Dear Shredheads - Does time of day matter?

After finding the Shredheads blog I decided to try the 30 day shred. I had my second child in May and I'm currently breastfeeding, but I'm on day 8 and so far my scale has not moved, no loss, no gain, although I do feel like I'm toning. Do you think that doing your exercise in the morning makes a big difference? -Nadia

Okay, so I was still EBF (exclusively breastfeeding) Margot when I started the 30 Day Shred back in March. I think it's definitely harder to lose weight while breastfeeding for a few reasons. Yes, your body does tend to hold onto things and there's certainly a shift that happens around 6 months; milk production changes and I think you might see some difference once that happens (not nursing as much, etc.).

Also, you're hungry (Hey you're feeding a baby!) - so you tend to eat more. I'm not sure how your diet is, but you need an extra 500 calories or so (1000 if you're EBF I think - don't hold me to that), but not much more. However, if you're not keeping track, it can get to be more than that amount. And if you're trying to lose weight, that's not going to help matters.

I feel pretty strongly that it's actually better to do this type of workout before you eat. It definitely helped me a lot as it kick started my metabolism. When you work out at 5pm, you're having to work off all the calories you already ate during the day. In the morning, you haven't eaten anything yet.

And aside from giving your metabolism a kick start at the beginning of the day, I tend to think that when you work out in the am, you're more conscious of what you're eating. At least, that's how it works in my case.

Bob Greene (who did Body for Life and was also Oprah's trainer) also says the same thing - in fact, he says that if you work out before you eat you don't need to work out as long as you do later in the day. I think you'll see a big difference if you try that, specifically with the 30 Day Shred since it's such a short workout.

If you're doing longer, extended workouts or decide to start running, I'd definitely try to eat something before you work out. A 100-200 calorie "snack" is recommended before exercise.

What do you think about the time of day of your workouts. Do is matter when you do it? Got a question for the Shredheads? Email us at: theshredheads[at]gmail[dot]com

Comments

[Elizabeth]

I also had a baby in May and am EBF. I have to work out in the morning, before everyone gets up, or it just doesn't get done. Once the kids are up, there's always a mess, or laundry or dishes to be done at naptime - and that's IF I can get both of them down at the same time for a moment of peace. And even then, if I get my moment of peace, I mostly just want to spend it sitting down and relaxing for a bit - not working out. I find that if I can just get myself up that hour before everyone else and exercise, then I don't have to worry about it for the rest of the day. But because I am SO hungry all the time and wake up starving, I usually eat an apple right before I start. And an added bonus is that I get a burst of energy in the morning after working out, so I can save my one cup of coffee a day for late morning and it helps me get through the rest of the day!

[Mendie]

I also love doing 30DS in the mornings, it gets done and gives me a feeling of accomplishment first thing in the morning. Eating breakfast about an hour after I'm done, but guzzling water until then.

When I run, I tend to like it more if I do it before I eat too since I don't have anything slushing around in my belly.

[Hellcat13]

I'm quite the opposite. I find I don't have the energy in the mornings to tackle something like the Shred - I need to wait until I have a good base of food in me, otherwise I'm light-headed and dizzy. I'm doing myself no favours if I pass out, y'know? My advice is simply to listen to your body and go with what feels right.

[Lou]

I workout in the morning because that's when I have time. I work outside the home full time and there's no way I could get in a workout before or after dinner. So my alarm goes off at 5:30 AM. It kind of sucks but then so do fat pants!

[Motherhood Uncensored]

Yes, we don't want people to pass out!

But if you're not losing weight and you're doing the Shred in the evenings, I definitely suggest changing it up.

[Cooley]

I just started Level 2 on Saturday, which I did about an hour after breakfast in the middle of the morning. It felt like there was a rock in my stomach! I'd had a big glass of water, too, and I just felt ick and in bad form as I did the workout. Last night, I did Level 2 again after work, but instead of having my after-work snack (which is often the downfall of my diet, as the hours between 5:00 and 7:00 are when I'm likely to bored-snack), I just changed clothes and dove right into it. It was great! I think it definitely makes a difference on your personal schedule and when you feel up to it. Motivated as I am, I have a hard time pulling myself out of a warm bed to work out in the early AM, but I find it's a good way to kickstart my evening after 9 to 5ing it behind a desk all day. Do what's comfortable and don't pass out! :)

[Cookie]

Working out in the mornings has definately made a big difference. Not only do I feel like I'm able to lose more weight, I also feel like I'm more motivated, since I'm not tired from a full day of work, and there is nothing to get in the way of my work out.

[Rosa]

I didn't lose a pound until I stopped the one and only feeding. My body just puts me on starvation mode and holds onto every bit of fat. Now that I have completely weaned my almost 1-year-old, I've lost 9 pounds. I feel so much better. I have a friend who lost weight doing weight watchers while EBF her daughter. She didn't even exercise. She was meticulous in her eating. I think that an eating program that takes into account nursing, such as WW, would help you out.

Toning is a great thing. You want everything to get back in place and strengthen your stomach and back for carrying a growing child.

Now to the question at hand, I workout at 5 a.m. 5-7 times a week. I like to get it over and done with; especially with 3 kids. I work outside of the home now, so I can't fathom an ideal time other than before everyone awakens for the day. I don't eat breakfast or anything before exercising. I do drink a cup of water--which may not work for everyone. I run 3-4 days on the treadmill and do 3 days of Shred. It has been working wonders for me. I have more energy throughout the day. When everyone goes to bed, about 7:00 p.m., I have some "me" time to watch my favorite shows, knit, read. I don't have to worry about it.

Good luck

[Naomi]

I'm definitely less likely to fink out if I exercise first thing in the morning.

[Erin]

I had my second baby at the end of April and since August I've been doing the Shred and WW - I think the combo has really helped me. WW takes into consideration if you're nursing (I got a crazy amount of points to start off with but have almost 10 less now that I've lost weight) so while I still feel hungry it's keeping me in line with making better choices - and knowing that I get the extra points for working out is good motivation, too!

I usually do my workouts after the kids are in bed - which is around 7:30 or 8:00 most nights. I have a pretty crappy commute and my kids are not very good sleepers so unless I'm getting up at 4:00 in the morning (uh, no thanks) and working out it's just not going to happen until later in the day. If I had a choice I would definitely work out in the AM - that's what I did before kids - I can find sooo many excuses to not work out after dinner but if you get up in the AM and put on your workout clothes then there's really no stopping, you know?

[Laurie]

I have to work out in the morning. Sometimes I'm dragging, I've tried to discipline myself that this is part of my day. I feel better starting my day off knowing that I've exercised. I have more energy. By the end of the day, I'm drained and too many other things demanding my attention. My kids are teenagers, so I don't have those issues, but I work from home which is always hanging over me to get done. I do the Shred or my run on an empty stomach.

[Shapely Secrets]

If you're finding it hard to start your day with a workout like that,there are much quicker methods that will still provide results, why not set up an alternating routine where you do morning exercises every other day, which are less strenuous...and then evening exercises on the off days which are slightly more intense.