take my mornings to relax and do stuff around the house. So for about 2 months, i have been really slacking on my excersize. Cutting it down to 2 or 3 times a week.

I want to join a 24 hour gym, becuase i feel that working out at night, after work, would really be better for me.

My question is this:

Is there a signifigant difference between working out in the mornings or the evenings? Factoring in my work shift? I realize that working out everyday at night is better then hardly working out in the mornings at all, but, i was looking for a specific answer to whether, with my eating, i would lose some of the benefit of working out all together, if i were working out at night.

Right now, my days look like this:

Noon, wake up
1230-1pm breakfest
1:30-2/230pm, working out ( i HATE IT!!, but i do it anyway)
3-4 get ready for work
430 start work
530 small snack, coffee
630 veggies
8pm lunch, usually a lean cuisine frozen dinner
930 fruit snack, coffee
1230am get off work
1am dinner/stuff around the house, relax
4am, bed

This is what i am thinking:

Noon, wake up
1230-1pm breakfest
1:30-2/230pm, relax, stuff around the house
3-4 get ready for work
430 start work
530 small snack, coffee
630 veggies
8pm dinner at work, usually a lean cuisine frozen dinner, maybe add a bit of food to make it "dinner"
930 fruit snack, coffee
1230am get off work
1am-330am: work out
4am, light meal
430am bed

Basically, how would my body react, (sleep wise, calorie burning wise, food wise) by switching my workout to late night. My roomie says i wont burn as many calories, and it will affect my sleep. Is this true?

Your body performs best between 1600-1800pm. The night should be used for cardio, mornings should be used for light exercise.

You burn calories at any time of the day though! Its not best to exercise directly before bed, as it can distrupt your sleep.

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The best time to workout is the time that fits your schedule best. The time that you will stick to most consistently. And most importantly, the time period will you will most feel like training.

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thanks for the info!

I think if i spend an hour after workingout, relaxing (sauna/tv/reading) i shoudl be ok for my sleep.


Steve, thats what i keep telling myself....anytime that i can do it, is better then not doing it at all.


thanks again.