When’s the Best Time to Exercise?

Some people wake up at the break of dawn for a morning jog while others prefer exercising after working hours. But when you come right down to it, when’s the best time to exercise? Does the body burn off more calories at specific times of the day? To determine when’s the best time to exercise, you need to understand how your body works:

Fitness and Your Body Clock

Your body clock – scientifically known as circadian rhythm – will inevitably determine if you are an early bird or a night owl. Your body clock is regulated by the 24-hour pattern of the earth’s rotation. Your own blood pressure, heart rate, and hormone levels also dictate the circadian rhythm. All these things will affect your body’s readiness to work out. Assessing the best time for you to exercise entails observing your body clock.

The Pros and Cons of a Morning Exercise

Morning exercises are perfect for very busy individuals whose schedules are not consistent. Research shows that those who exercise in the morning perform better at work later in the day. That’s because exercising releases endorphins in the brain, stabilizing mood and improving brain function in the process.

It also helps that exercising releases stress. When you’re not stressed out in the morning, you perform better later in the day. Consistent exercising in the morning will leave the body energized and fit.

As for the drawbacks, not everyone can fit a morning exercise into their daily schedule. It takes a certain level of commitment to stick to a fitness regimen as it is. More so if the routine demands waking up at 6 in the morning. Also, it’s extremely hard to stay motivated to exercise when you’re not really a morning person.

The Pros and Cons of a Mid-Day Exercise

The body is at its peak during the afternoon so finding the energy to exercise during the afternoon will not be a problem for most people. Exercising in the afternoon is perfect for people who have a lot of time in their hands. When the body is working at its peak, it’s more responsive to stimuli. That means you will enjoy accelerated speed in fat burning and muscle growth.

The drawback of working out during midday is not everyone has free time to exercise. Most people are at work all day and when schedule’s tight, there’s very little room for exercising. And even if you have time to exercise, you’ll have to cut down your workout time to fit all the activities you have to do in a day.

The Pros and Cons of a Night Exercise

Exercising at night is best for busybodies who have no time to exercise during the morning and midday. You can spend more time working out because you are no longer pressed for time.

However, it’s hard to stay motivated to exercise in the evening because your energy level is winding down. This could lead to more missed workouts. Also, exercising at night increases the risk of insomnia or disturbed sleep. When you exercise, the body is flooded with adrenaline and endorphins. These hormones will make it extremely hard to get a good night’s sleep.

When’s the Best Time to Work Out

Studies show that the body burns off more calories at certain times of the day. However, the time you work out is influenced by how you feel about exercising.

Moreover, health experts say that the time to exercise is not as important as sticking to the routine itself. A fitness routine is only effective if it becomes a habit. Regardless if you work out during the morning, midday or nighttime, your efforts will be useless if you don’t keep it up.