Hi friends! I hope everyone is doing well and keeping up with their healthy habits. I'm currently studying for my Certified Personal Trainer exam, and this got me thinking about the best time to train for your body.
Personally, I like to workout first thing in the morning because I can get it out of the way before my day starts. Morning exercise also doesn't conflict with meetings, work, class, and other responsibilities throughout my day. However, in college I used to workout in the evenings because of my class schedule; it worked well and became a routine.
Morning workouts are great to help you time manage. Getting a workout in before time pressures begin can be just what you need to commit to your exercise routine. However, body temperature may be lower at this time of day, so it is important to warm-up properly before beginning your workout. Early workouts can also help boost your metabolism and keep your calorie burn high throughout the day.
Evening workouts can be better if you have to wake up early for work, and only have time later on in the day to break a sweat. Try not to exercise immediately following a meal, and give yourself at least 90 minutes to digest after a very heavy meal before going to the gym. Some research suggests that in the evening, you can workout harder because strength peaks at this time. Harder, better, faster, stronger ;)
Working out at the same time each day seems to play a role in optimizing workout performance. A review of research on this subject found that training adaptations are greater at the routine time of day that the athlete regularly performs. If you workout regularly, and are looking to step up your workout performance, working out at the same time daily may be just what you need.
Moral of the story: there are pros and cons to the time of day you workout. Pick what works for you and what you can stick to as a routine. Try to workout at the same time each day, and commit to exercising.
I write my workout plan in my planner at the beginning of each week; try scheduling your workouts into your day so that it is something you can manage and commit to.
When do you like to workout? Will you consider trying to workout at the same time each day? Tweet me @stefhealthtips
Xoxo,
Stefani
Sources:
Chtourou H, Souissi N. The effect of training at a specific time of day: A review. J Strength Cond Res. 2012; 26(7): 1984-2005. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e31825770a7
Dulan, Mitzi. 6 Benefits To Being A Morning Exerciser. US News and World Report: Health. September 13, 2013. http://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/2013/09/23/6-benefits-to-being-a-morning-exerciser. Accessed March 16, 2015.
Hill, D. Morning–evening differences in response to exhaustive severe-intensity exercise. Appl Physiol Nutr Me. 2014; 39: 248-254.
Skarnulis, Leanna. What's the best time to exercise. Web MD. May 22, 2007. http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/whats-the-best-time-to-exercise. Accessed March 16, 2015.