Fitness fixes for the time-crunched

Q: My girlfriend and I both work until 7:30 or 8:00 at night. We want to work out more, but by the time we eat it's almost 9:00. Any suggestions as far as working out at nighttime?

A: It's often recommended that people avoid exercising at night, for fear that it will be too stimulating and will wreck a good night's sleep. But that's usually not the case, says Shawn Youngstedt, an assistant professor of exercise science at the University of South Carolina in Columbia.

"The evidence indicates that [evening exercise] does not disturb sleep for most people," says Youngstedt, who researches physical activity and sleep.

So go ahead and give it a try. Any initial sleep disturbances may resolve within a few weeks, he says. If you notice persistent problems, though, you may need to find another fitness schedule.

As for some evening workout suggestions, you could search for a gym that's open late or even all night. If you live in a safe, well-lit neighborhood, you might go for an after-dinner walk, jog (maybe on a local track) or tennis match. Or you could consider buying fitness videos or home gym equipment and exercising at home.

Working out with your girlfriend has its perks, notes Rothenberg.

The buddy system helps ensure that you both get physical (peer pressure), plus it's a good way for you to spend time together as a couple and reconnect at the end of a long day.

Smart Fitness appears every other Tuesday.

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