This has been a subject that has been
researched and debated extensively amongst exercise physiologists. There are
pro and cons regardless of the time of day that you choose to exercise but the
most important fact is that you choose to exercise.
The
Early Risers
While it generally requires a little bit of
extra commitment and preparation, that is, waking up early and not slamming the
“snooze” button or having your gym bag ready to go the night before; there have
been many studies that have showed significant benefits of working up a sweat
first thing in the morning. This has been especially so regarding those looking
for fat loss as during the night your body has consumed all the available carbohydrates
or sugars and hence has to resort to burning fat to fuel the early morning
workouts. It is important to note for those looking to gain muscle that working
out on an empty stomach is not recommended as you ultimately compromise
performance leading to lighter lifts.
Furthermore, it has been shown that those
who exercise first up are more likely to maintain exercise routines in the long
term as they don’t let unexpected turns in the day compromise their routine. By
exercising in the morning you also prevent yourself from using the “I’m too
tired” excuse at the end of the day.
Importantly, exercise raises mood,
alertness and energy levels and by doing so in the morning you will ultimately
have a more productive day.
The
Night Owls
Exercise in the evening also fair share of
benefits. For those looking to build muscle, by exercising in the evening you
are ensuring that (if you diet appropriately) that your body is optimally fueled
for maximal performance and hence better gains.
Evening exercise can also help limit binge
eating at dinner time – a cardinal sin as excess calories at this time of day
tends to be stored as fat rather than burnt off due to the close temporal
proximity to sleep.
There may also be stress relief benefits by
exercising after a long day. This may result in improved sleep but this has
been of much debate as some studies have shown that the increased body
temperature and hormone levels may in fact interfere rather than aid sleep.
So,
the best time is…
Whatever works for you! There are arguments
for each side but overall all that matters is that you get at least 30 minutes
of exercise – the rest is very secondary.
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