On Monday I got back into my routine of running in the morning with a 7 mile run. I exercise in the morning pretty darn close to 100% of the time. Going to the pool or getting on the exercise bike in the afternoons, although a good break from running for my body, got me out of my exercise groove a little bit. I like the feeling of getting most of my daily steps in first thing in the morning.
Working out in the morning works well for me for two reasons. The first is that it keeps the exercise time routine for me. I start basically everyday off with a run. Just like I go to work, or to class at a set time, running also has a predetermined time slot in my day. This helps me make sure that there is time for exercise. The second reason that running in the morning is beneficial to me is that it forces me to exercise with low energy levels. As a distance runner, my goal is to be able to run as fast as possible with as little fuel in me. Over the course of a race my body will continually use up my stored energy (glycogen for you physiology nuts out there). By running in the morning before I've had any food, I am able to simulate this low energy state and teach my body to run through it.
Working out in the morning doesn't work for everyone though, especially without eating anything first. In fact, some studies show that you can have a better workout with more health benefits if you consume some calories before working out in the morning. This food provides your body with extra energy allowing you to workout at a higher intensity, which is better for your heart and respiratory health. Some people find that their bodies are tight and tired in the morning. For these people it's best to exercise later in the day. Normal daily activity can help loosen and warm up your muscles, preparing you for a better workout.
What time of day do you exercise regularly or tally up most of your daily steps? Leave me a comment with your response and you'll be entered in a drawing for a gift certificate to the AU Farmers' Market tomorrow!
6/7/2010 | Daily Step Total = 14655
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I tend to get most my exercise in the middle of the day when I take my oldest girl bike-riding while pushin my youngest in her stroller. Plus, our pool time helps!--Adam Tamashasky
ReplyDeleteI get most of my workouts in after the 5pm work bell rings. Depending on if it was a good day at work, I'll take the long way walking home from the metro. If it was a rough day, you can find me on the erg rowing all the badness away!
ReplyDeleteI get most of my exercise in the evening, as the sun starts to go down. That is a great time for a few brisk laps, walking that is, around the nature lake right behind our house.
ReplyDeleteMost of my exercise comes through ultimate frisbee, which is generally an early evening activity (though tricky to convert the steps for the pedometer challenge!), but I also hit the gym mid-day some days - it's a nice break in the work routine. :) --Rachel Borchardt
ReplyDeleteI get most of my walking in while roaming campus, visiting different sites where we are planning and implementing our sustainability initiatives. For example, yesterday I walked around the roofs of MGC and Ward Circle bldg scouting them out for green roofs. Then I get the rest of my walking in when I do errands and go out to restaurants where I live in Columbia Heights. It feels especially good to get in some walking after a good meal.
ReplyDeleteLunch time is when I get my exercise in...it fits in my day better than any other time. And it's a nice w to break up the day.
ReplyDelete--John Charles, Career Center
I like to get most of my steps in before work, too. Partially, I enjoy the routine of it, but really if I exercise first thing in the morning I can go into work having already accomplished something that day, which takes some of the stress out of the workday. I also love waking up and knowing that I don't need to engage my brain right away. I use my workout time to reflect on whatever happens to be hanging around in my head from the day before and plan out my day ahead. Especially because the kinds of exercise I'm most drawn to are repetitive long-course kinds of activities (swimming and biking, specifically), it's easy to let my mind wander without too many drastic consequences. Obviously, when training for a race or something, that time is taken up with other thoughts (monitoring pace and distance, strategizing and motivating, using brain power to boost tired muscles, etc.), but for the most part I enjoy the disconnect of mind and body - both are busy, but doing their own things.
ReplyDeleteFor me the trend has been to get most of my steps after work. If I have nothing planned I end up at the gym. But usually after I get back from the gym or some other workout i do after work, my friends will tell me there is a pickup game of frisbee or soccer or that they just want to toss. Naturally I get drawn in so by the time I get back home its around 9pm.
ReplyDeleteAs others who have written here, I like to get in lots of steps in the morning. The problem is that vigorous exercise at that time makes me feel ill. So I spread things out throughout the day: walk, yoga, pilates in the morning, then something more vigorous midday.
ReplyDelete-Angela
Mornings don't work for me so I am all about after work. I find it a great way to relieve the stress of the day and kind of wake myself up for the rest of the night, giving me plenty of energy to make a healthy dinner. I always record my steps and reset my pedometer right before bed so I have the new number goal in mind for the next day.
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely an after work exerciser. Though I try to walk to AU rather than take the shuttle I get my big steps in during the evening hours. Dragging myself out of bed any earlier than necessary is a real challenge, but stopping at the gym on my way home seems just part of the routine.
ReplyDeleteSince my office is at 3201 New Mexico and my job is one that requires mostly sitting, my peak stepping/exercising hours are definitely in the afternoon and evening. I can spend 7 am - 5 pm with only 2,000 steps. Funny to think I am the most active from 5 pm - 11 pm!
ReplyDelete