One of the greatest mysteries of our time is figuring out what the best time of day to workout is. Okay, so it’s not one of the greatest mysteries, but it is a question that plagues many people when trying to put together their workout plan. Life is already busy enough without having to add another worry to your day. Here’s a quick run down of some pros and cons to each to help you make the most informed decision possible.
Morning workouts:
Pros
- Better chance for fat burning
Working out first thing in the morning not only helps kickstart your body, but it gets your metabolism moving to start burning calories. Your body doesn’t stop after your workout and by beginning your day with physical activity, it helps turn your body on to start the day on the right foot.
- Body is fresh and mindset positive
After a good night sleep, the body is rested and recovered – fresh and ready to go! The physical activity of working out first thing in the morning releases all the feel-good hormones in your brain to put you in a positive mindset to take on the day ahead.
- Feel less stressed during the day
As mentioned above, getting in a positive mindset to start your day helps carry into the rest of the day, mitigating stress through the day and let you take on everything ahead of you in a positive light and a clearer head!
Cons
- Body is low on nutrients and energy
Coming straight out of sleep, you’ve been fasting through the night. During the fast your body has been using energy and nutrients to funnel around your body for its normal functions. So when you wake up your body is low on energy and nutrients. If you’re going to make sure you don’t have problems with energy, have a snack before heading to the gym. Problem is.. that could force you to…
- Have to wake up earlier
Obviously working out in the morning means having to set that alarm for a few minutes earlier than you may be used to. With a day full of work and life ahead, it forces your hand to set the clock back to allow enough time to wake up; grab a snack; get to the gym; train; clean up and get along to the rest of your day.
- Greater chance of injury
Because you’ve been asleep, the body becomes more rigid and stiff. If you’re a morning workout person, you may want to add even more time to your routine to allow for a proper and adequate warm up session to loosen up the stiff joints and muscles. Otherwise, you may be setting yourself up for a higher chance of injury.
Evening workouts:
Pros
- Chance to blow off steam
As we mentioned in the reasons for working out in the morning, the day is full of stress and activity. Working out in the afternoon/evening allows for a great chance to blow off some steam and burn some stress; putting us in a better mood to end the day.
- More Physically prepared
Unlike morning workouts when we’re stiff and tired, at the end of the day, your body has been active mentally and physically. This sets you up for greater success to put forth your best effort and get the most out of your workout when you finally get in to the gym!
- Calmer mornings
Because you got to sleep in from working out in the evening, your morning routine can run a little more calmly. Spend extra time with the family, enjoy a bigger breakfast, or knock out some journaling or list writing for the day.
Cons
- Crowds
Commercial gyms tend to see spikes in members on site during after work hours. Though mornings can be busy, the number seems to double for those who hit the iron in the afternoon. Availability of equipment gets a little scarcer and if you suffer from issues of anxiety or stress about how to mitigate changes to your routine, it can be overwhelming trying to navigate the busy gym floor.
- Life distractions
Unless you’ve made it a commitment to hit the gym after work, life can throw distraction after distraction at you to knock you off your game. Happy hour; kid’s events; family activities; exhaustion from the day; etc. any number of things can pop up during the day to make you want to skip the gym. Keeping a routine and rule to never skip an appointment with yourself can help you stay on track.
- Sleep distractions
If you’re working out at night, it’s important to allow yourself proper time to come down. The increased activity increases your energy levels which can cause disruption to your sleep schedule. Allow proper time to come down off the high of training or run the risk of excess energy keeping you buzzing.
Now that we’ve gone over the pros and cons between the two, it’s time to decide the best option for you!
…
…
…
That’s it. That’s the answer.
The best time to workout (morning v evening) is whatever the best time is for YOU.
You know yourself best and you’ll still get the results you’re looking for based on your structured plan regardless of time of day. You know if you’re a morning person or an evening person based on your schedule and energy levels and ability to prioritize what fits best for you.
Like most things related to fitness/nutrition, there’s no “one size fits all” so feel free to try both and see what fits you best. Keep in mind that if you’re typically used to one and want to switch, give it a few sessions to get into a groove as your body will need to adjust to the new schedule.
How does training fit into your day?