working out late at night and eating

[Nalalee]

I am new to all of this, I just got the Charge HR two weeks ago. It was my reward for losing 30 pounds, yay me!

Due to my schedule I find it easier to workout late at night. I usually go running well after dinner from 8:30-9:30pm-ish, quick shower and in bed by 10:30.

My question is should I be eating for recover after my run just before going to sleep? I never have before but my runs are getting far more intense with time and I am considering starting some weight lifting.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thank you.

[GershonSurge]

I've read many places that sleeping after intense exercise is good for recovery. I'm on the opposite end of the clock. I prefer to exercise in the morning. I tried eating and not eating before, and found not eating works slightly better.

I suggest trying it both ways and see what happens. 

[Mukluk4]

Listen to your body.  Stick with what you are doing until your body tells you different.

[shipo]

@Nalalee, speaking strictly for myself, my body *loves* to go for a long run, shower, hydrate, and then hit the sack.  When I do that I can practically eat an entire cow when I finally wake up.  😛

[A_Lurker]

Welcome @Nalalee

I'll fit in extra steps at night, but back to weights recently and find that starting at 9pm is a little late for me.  There's not much gas left in the tank at that point, however, it's when I get to it.  I'm going to try and get a bit more organized for next week and try after work, before I'm doing my chores so to speak.

I've always been an evening eater.  I know it's going to happen so my solution is to plan for it.  After a weight lifting session I will make a protein shake.  It's usually a more balanced one, but at the moment it's just powder and water, and some nuts.  As I usually have calories left there is also something with carbs in it.  More organized I'll make a shake with fruit, and still have the nuts on the side. 

When I used to work out late afternoon, I just followed with dinner shortly afterwards.  Oh, and it needn't be a protein shake, but I personally find that easier to digest.  If you've had a decent meal a couple of hours before working out (with a decent protein) you may not need to eat anything at all.  Your body will still be processing that meal.

As others have already said, try it both ways and see what works for you.

[dragonpupps]

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@Nalalee wrote:

I am new to all of this, I just got the Charge HR two weeks ago. It was my reward for losing 30 pounds, yay me!

Due to my schedule I find it easier to workout late at night. I usually go running well after dinner from 8:30-9:30pm-ish, quick shower and in bed by 10:30.

My question is should I be eating for recover after my run just before going to sleep? I never have before but my runs are getting far more intense with time and I am considering starting some weight lifting.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thank you.

---

Well first off. congrats on losing 30 pounds! That's a great accomplishment!

Secondly I think that statistically it's proven that weight lifting is most effective during the afternoon, but that's a bit hard to do for some people based on work schedule. Personally I do all strength training right when I wake up, which include pushups and crunches, etc. That way I can wake up with some mild exercise. As for cardio, I think that it would be best to eat after you run. It burns calories more efficiently and is better for you since you might not want to eat as much after exercise. From my past experiences I don't like to eat heavy after intense exercise.

Overall, I'd recommend trying to fit the weight lifting into the afternoon, but if that's not possible, you can use it as a wakeup routine. Then try out running before dinner, then eat after you finish, shower and go to bed after. It might even feel better for you. I hope this helps!

[A_Lurker]

@dragonpupps - early morning weight lifting is only good if you're alert in the morning.  I'm not. 

I do agree though, during one summer when I wasn't working it seemed that my best workouts were around 3pm.  Unfortunately, that just doesn't happen (although this weekend I am going to try my Sunday workout at that time).

[dragonpupps]

@A_Lurker, good points made. Early morning workouts are a bit hard, but I got used to it. I don't do heavy lifting per se, I just do bodyweight exercises. Helps me to train my body to carry my own weight easier, and I find it slightly more practical, since I want to get into parkour.

On a side note, good luck and have fun working out on Sunday! Definitely good to try your best and to try working out whenever possible. It's better than nothing!

[A_Lurker]

@dragonpupps - because of a migraine yesterday I did Thursday's workout tonight.  Much better at 5pm than 9pm, although I still could have gone heavier on two of the movements.  I've been using a logging website, because I'm a numbers person.  On my three workouts this week I lifted 12,232 lbs.  LOL - and that doesn't include some of the bodyweight stuff.  I do need to put my 'some assembly required' squat rack together this weekend.  I won't need it until Tuesday, but it's in just under 150 pieces in a box.

I can see doing bodyweight stuff in the morning.  For me I need to be more alert that I'm likely going to be using the barbell and the dumbbells.  I have a set of adjustable powerblock dumbells and sometimes even when alert I've whacked myself with them (not hard, just glancing) as they are ... well, big blocks. 

[dragonpupps]

Wow that's impressive! That's a lot of weight to lift. How did you figure out that you did so much? Or at least how is it calculated? But great job and I hope you continue doing it!

[DanielleinDC]

I'm trying to get into the habit of doing this 15-minute walking video every morning (since I won't always have timeto work out in the evening if the boyfriend and I are going to a game). I like to think it gives me a boost for the entire day. I like to do lifting videos--mostly dumbbells or bodyweight exercises--in the afternoon when I get home from work, then go for a walk on the treadmill or walk in the park. I also will sometimes do a bit of bodyweight or lifting while watching TV--multitasking!

I don't like to run. I'm super awkward and don't feel comfortable doing it. So I go for a walk instead and try to carry my one-pound walking weights.

Congrats on losing 30 pounds!

[A_Lurker]

@dragonpupps - it works out reps with the amount of weight.  Actually, I consider myself fairly weak at the moment compared to where I was.  Of the items I did with weight tonight:

Barbell Back Squats - 1275 lbs  (15 x 40, 15 x 45)

Bent-over Row - 1950 lbs (15 x 65, 15 x 65)

Dumbbell Step-up - 600 lbs (15 x 20, 15 x 20)

So, it added up to 3825 lbs in total.  It doesn't take a lot, but as I'm a numbers person I'm more interested to see where I go.  I also did some a warm-up with some fast walking, bodyweight exercises and the above included incline push-ups, and swiss ball jackknife (which I hate with a passion).

[dragonpupps]

@DanielleinDC, everyone has their own niche for exercise, so good for you that you found yours! Running is a very niche exercise; either you like it or you don't. But maybe you could try to be more confident, and you may even be able to go for runs, putting in more steps and distance, as well as higher caloric output, if that's what you're looking for. Good luck!

[dragonpupps]

@A_Lurker Ah okay that makes sense. Well good for you! I'm glad you have a motivation to weight lift and stay active!

[DanielleinDC]

@dragonpupps Everyone has their own niche, and mine is walking. It's a lot easier on the joints (and boobs) than running.

[A_Lurker]

@dragonpupps - I think that's why it's important to find something you enjoy.  I know I need to add steps and/or cardio to keep up my overall calories burn, but I've always enjoyed lifting weights.  If you approach the exercise portion of a lifestyle change with dread every day it's unlikely you'll keep it up.

[dragonpupps]

Well I can't relate there, seeing as I'm a guy. But you know, whatever floats your boat, or is your cup of tea so to speak 🙂

[Gemziemalone]

Have you thought of maybe having a protein shake after your workout?

[Gemziemalone]

I find if I work out right after food it gives me a bad stomach so I do it as soon as I come in then have my food

[AndyDandyPandy]

Lately I've been doing my last set of workout right around 7pm, and my dinner can be as late as 8-9pm. If you're like me you've heard of the rule that don't eat past 6 or 8pm. To me that's bull, I eat whenever I want and I'm still losing weight but I still have to watch what I eat and how much.