subject: When Should You Workout? [print this page] When Should You Workout? When Should You Workout?
A very common question when it comes to structuring fitness regimens is to ask what time of day the best time to exercise is. The bad news is that there is no clear answer to this question; there are simply too many factors involved, everyone is different and different kinds of exercise put different demands on the body. The good news is that there are a few things we do know, and as such here are a few bits of information that will help you improve the efficacy of your workout routine.
Probably the best advice I can give you is to simply pay more attention to yourself. Keep careful note of your habits, dispositions, and the way you feel at different times of day. Some people exercise best first thing in the morning, but obviously many people have absolutely no energy in the morning. You want to take advantage of the time that you feel the most energetic during the day. However you also must distinguish between the kinds of exercise you are doing. For instance, cardiovascular exercise and weight-lifting present two very different demands on the body and should be separated accordingly when you're considering when the best time to workout is.
In regards to cardiovascular exercise, many people have a natural tendency to go running very early in the morning. This tendency is actually right on the mark because it's been shown that performing cardiovascular exercise immediately after waking up is indeed the best time for several reasons. The most important reason is that if you run during the day you simply burn off the calories from your last meal, however if you run before eating breakfast your body has to extract energy from it's fat stores, which helps you to slim down. This is not to say that doing cardiovascular exercise at another time of day is pointless, it will always be beneficial no matter when you do it. Nevertheless, the point is simply that if you have the option to do it in the morning there are added benefits of doing so.
When it comes to lifting weights, once again, anytime is good but there are certain considerations to make if you want to get the most out of your exercise time. Lifting weights soon after a meal is generally a bad idea because you'll get cramps and might not have a lot of energy as you're digesting. This leaves the afternoons wide open, but the majority of people tend to be the most lethargic in the afternoon, a product of their natural body clock. You may therefore want to find some time in the mid-morning or in the evening if you haven't had a very late dinner.
Finding out what works best for you is of course the most important factor. Schedule in your exercise when you can rather than avoiding it entirely just because of a busy day. Exercise is always better than no exercise even if its not your ideal time.
