exercise

The Workout Clock – What time is Best For Your Daily Workouts?

There are many theories about the best time of the day to exercise, various pros and cons for each option. You need to pick the cons you can live with and work with, to make the process easier. We can look at the dualities for each time.

morning exercise

Morning

The exercise golden hour, as it is mostly perceived, has a whole host of pros going for it.

  • It is a great time of the day to instill discipline and continue the routine. The distractions are fairly less.
  • The body burns more fat on an empty stomach and keeps going for the next few hours as the exercise helps increase metabolism.
  • You have already completed the toughest task of the day and that energy boost can carry you through the day.
  • It helps the mind work better and focus on the work at hand.
  • It helps minimize the exposure to pollution if you are exercising outside.

There are a few cons of working out during this time of the day as well.

  • If you are not a morning person, then trying to work out in the morning can be a tough task. Failure to do so might lead to slackening and giving up.
  • At this time of the day, if you haven’t snacked before working out, the body can burn muscle along with the fat as well. So, making time for a snack before the exercise is essential.
  • It may lead to injuries. So, keep a check if you are working on cold and stiff muscles.

afternoon exercise

Afternoon

Now you would think, there would be no pros for this time of the day, but there are many.

  • It is a great way to boost energy levels and fight mid-afternoon sluggishness.
  • Our body temperature is ideal for an intense workout and our muscles are warm enough by this time of the day.
  • It may motivate you to eat healthy at lunch and regulate meals during dinner.
  • Research has shown that the perceived exertion is much lesser at this time of the day. So, you won’t feel as tired after an intense session at the gym.
  • It is a great utilization of time, exercising in the lunch break, and thus freeing up the morning and the evening time.

Before you get too excited about this prospect there are a few cons to consider as well.

  • It may be difficult to get substantial amount of time every day as work commitments and deadline may play spoilsport.
  • Studies show that lung function is low at this time of the day.
  • The time limits may not allow you to have a complete work out.
  • Figuring out whether to exercise before or after your mid-day meal might take some experimenting, depending on what suits your body.

exercise evening

Evening

Mostly the preferred time by many, an evening work out can be a great way to wind down and boost energy as well.

  • It is a great time to relax and enjoy the work out without worrying about time constraints and schedules.
  • A late evening session can help you de-stress after a long day of work.
  • Exerting the body in the evening also helps sleep better at night.
  • Our muscles are warm and supple, making the work out more effective.
  • The body temperature and hormones are at a peak at around 6pm.

And the other side to this coin is

  • Social commitments might come in the way of a routine at this time of the day.
  • Exercising too late at night, might cause difficulty in falling asleep due to higher energy levels.
  • Night time will not allow the body to experience the after burn effect as our metabolism becomes slow when we sleep.
  • It may expose you to more pollution if you exercise outside.

As you can see, each time of the day has its own pros and cons. You need to experiment a bit and see what works best for you according to your schedule and body. There is no room for excuses, pick a time and stick to it. Exercising is the one sure shot way to make each day better. See you on the fitter side.

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