When is the best time to exercise?

We often get asked, when is the best time to exercise? Which time of day is going to give you the most bang for your buck to maximise results?

We all know somebody who is up at the crack of dawn for their morning walk whereas, if you’re anything like me, you're likely to leave your exercise session until the afternoon as sometimes it’s just a little bit too hard to drag yourself out of bed!

But what time of the day is superior? Well, the good news is both times have pros! 

Let's start with mornings. The obvious benefit here is getting your body moving before you have a chance to get too busy with work and everything else the day brings. There is evidence to suggest that morning exercise is better for weight loss as you are exercising on an empty stomach and required to draw energy from your fat stores! There is also evidence to suggest that morning exercise can actually decrease appetite throughout the day helping with cravings. Interestingly, people who exercise in the morning find it easier to stick to healthier eating habits in their days. Another benefit of a morning sweat is increased productivity during the day as well as lowering stress levels!

Now, what about afternoons? You are more likely to have more energy to work out in the afternoon as you’ve consumed more fuel (breakfast and lunch) compared to working out on an empty stomach which may mean you can exercise at a high intensity! Additionally, as you’ve already been moving during the day, your body is already primed for exercise with strength, flexibility and endurance levels peaking in the afternoon. Similarly to how your body is hormonally geared to burning fat in a morning workout, your body is geared towards building muscle both in size and strength so if weights in your game, afternoons might be your best bet. Exercising at the end of day is also a great way to blow off some steam, lower stress levels and prime you ready for a good sleep.

Ultimately, the best exercise is the one that gets done and it comes down to personal preference. Consistent exercise is the key to seeing results and helping you reach your goals, no matter the time of day! 

If you need help reaching your health and fitness goals, or simply getting active again, give us a call on 8682 6665 to get yourself on the right track!!

Reference

https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2017-27629-001