What's The Best Time of Day To Workout?

Basically, training at any time of day is better than not training at all, that’s for sure. But is there actually a perfect time of day for you to work out? Could it be better to workout early morning, midday, or evening? There is research to support the benefits of training at either time of day, so which one is best?

 

Mornings


In general, most people have fewer commitments first thing in the morning. In other words, there are fewer excuses not to exercise.

 

If you're looking to lose weight, working out first thing will help set you up for success because early workout sessions can help regulate your metabolism and your body will continue to burn calories long after you stop exercising.

 

Pros of morning training:

 

  • Finishing your workout in the morning leaves you feeling good and energized for the rest of the day.
  • Most gyms are practically empty this time of day, so you won’t have to wait to use the equipment.
  • Easier to stick to your workout routine
  • Studies have shown that your testosterone level is at its highest in the morning. This can be really helpful, especially for strength training.

 

Cons of morning training:

 

  • After waking up, your joints and muscles are still tight and stiff. A good warm-up is necessary to get your body ready to exercise.
  • Generally, people tend to lack energy in the morning. It’ll take a little while to get your metabolism and cardiovascular system revved up.
  • If you want to train before work, you should go to bed earlier the night before to ensure that you get enough sleep.

Evening


Although your body is refueled in the morning, it may be better prepared for a workout later in the day. Your body is generally more wake because of the daily activities you have been completing, and you have probably eaten a few meals.


Pros of evening training:

 

  • Your muscle temperature reaches its peak, thus enhancing your performance.
  • You can work out harder because you have enough time afterward to recover.
  • It’s a great way to relieve work stress, so you can enjoy a relaxing evening.

 

Cons of evening training:

 

  • People often lack motivation after a strenuous day at work.
  • Intense workouts shortly before bed can make it hard to fall asleep. Your autonomic nervous system needs time to return to normal. That’s why you should finish your workout at least one or two hours before going to bed.

There are quite a number of different studies that suggest that training in the late afternoon or early evening is the best time for most people. The reason for this has to do with muscle temperature, which reaches its peak around this time. Warmer muscles increase the metabolic processes and energy metabolism of the muscles. Incidentally, you can achieve a similar effect by warming up before your workout.

 

The bottom line is that you can work out at any time, so long as it works for you! If you can’t make an early morning session work for your schedule, that’s okay! Any time of day you can train is great, and if you can do it consistently, that’s when you’ll see the best results.