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Switching from early morning to late evening for lifting?

Posted on 11/20/25 at 6:14 am
Posted by StringedInstruments
Member since Oct 2013
20329 posts
Posted on 11/20/25 at 6:14 am
Anyone ever make this switch successfully?

I’ve woken up to exercise at around 5am for most of my adult life. I’ve never even considered lifting in the evening because I’m usually tapped out both physically and mentally at that time.

But our schedule with the kids has made it impossible to go to bed early. My son is turning 13 soon, so the nights are only going to get later.

I’m going to try lifting and running around 8/830 and then shooting for falling asleep at 11. My biggest worry is that my hip tightness, back discomfort, and leg pain from the work day is going to prevent me from doing it. Not to mention the mental fatigue of the day, but I can push through that easily.
This post was edited on 11/20/25 at 6:15 am
Posted by LemmyLives
Texas
Member since Mar 2019
12909 posts
Posted on 11/20/25 at 7:22 am to
Go visit your gym at time you intend to go. You're not prepared for how fricked up it's going to be. Broccoli heads on their phones on your equipment, etc.

Start using your seat heaters on the way to and from the gym. Even if you're benching, your legs and lower back getting some heat helps.
Posted by Adam4848
LA
Member since Apr 2006
19636 posts
Posted on 11/20/25 at 7:43 am to
Can you try going at lunch? Everyone tries to workout after work. Its terrible.
Posted by LemmyLives
Texas
Member since Mar 2019
12909 posts
Posted on 11/20/25 at 8:05 am to
This is going to be an unpopular opinion, but your kid turning 13 by no means dictates that your nights are only going to get longer. You, as adults, dictate what activities he's allowed to do, and when. My ex-wife loves to do dumb shite like sign up for a league that practices until 9PM that is a 40 minute drive away, but that was a choice she made.

Your kid, especially a boy, needs sleep about as much as he needs air. If you "permit" repeated late night shenanigans during the school year, you're hobbling both his mental and physical growth.

4AM wakeups were pretty easy for me, you can try that.
Posted by GeorgeTheGreek
Sparta, Greece
Member since Mar 2008
68469 posts
Posted on 11/20/25 at 8:34 am to
Everyone has a different natural rhythm and I believe that’s what you should listen to. I’m a night owl so working out for me is much easier than early mornings. Some people naturally wake up early and so the mornings typically work better for them. Do what comes natural instead of trying to force it.
Posted by SETH6180
TEXAS
Member since Feb 2020
736 posts
Posted on 11/20/25 at 8:39 am to
I lift immediately after work. Usually from around 4:45-6:30. It's not bad, just have to find the right gym that doesn't have that many phone watchers. I'd have to get up around 3:00 AM to get a workout in, go back home and shower before leaving for work.
This post was edited on 11/20/25 at 8:40 am
Posted by CheesyF
Member since May 2017
496 posts
Posted on 11/20/25 at 8:49 am to
For almost two years I worked out religiously at lunch. Bunch of life changes recently (move/job/kid) and I'm just now working out after 4ish months off. I'm going in at 8/830p after kids go to bed. It's pretty nice, not crowded at all.

I might be a little sluggish, but not too bad. Would like to take preworkout before but the stuff I like is heavy the caffeine and I don't want to stay up all night. Haven't tried finding another yet.
Posted by pwejr88
Red Stick
Member since Apr 2007
37496 posts
Posted on 11/20/25 at 9:02 am to
I had to switch to mornings two years ago and still miss after work workouts.
Take some pre or down an energy drink and you can lift your arse off
Posted by hogfly
Fayetteville, AR
Member since May 2014
5061 posts
Posted on 11/20/25 at 9:07 am to
I don't know about the evenings, but I find that I can lift quite a bit heavier weight in the afternoons after work than I can in the mornings. I'm sure I COULD lift that heavy in the mornings, but I usually feel tight and non-energized when I hit the gym 20 minutes after waking up (and yes, I have caffeine before going). Now... I always feel GREAT after leaving the gym in the mornings, but my body just feels more awake and ready to lift heavy shite after work than it does immediately after waking up.

I'll also echo what the other person said, though: why are your kids staying up that late? Or do you just need that much time once they go to bed to wind down? My oldest is a senior in high school, now, and my wife and I maintained our early morning workout routine throughout our parenting time with both kids. That being said, his main sport (mountain biking) happens in daylight for the most part, so we weren't at team sport practices late at night.
Posted by StringedInstruments
Member since Oct 2013
20329 posts
Posted on 11/20/25 at 9:45 am to
quote:

why are your kids staying up that late? Or do you just need that much time once they go to bed to wind down?


I need the time to wind down.

My son is usually in bed around 8:30/9:00, but sometimes it's a bit later on practice or game nights. I take care of a few things around the house afterwards and don't get into relax mode until 9:30ish. Takes at least an hour to get into sleep mode, and I often don't fall asleep until 11.

Waking up at 4:30/5:00am to exercise just isn't sustainable.

We'll have to change our evening routine a bit, but I can move some things to the morning like the house stuff. My son is mostly independent for putting himself to bed, but my wife can help with that.

I should mention that I do have a full gym in my garage, so travel times aren't an issue. I just can't fall asleep early enough to get up before dawn and exercise anymore.
Posted by pwejr88
Red Stick
Member since Apr 2007
37496 posts
Posted on 11/20/25 at 9:53 am to
I’m constantly going to sleep 10:30-11 and wake up at 5 to workout at 6.

It’s plenty of rest.
Yes you’d like 7-8 hours of sleep but 6 is ok
Posted by Odysseus32
Member since Dec 2009
9621 posts
Posted on 11/20/25 at 10:22 am to
If you have the room, just bite the bullet and build a small home gym.

You can build it all for a couple grand, one piece at a time. Start with a bench and adjustable DBs. Add a power rack. Then an olympic set. Then machines.

Gyms that are good rarely have enough equipment. That means after a full day of work you're going to have to be social for another hour, asking people if you can work in, dealing with shithead teenagers, etc.

You'll save money in like 3 years. $50 a pop for 3 years is $1800. Add in gas, vehicle maintenance, time spent away from family, the home gym makes sense for anyone that has the space.

EDIT
quote:

I should mention that I do have a full gym in my garage, so travel times aren't an issue. I just can't fall asleep early enough to get up before dawn and exercise anymore.


Just saw this, disregard everything.
This post was edited on 11/20/25 at 10:24 am
Posted by MWP
Kingwood, TX via Monroe, LA
Member since Jul 2013
10953 posts
Posted on 11/20/25 at 10:24 am to
quote:

Waking up at 4:30/5:00am to exercise just isn't sustainable.



I am now in the same situation but not because of sleep. Work now has me commuting in the AM to miss traffic where before I was remote and could be in the gym at 0500 and back at the house at 0700 for work. I have been a super early morning lifter since my son was born and damn he is 27 now so it has been a while. I now go in the afternoons when I get home from work. I try to miss the after school crowd but it is short window to get in because I really try to get back home to get at least 7 hours of sleep. Honestly I like it much better training in the PM. You will find that you are probably stronger in the afternoons even if you pre-workout in the mornings and are amped up on caffeine. I actually have gone up on my lifts since starting afternoons which is somewhat surprising since I am almost 54. The only drawback is my BJJ has suffered greatly. I used to roll in the afternoons and now I may only get to do that a few times a week now.
Posted by hogfly
Fayetteville, AR
Member since May 2014
5061 posts
Posted on 11/20/25 at 10:57 am to
Makes sense. My wife is similar in taking that much time to unwind. I'm blessed in that I can say goodnight to my kids and be in bed and asleep in about 10 minutes.
Posted by TIGERSby10
Central Lafourche
Member since Nov 2005
7658 posts
Posted on 11/20/25 at 12:39 pm to
I am 53 with a 4 year old (yes I started late). I have worked out most of my life and have always preferred the late evenings over the early mornings. Don't let the "I'm tired at the end of a work day" bother you. You may be a little sluggish when you start your workout, but once you start, the juices get flowing.

My only problem is if I don't finish a workout until 9:30 or 10 pm, it may take me another hour to get to sleep, but I much rather get 7 hours of sleep after a workout, than 7 hours of sleep to wake up at 5 am to get a workout in.
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