When is the best time to workout?
October 6, 2007 12:00 pm Exercise, Your Questions, TipsI’ve been asked this many times both on and offline. It seems that people have this misconception that there is a magical time during the day at which your body will melt the fat and burn off tons of calories. This simply isn’t the case.
I will concede that you can burn slightly more calories after a good rest and on a somewhat empty stomach.
The short answer: The best time to workout is when you have the time to do it. Fitting workouts into your already busy life can be difficult but it’s essential to losing weight and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Here is the long answer. This is just from my experience and the results I’ve seen. When it comes to aerobic activities like running, biking, rollerblading etc. the rule I follow is that - motion creates energy – So I do my cardio workouts when it’s most beneficial to have or create lots of energy. This means first thing in the morning. I need that energy boost to start my day.
I’ve found that an early a.m cardio workout wakes up my whole body, reduces any anxiety or stress I have about upcoming tasks that day and makes me more creative and productive. This is of course after refueling with a good healthy breakfast and a hot shower 
Weight training or strength training workouts are best suited for the early evening/night. The reason is you’re breaking down your muscle fiber during these workouts. If they’re done properly they should leave you feeling a little shaky and a bit weaker. Your body’s reaction to this is that it wants to rest and rebuild. What better way is there to listen to your body, than to give it 8 hours of sleep!
Final Thoughts
I have found that cardio sessions done at night keep me up all night and I just can’t get a good rest. Weights in the morning make me tired and I do nothing but yawn all day.
Experiment with your schedule and see if you can fit this way of exercising into you routine. You can remember it like this – Burn in the morning, build at night – It’s worked for me.
If you’re thinking that I am just a morning person? Wrong, I’m the snooze button King.
October 6th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
I agree that any time is the best time, but one thing I would add is that working out just before bed can be bad because the increased heart rate etc… can make it hard to fall asleep. Evening workouts should allow at least an hour or two of cooldown.
October 6th, 2007 at 10:47 pm
Very true Dave. I had a hard time falling asleep after a good long run at night. Morning cardio sessions just seem to produce the results that I had been looking for.
Thanks for the comment
October 7th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
I’ve always wondered if it’s better to do cardio when you’re already feeling wired and willing, or if it’s better to do it when you’re winding down, just to keep your blood flowing? For now, I just do it when I can — but I’ve often wondered if it matters if you take advantage of your awake-iest (I know that’s not a word) time, or if you force yourself to get the blood moving when your body says it wants to take a nap instead. lol
October 8th, 2007 at 11:25 am
i workout whenever i feel like it (or can). I would love to be able to wake up a 6 am and hit the cardio, but i haven been able to.
when i work out at night, its the worst because I cant sleep.
October 8th, 2007 at 11:50 pm
Lorelei,
I have found that when I’m most awake and feel like taking advantage of it is when my stamina is at it’s worst.
I’ll start running and fade very quickly, I usually have to force myself to finish.
On the other hand when I feel like crap, I run. Some of my best times have come when I was at my worst.
October 8th, 2007 at 11:54 pm
Israel,
Getting up early can be a task and a half. I do get some help from my wife though. She likes to sleep in the middle by herself and has no problem giving me the boot.
Thanks for the comment
October 12th, 2007 at 9:42 pm
[…] admin wrote a fantastic post today on “When is the best time to workout?”Here’s ONLY a quick extractThe short answer: The best time to workout is when you have the time to do it. Fitting workouts into your already busy life can be difficult but it’s essential to losing weight and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. … […]
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:46 am
[…] M presents When is the best time to workout? posted at Weight Loss […]
October 23rd, 2007 at 3:23 am
I like squeezing my cardio in the mornings as well. Even if it’s only for half a hour and I have to get up extra early (I’m always naturally up early anyway, so it’s no big deal). It’s more efficient than any amount of coffee will ever be to wake me up and make me ready to fight the upcoming day. (On the other hand, I once did cardio right before lifting weights, to take advantage of all the gym offered, and boy, was THAT a big mistake!)
October 23rd, 2007 at 4:54 pm
I agree, cardio in the morning is great. I just can’t do the weights that early it actually makes me feel sick.
February 10th, 2008 at 2:06 am
I’ve trained myself to get up early. I always used to be a nightowl but now it’s early to bed and early to rise.
AM weights and cardio for me.
February 18th, 2008 at 12:44 am
Andrew,
I used to be the same way. But that night owl lifestyle is what helped make us fat in the first place.
I love the am cardio, still not a fan of the weights though.