The only way I can get myself to work out in the evening is making it the first thing I do before I settle in on the couch. Some days I even put out my workout clothes on my bed so I see them when I come home (living in a studio apartment makes it difficult to hide from them!) so I can just change immediately and get back out the door.

Man, I needed this tonight! Only 4 hours of sleep and an all day meeting with a client 2 hours away… tonight’s workout was simply out of habit. I don’t skip brushing my teeth just because I’ve had a long day, why skip my workout?

That’s great advice! I’m going to bookmark this post and refer back to it OFTEN!

I SOOO can’t blame you for not wanting to leave that face, though! Adorable!!! 🙂

Thanks for this, Caitlin! I find evening workouts to be so hard but it truly is the best time for me to fit it in. Luckily having a toddler MAKES me get the evening walk in because keeping him couped up in the house is NOT an option. I used to be able to go 2-3 miles with no problems but now he starts getting restless around mile 1 or so and he wants out of the stroller. I will look forward to a post down the road about walking/running with an antsy toddler! 😉

That pic of Henry is too much! Good luck leaving that sweet face tomorrow. I’m sure you have your big girl panties set out and ready to put on but no matter what preparations you make, the first time away can be tough. I will send positive thoughts your way as you get through it. 🙂

Thanks again for your tips on this topic!

Also, never sit at the computer before said workout. That’s what I did tonight; how ironic that I’m reading this post. FAIL. (Good tips, though, I’ll use them next time. ;-))

I had actually told myself that if I work out later in the night, the gym wouldn’t be so busy and I could work out in peace. That went out the window tonight. It was busy and mostly men. Not particularly good looking men, but buff men who’d spent more time there than me. It was a little intimidating going to the weight room side of it, but once I started, I decided to focus on myself and get in and get out. Work out took me half an hour and they didn’t bother me or intimidate me as much as I thought they would. Intimidation is all mental (in case you didn’t notice, I’m a gym newbie).

Tv is my ultimate motivator! I often find myself waiting til 8pm to run so I can watch a favorite show on the treadmill…. Obviously it helps that I have a treadmill and work 6am -7pm bc even 5am workouts aren’t enough time to get ready… But by telling myself “you can only watch modern family at gym” I know I won’t skip out! Worst case if I am a bit tired I just walk for the duration of the episode and almost never reget going. Tv is key for me…. Though I have same logic with trashy magazines – I only let myself read Us Weekly while working out!

Great post…it is so so so hard for me to stay motivated for evening exercise. I next to never workout at night, because well I hate it! I will be starting a new job on Monday so it will be interesting to see how my workout schedule will pan out. I typically workout in the morning around 8am, but now I will have to be AT work by 8:30 and stay till 5. I’ve never been one who wakes up at 5 to go workout, but I might just have to. I DO NOT want my exercise/workouts to suffer because of of my new job. I especially find it hard to workout at in the winter at night because of the weather, the time change and the darkness….Hopefully I’ll be able to figure some sort of ritual that works for me and my new schedule!

I LOVE that picture of Henry – so adorable!

I really struggle with evening exercise, aside from a little yoga before bed. I often find if I don’t do it first thing in the morning, it’s so much easier to make excuses and be “too tired” to go. Plus I hate the crowds later in the day so I would MUCH rather go first thing…

I sign up for a class earlier in the day (e.g., 6 p.m. yoga) so that I feel committed. It is MUCH harder for me to motivate to go for a run or something on my own, although I had an easier time with this when my running route was on my way home from work. I think it also helps to change into my workout outfit in advance (I work from home so this is an option).

Baby time is a pretty awesome and legitimate reason to skip a workout!

That picture of Henry laughing slays me.

Thanks so much for these tips! I really need to get into an regular evening workout habit (mornings just do NOT work for me…it’s all I can do to get myself to work!).

Oh, and the need for more baby time prior to your trip is the best excuse ever! Good luck with that…I know that it will be HARD, but (as you know), your precious little man will be in good hands! Also, this pic of Henry laughing has got to be one of my all-time favorites…and that’s saying a lot!!! 🙂

Thanks so much for this post!!! I usually workout right in the morning, but today i just decided to sleep in and do my workout tonight. Between OT school, work and marathon training i am just beat! I woke up worried that I might weasel my way out of my 7 mile run tonight, but I definitely won’t be now. time to get pumped!!! 7 miles tonight yay! haha

Oh my goodness! Henry is just SO cute in that picture. I would opt for the baby cuddles too. 🙂 Good luck on your work trip. As someone who’s been there, just look at it as an opportunity to have solid “me time” even though your heart will be aching for the bebe (and maybe your boobies too!). 😉 It will go by quickly!

Girl I love this blog, but it kinda freaks me out how to have him on elevated surfaces. You just never know what a wiggle or move could do. 🙂

I very rarely do evening workouts – I’m not a fan of them at all! But that’s just all the more motivation for me to squeeze one into my day earlier on, even if it means waking up early!

I find that when I go straight from work, it’s fine. Once I go home, it’s over.

When I know I have an evening workout scheduled I pack my gym bag and put it in my car. I do not allow myself to go home after work; just straight to the gym! No one ever regrets a workout! 🙂

Definitely the couch tip! But I just find working out in the morning does the trick. You don’t have all day to talk yourself out of it or for legit things to come up.