Ask HN: When do you exercise?

The truth is health is in large part determined by your diet, as for fitness- you don't need to spend hours in the gym. Intensity is more important than time spent- a program like the one mentioned at simplefit.org combined with a paleo like diet (google it) will get you fit and healthy in a minimum amount of time (about 30 minutes per workout, 3 days a week).

When do you work out? Like yourself, I have had phases where I worked out in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Each has their pros and cons, depending on your other activities.

I get to the gym most often when the rest of my life is "structured". You seem to be looking for the same qualities. Here is what worked for me.

1. Set a specific goal, with an end date. If you have a goal, then you are more likely to work hard to accomplish it. Working out without a goal means it's easier to quit, as you're not working to accomplish anything. Your goal should be specific. Just don't say "I want to be in better shape." Specific goals could be losing a certain amount of weight, completing a set of workout routines (such as P90X), or lifting more weight after a set amount of time.

Also, make sure you time bound the goal.

2. Don't let your job get in the way. My best time to workout has always been the early morning. However, like yourself, I'm also very productive in the morning, so I switched my workout to after work during the winter. To make this work, I have to force myself to leave work by a certain time. Getting home too late leaves me tired and gives me an excuse to not workout.

3. Think about the other 23 hours. I've read that while the 1 hour you workout is tough, you feel better the other 23. This is true.

The morning works out best for me. I consider myself a "night person," but that can easily be changed. Have you read this: http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/05/how-to-become-an-ea... ?

Also, the fitness subreddit is a great place to talk about this stuff too: http://www.reddit.com/r/fitness