What is the best time to work out?
Is there a best time to work out for better results?
If you’re reading this article, I believe it’s something you’re at least interested in finding out about even if you probably haven’t wondered about it before now.
There are a few factors to consider in order to correctly answer this question. This article is going to elucidate on the advantages of working out at different times of the day and the factors to be considered in order to make the best decision on what time is best for you to work out. Let’s jump straight in.
Morning
Working out in the morning may be slightly better than at any other time of the day if you’re trying to lose fat or build lean muscle.The assumption here is that you don’t eat before your morning workouts. Working out in the morning before eating (Working out in a fasted state) is ideal for these purposes because during these times, the body feeds on the stored body fat in order to fuel the workout. Also, hours after workouts, the body still keeps burning fat on its own as a results of the workout.
Another reason to favor morning workouts is that you’re less likely to get distracted in the morning with work, phone calls, text messages etc. and it is also easier to commit to your workout because things may come up during the day which could make it harder or impossible to work out during the rest of the day. Furthermore, working out in the morning also makes you more energetic throughout the day. It sets the tone for a very productive day.
However, not everyone trying to burn fat or build lean muscles can manage to work out in the morning due to their busy morning schedule and it is not criminal, nor is it counterproductive to workout at any other time of the day. Also, some people feel lethargic in the morning and for people of this kind, I would recommend working out at any other time of the day when they feel energetic enough.
It is advisable to work out whenever you’re feeling energetic enough to do so because more important than the time you actually work out is the amount of gainful training you’re able to do whenever you choose to.
Afternoon
Working out in the afternoon can help beat the end-of-the-day weariness that comes from the stress of the day’s work or activities. However, except during weekends, not many people can afford to work out during this time of the day.
Evening
Evening/night time has also been found to have its own perks. In the evening, from around 4pm to 8pm has been found to be the time when people have the most energy to work out. It was also noted that fatigue was lowest around 8pm. This is due to the body’s natural circadian rhythms.
Also, it’s easier to find motivation from having more people also working out in the evening unlike in the morning.
However, working out in the evening has its disadvantages too. For example, working out in the evening or at night may make it a bit more difficult to sleep at night.
What time is best?
Honestly, there’s a case for every time of the day as the best time to work out. However, if you’re trying to lose fat and build only lean muscle and also don’t need external motivation to work out, and of course if it fits well into your schedule, then the morning time slightly edges the other times of the day.
However, it may not be suitable for someone who has to get up very early to beat the morning traffic in the city. It would be better for such a person to find a more suitable time to work out; be it afternoon or evening depending on which works.
If I’m being practical, the best time to work out is actually whenever you can fit it into your schedule. It is also whenever you feel energetic enough to put in the work required of your fitness goals. Even though some of the things done in the fitness world is backed by science to some extent, the fact still remains that you need to listen to your own body, consider your own peculiar situation and determine what works for you.