We could potentially answer this one pretty quickly for you: typically, the best time of day to exercise is in the mornings. However, we know that life is a balancing act, and so the answer becomes a little more complex.
Between work, friends, and family, it can be hard to find the right time to exercise. While it is largely a matter of preference, several timeframes seem to work out better than others.
By finding the perfect time to work out to match your body’s needs, you’ll be able to see results much faster.
Working Out in the Morning
If you can convince yourself to drag your tired body out of bed in the morning, you may be pleasantly surprised at the results.
Your body is more susceptible to positive changes right when you wake up, and that’s why it’s important to start in the morning if you’re trying to make positive changes. A lot of this has to do with the chemical makeup of your body right after you wake up.
For example, did you know that drinking a cold glass of water as soon as you wake up can have the same effect as a cup of coffee? Well, almost the same…
It has been proven to drastically increase your energy levels and kickstart your metabolism in the same manner as a cup of that sweet caffeinated nectar of the gods. There are certain advantages to being healthier in the morning that make it the ideal time to wake up. Working out is no different.
Getting active in the morning hours can help kick your metabolism into overdrive and set a precedent for the rest of your day. When you make the commitment to raise your heart rate, it helps shake off those sleepy cobwebs and puts you in a clearer headspace to attack the day ahead. This has to deal with your body going from “sleep mode” to “awake mode.”
When you’re asleep, your body slows down its natural function until you wake back up. That’s why it can be helpful to get moving in the morning hours. You will let your body know it is awake, and it will thank you for it by releasing all the positive chemicals associated with a good workout.
Even so, your body may not take the change lightly at first. It’s essential to do a warmup workout and thoroughly stretch so you can get used to being active again after such a prolonged period of rest.
Working Out in the Afternoon
As we touched on a little bit earlier, your body must be prepared for a workout. If you go from 0 to 60 without any preplanning, you will make yourself more susceptible to injuries and fatigue. This is the same reason why working out in the afternoon can be helpful.
Your body hits its full stride when you work out in the afternoon. While there is a typical lull associated with the late afternoon, particularly if you work a standard 9-to-5 job, it has actually been shown to be the best time to receive the best possible results workout-wise. You want to be warm when you work out, both mentally and physically.
Chances are, you have just spent the last several hours doing at least some sort of mental and physical stimulation, even if it was only walking around the office to go to your meeting. This warmup better prepares your body for increased levels of stimulation.
As the day goes on, your body temperature increases and gets to a healthy functioning level. By the time the afternoon rolls around, you’re in the perfect position to build muscle and safely raise your heart rate to get the best results out of your workout.
As if that wasn’t enough, hormone levels are also shown to have positive impacts on your exercise routine. When you choose to get your blood flowing in the afternoon, your body will naturally have more testosterone flowing for both men and women.
The more of this stuff you’re lugging around, the more weight you will be able to handle, and the better the results you will ultimately see.
So, what is the Best Time of Day to Work Out?
The time of day you choose to work out depends on the type of results you’re hoping to achieve. If you’re looking for more muscle, maybe you should choose the late afternoon. If you’re looking to stay fit and kick off your day the right way, perhaps it’s time to set that alarm clock a little earlier.