What’s the Best Time of the Day to Work out?

Are you an early bird? Are you a night owl? Does it really matter if you enjoy morning workouts or evening workouts better? The time of the day that individuals choose to workout often gets a lot of attention. How much does the time of the day you work out really impact your workout out? While there really is no right or wrong answer to this question, let’s take a look at some of the best times of the day that you might want to consider working out.

Workout when you know you actually will work out. This may seem quite obvious, but in a world where there are so many other activities to participate in, workout often seems to get put on the backburner. As a result, obesity continues to be a problem across America. Whether you are just beginning your fitness journey or have been working out for years, pick a time that works for you. Working out regardless of what time of the day it is beats not working out at all. Unless you are injured or sick, workout! Schedule your workouts for times you know you will complete them. This may even mean scheduling your workouts in your planner or setting an alarm on your phone for when it is time to work out.
Exercise at a time of the day when you feel great. Sometimes your psychological edge may be exactly what you need to get in a great workout. If you are an early bird, schedule your run first thing in the morning before you head to work. If you are a night owl, consider taking a late evening class at your local gym. If you know you won’t leave the house after getting home from work, stop at your local park on your way home or your gym. This way you can get your workout in before you decide to stay home all night.
Exercise when your glycogen stores are full. If your muscles are full of glycogen, you can exercise longer and harder that you can when your body is running on empty. Glycogen is recharged through the consumption of carbohydrates. Glycogen stores always fluctuate throughout the day. As a result, it is best work out after consuming a meal containing carbohydrates. Depending on your eating habits, this may mean it’s best to work out in the morning, afternoon or evening.
Try exercising on an empty stomach, first thing in the morning. If you exercise before you sit down for breakfast, your body is forced to utilize stored fat as energy. This will mean that you are burning fat.
Leave night time exercise as a last resort. Sure, night exercise is great if that is the only option you have. However if you can avoid night exercising, you should give it a try. Working out directly before bedtime can affect your sleeping habits. Many people have a difficult time getting sleep after a workout. This is because exercise can affect your melatonin levels — melatonin is the hormone that regulates your sleep. This is not ideal because sleep is very important when it comes to recovering from a good workout session. If you can’t sleep, it is going to be much more difficult for your body to recover.

While there is not a right and a wrong time of the day to work out, the time of the day you choose to workout depends largely on your schedule and personal preferences. What time of the day do you work out?


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