Have you ever found yourself wondering WHEN you should workout ? Is it better to work out in the morning or night? You certainly wouldn’t be alone because many people either “feel” better at a certain time of day but is there an optimal time to train for better results? As many studies have been conducted to try and figure out the optimal time for working out, when you’re practicing proper fitness, finding the right time to work out is crucial. Now it’s time to figure out what time is the best for you!
So if you are like me, I am a morning workout person! I function better, it’s now habit and my day doesn’t feel right if I have to wait to workout. Many people find morning workouts to be their preferred choice for a variety of reasons the most common reasons is that when you exercise in the morning, you get your workout out of the way. Science also backs up morning workouts in some regards, as morning exercise tends to increase your energy for the rest of the day. In fact, a morning workout is a lot like breakfast in that it gets your metabolism going. Simply put, you burn more calories all day long just from the sheer fact of exercising in the morning.One more reason to go with morning is that it’s been shown that people who work out in the morning are overall more likely to be consistent with their workouts.
Morning workouts certainly have their benefits. But plenty of people like to exercise at night as well, and surely science backs that up to some degree too. The real factor to consider is that consistency is key, no matter when you choose to work out. But studies have shown that different fitness goals are better achieved at certain parts of the day, and this is where working out later in the day comes into play.
So what if you like an afternoon workout ? Believe this fact, strength and endurance are both higher in the afternoon, while the likelihood of injuries is decreased. Exercising when body temperature is lowest, which is typically later in the day, around 4 or 5 p.m., results in improved performance and increased power. At this time of day, muscles are more flexible since your body is more warmed up than it is in the morning. Your reaction time is likely to be quicker, while heart rate and blood pressure are low. Protein synthesis peaks at this time of day, as well. Based on this, intense workouts such as weight training or hard cardio should take place during the late afternoon or evening.
It turns out that the question “Is it better to work out in the morning or night?” doesn’t exactly have an easy answer. You can workout in the morning or the night but it’s ultimately up to YOU and how you feel! The important thing to remember is that as long as you work out consistently and stay nutritionally focused you’ll achieve your fitness goals in no time.