Wondering if there’s a best time of day to exercise? Maybe you’ve heard that you burn more calories if you wake up first thing in the morning and hit the pavement immediately. Well, nobody really knows the answer to that? So, what is the best time to exercise?
What Time of Day is Best to Exercise is Personal
The best time to exercise over the course of your busy day will generally be the time when it’s right for you. There are lots of factors to consider here. So let’s start with the basics.
Some people say that a morning workout is ideal
That may be true for some people, and they even wonder about the best time of day to exercise in the morning. But what if you really can’t swing exercise at that time of day? Suppose your work day begins at 7, and you normally wake up at 6a.m. and do your morning routine. But what if you try waking up at 5 a.m. to fit in a quick jog around the block before you hit the showers and dress for the day?
Sounds promising, but what if this just doesn’t work with your sleep rhythms or schedule? Then if you can’t do it, you can’t do it, so pick another, better time to exercise. Setting yourself up for instant failure is no way to experience success with your workout and weight loss goals.
How is Your Morning Energy?
Another problem that you may have with a morning workout could be that your energy levels just aren’t up to par at this early hour. Who wants to run in the morning when, after dragging yourself out of bed and almost putting your running shoes on the wrong feet? You will be half asleep, stumbling down the road in a daze and hating every mile.
Exercise at the wrong time, and you might find yourself slowing to a walk instead of burning calories with an energized run. You might find yourself shaving a good ten minutes off your cardio time because every step feels like you’re dragging a bag of bricks around with you.
Think About When You Would Love to Exercise
If morning cardio isn’t your thing, then don’t force it. Instead, think about what time of day you’re bound to feel that stress building up and want to go sprinting down the road? That’s the time when you should be exercising. It may be different for everyone, but as long as you’re not trying to do a marathon during prime sleep hours, you should be able to fit in your workout at a time when it feels right for you.
There are other things you can do to make sure you’re exercising at an optimum time. Choose the right type of exercise for the time of day and as a response to whatever activity you’ve been engaged in prior.
Choosing the Best Exercise for the Best Time of Day
Let’s think about the morning. Since a lot of people need some time to ease into their morning, a good option for exercise is to start with a healthy stretch. You might try a morning yoga session to help align the body for optimum oxygen flow, get the blood moving and stretch those muscles.
What about after lunch?
It’s said that one way to lower blood sugar directly following a meal is to take a brisk walk. This makes sense. If you’ve enjoyed a good lunch and maybe even eaten more than is ideal, you can use the time post-digestion to get your body moving – not too strenuously, just an invigorating walk. Again, this is ideal to get the blood moving and oxygenate your cells. You can burn some calories without going into a high intensity cardio experience. A walk will be just enough to get your body burning that energy while still giving your system some time to rest and digest.
How about an afternoon of cardio exercise?
The recommended amount of cardio exercise is a minimum of 30 minutes per day, at least 3 days per week. You don’t need to go to extremes with cardio, especially if you’re just starting out with weight loss and fitness goals. The afternoon, post coffee pick-me up, or early evening before the dinner prep rush, is probably ideal for anyone with a family to slip in some needed cardio exercise.
When should you stretch next?
You can stretch any time of day. Stretch if you’re feeling tense. Stretch after being on the computer. Stretch before and after doing running or other cardio. Stretch upon waking, and stretch again to relieve tension in the muscles and settle your body into a restful night’s sleep.
If you’re looking for the best time to exercise, early in the morning is usually recommended by experts. Exercise in the morning can keep you energized all day with plenty of time to relax in the evenings. However, if you’d like to build up your strength and muscle mass, late afternoon or evening is best.
What is The Best Time to Exercise
Despite popular opinion, the truth is that the best time to workout depends on the individual. If you are wondering when is the best time to exercise to lose weight-Science says for weight loss workout in the morning. If you want to build muscle mass, then you’ll want to exercise in the afternoon.
But, there has to be more to it than that!
The answer is really personal. Both morning and evening workouts have their pros and cons — which we get into in this post. So, there’s no best time for everyone. For example, night owls hate early morning workouts, while morning people love early morning sessions.
The ideal time to exercise depends on you. For example, if you tend to run faster in the morning, you may want to work out earlier in the day. If you prefer afternoons and evenings, you might want to run or go to the gym in the evenings.
If time constraints or your personal peak times make evenings better, then consider evening workouts. Gyms are generally quieter in the evening, and you’ll be able to get some intensive exercise in. Depending on the intensity of your workout, you might find that evening workouts are more beneficial than early morning ones. Who knows?
In addition, you might get more sleep if you work out in the evening. And exercising at night can make you wake up more quickly.
Benefits of Morning Workouts
The benefits of morning workouts are plentiful. They increase mental focus and attention, boost your mood and memory, and help you learn faster and make better decisions. The early hours of the day are also cooler, which helps you avoid distractions and improve your skin if you exercise outstide.
Several other benefits of morning exercise include a higher level of productivity and lower stress. Listed below are some other reasons why it’s beneficial to get your physical activity in the morning.
Boosting your energy levels
Evening workouts can stimulate your body and increase your body temperature, making it more difficult to sleep at night. A morning workout will promote a calmer mind, allowing you to get a good night’s sleep. It also stimulates your metabolism, giving you more energy throughout the day. Aside from these benefits, an early morning workout can help you avoid distractions and set yourself up for a productive day.
Boosting your mood
Research shows that exercising in the morning can boost your energy levels and improve your focus for up to three hours. This means you can work out for a longer period of time without worrying about falling behind in your work.Besides boosting your energy levels, early morning workouts can also protect your body from cognitive disorders. Researchers have also found that early morning exercise prevents the onset of depression and Alzheimer’s disease, and improves mental health.
Increased Focus For the Day
It is important to remember that the benefits of morning workouts can extend to your entire day. For one, exercising in the morning will help you stay alert and focused throughout the day. In addition to this, it may also decrease your blood pressure, and help you eat healthier. You might even find it easier to wake up in the morning than at any other time of the day. So why not start your exercise in the morning?
Burn More Calories
Among the many benefits of morning workouts above, one of the most obvious is the fact that it will help you lose weight. Some people believe mornings are the best time to exercise to lose belly fat because Morning exercises trigger a higher metabolism and burn more fat. Consequently, your weight loss will be faster. The heightened calorie burn in the a.m. will increase metabolism and energy throughout the day.
But then, what about the group that believes the best time to workout for weight loss in evening hours. You should know that the only real answer to what is the best time to exercise is going to be between you and your own body.
Drawbacks of Morning Workouts
Morning workouts have their advantages and disadvantages. Of course, people who have trouble getting up early are likely to have problems with sticking to exercising in the morning. Another drawback is people who don’t get enough sleep. If that’s you, you might not put in your best effort in the morning.
The second disadvantage of morning workouts is that they can make you feel lethargic or hungry. In addition, they can cause your body to have trouble regulating its own sleep cycle. Hence, a lot of people prefer afternoon or evening workouts.
Benefits of Afternoon and Evening Workouts
Many people find afternoon and evening workouts workout best for their lifestyle. After a days work they find evening sessions are more relaxing and laid back. Workouts in gyms are usually more intense than laid back. In the evening, you have more time to meet new friends and work out together.
Evenings May Be More Relaxed
Not only will you have more time to exercise, but you will also be able to socialize with your exercise buddies. Whether you need a spotter or a workout buddy, you can talk about the issues that are bothering you during the workout with your fellow gym members.
Better Sleep
Another benefit of an evening workout is that you might fell more energized and less tired when you wake in the morning. You won’t have to worry about a lack of energy the next day. Since your body is still fresh and you are still able to process the day’s events, you can focus on your routine. During your evening workout, you won’t feel the need to eat a lot after your exercise.
More Testosterone at Night
The benefits of an evening workout are numerous. If you are more of a night person, you’re more alert during the evening hours, which means you’ll have a higher testosterone level during the afternoon. Studies have shown that testosterone is higher at this time of day, which is crucial for muscle building.
During your workout, you’ll also feel better, which can help you perform better the next day. It will also reduce your blood pressure. You won’t be as tired as you would be in the morning, which is a great sign.
There are many other benefits of an evening workout. Most of these are physiological, including better sleep and improved athletic performance.
Afternoon and evening workouts are a great way to add physical fitness to your daily routine.
Drawbacks of Afternoon and Evening Workouts
Some people argue that Evening workouts are not as effective as workouts done in the morning or during the day. The primary reason for this is that you been busy all day, and may be prone to skip your evening exercise.
While evening workouts are a great choice for people who don’t have the time to work out during the day, some drawbacks can make them a bad idea. Although evening workouts are better for the body, some individuals find them too boring and stressful. In some cases, people don’t feel as motivated to do a workout in the evening.
workout? This is because evening exercises raise core temperatures, which can affect sleep cycles. These effects can result in an influx of adrenaline, which can negatively affect health. The lack of family time can also make it more difficult to workout in the evening.
Why Exercise is Importan Any Time of the Day
Everyone knows that physical activity is good for your health, and exercise is essential for keeping your body fit. While regular movement is important for maintaining physical health, many people wonder “why exercise is important.” Some people are too comfortable with their weight and don’t want to get more active, or they may simply ignore fitness advice altogether. However, it has been proven that exercise improves mood and helps decrease feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression.
Children and teens who exercise regularly improve their memory and processing speed. This also helps them perform better in school because they’re more focused and pay more attention to their work. Having more energy means that they’re better prepared for academic work. Kids who move more tend to have higher grades than their less-active peers. But there’s another benefit to exercising: it improves mental health. Studies have shown that physical activity helps people sleep better.
It’s important to remember that exercise can take place at any time of day. Even if you’re up for a workout in the evening, or think the morning is the best time, exercise is critical for the best health and life. You’ll be more likely to get more done if you start your day with a workout. The CDC recommends that adults engage in at least two hours of moderate aerobic activity each week, and have nothing to say about what is the best time to exercise.