Now that the weather’s not as runner-friendly (i.e. rain and wind — I know, I’ve become a disgrace to Washington runners), I try to get to the gym at least five days a week, sometimes six, to offset all the Christmas indulging. My only problem? Actually getting there. Lately, I’m wrestling with which is the lesser of two evils: 1. Being rudely awakened from a wonderful slumber in my warm comfy bed for a 5 am workout, or 2. Going directly when I get home from work. You know, when I most want to sit on the couch and veg with Shrek and a glass of wine.

I used to be a firm believer in morning workouts. It jump-started my day and I thought I was someone who needed to workout first thing or it wouldn’t happen. (Hello self-profilling prophecy!) Plus, it freed up evenings for fun stuff. However, it should be noted that consistent 5 a.m. workouts put me on Eastern Standard Time and, thus, put a damper on my social life. Recently, I’ve discovered that for the most part, working out in the evening means more sleep and more play. (Although, I’m faced with a bit of a dilemma if anyone wants to “play” during the time I workout.) Also? Less snack attacks. A.m. workouts may jump start my day but it also jump-starts my metabolism which relentlessly roars FEED ME BITCH! upon waking. For awhile I was spending more on food than I was on rent which is ridiculous, I know. Now, when I workout in the evenings my appetite isn’t as crazy. I eat less throughout the day (although my mom still swears that I should be 400 pounds based on the amount she witnessed me eat during her visit) along with a light dinner, usually a snack before and after the gym, which benefits my health and my pocketbook.

Albeit my motivation’s lacking this time of year, the good thing is that I am going and making it worth the time and effort. I’m up to running my intervals (walk 1 minute, run 1 minute, etc. for 20 minutes) on a 7.5% incline and am consistently getting my speed up to 9.7 mph. My goal is to run 10 mph for a full minute on that incline before I up it again. Although this is the absolute most loathed part of my workout, when it’s all said and done I’m totally appreciative of my body’s strength and endurance. After that, it’s smooth sailing so I try to do it first thing to get it out of the way. Immediately following, I hop on the elliptical for 10 minutes, sometimes 20 if there’s a new episode of Real Housewives or Millionaire Matchmaker on Bravo, and set the resistance to 14. Finally, I plant myself on the upright stationary bike and do 30 second sprints for 10 minutes at a resistance of 7. To round out my workout, I complete several sets of lunges, bent-over rows, rear/leg lifts, over head presses, and pushups.

When do you like to workout? Mornings? Evenings? Do you squeeze it in on your lunch break?