Is it better to work out in the morning or at night?

Doesn't matter. :)
 
The best time to work out is the time when you are actually going to work out. :)

You will find that certain times work better for you, whether a matter of scheduling, or just when your body wants to do it. Let yourself find the best times for you.

For instance, I often have trouble working out in the late, late evening. I get tired and just want to hang on the computer or go to bed. So whenever I plan for a late workout, it usually gets derailed somehow.
I actually plan my gym and swimming workouts for when the facility is least crowded - so pretty early in the morning, or fairly late in the evening, before they close. Having a lane to myself is a pretty big motivational tool for me - I really hate sharing a lane. :)

Mechanically, however, in terms of weight-loss efficiency or whatever, the time of day has no bearing on it.

(this was a long-winded way of saying what Kara did so efficiently in only two words)
 
User preference.
I like mornings because it leaves me "supercharged" for the remainder of the day.

I can't hit the weights and then go to bed...
 
it doesnt' matter, they are right!! BUT I would think that workin out right away in the morning will make it harder for you to "forget to fit it in" later, IMO.
 
I like to go to the gym after work to blow-off steam and get ready to relax for the evening. Every day at the same time, like clockwork.

I've heard that doing cardio in the morning revs up your metabolism, but have no evidence to back it up :eek:
 
If you are looking for fat loss than I think it is the best idea to workout in the mornings, with only a little food in your stomach (a peice of fruit maybe)...this way you are burning your old fat stores...your blood supply is directed to your sympathetic nervous system (fight of flight system- directing your blood to ure muscles GIVING YOU ENERGY TO MOVE THAT BODY, BURN THAT FAT), instead of your parasympathetic nervous system (that supplies your stomach and digestive process- aideing REST AND DIGEST)...anyhow I think its BEST to workout barestomach in the morning!! :)

But later in the evening works aswell, after all energy is such a thing that...THE MORE YOU GIVE, THE MORE YOU GET BACK IN RETURN!..Exersize in the morning, recharges you for the day!!

I should not be the one preaching, because I myself workout later..thats because I'm too lazy to hit the gym so early in the morning and then getting ready for work. I'm just not that dedicated yet. I did the whole 6am gym thing for a while, but didnt last very long LoL...I seriously lack motivation there. But it MADE me FEEL SO GOOD!! Working out early in the morning!!! I swear the day just gts better!
 
sanjana88 said:
anyhow I think its BEST to workout barestomach in the morning!! :)
Click to expand...

I'm not so convinced that is a good idea. Food is fuel, and if your on E, how do you have enough energy to get through a good workout? Wheres the benefit in that, as opposed to eating a light breakfast before??
 
There are all kinds of back and forth ideas on fasting workouts. Most of the real research tends to show that it's not all that much better for burning fat than non-fasted cardio. It's been discussed a lot on this board - just do a search for "fasted cardio".

I personally can't work out on an empty stomach - I get sick. I have to have some kind of snack about an hour before I go - something with protein and carbs.

I also am NOT a morning person. If someone told me I had to work out in the morning for it to be effective, I'd never work out. It just doesn't happen for me. OTOH, like someone else above mentioned - working out after work is perfect for me. I can walk across the street from my office to the gym, and then I'm done for the day. I work off the stresses of the day and go home feeling pleasantly tired, ready for dinner, and a relaxing evening.

It's all about what you WILL do ... not what someone else says is best. :)
 
Most people have more energy in the morning, that's why workouts at that time are usually more effective. It's not when you train, it's how you do it and what you eat. A good warm up and a protein-rich meal can do wonders.
 
It just totally depends on YOU. If you're a morning person, like me, then a morning workout can help you get up and get going, and like others have said, you get it out of the way for the day. I like coming home and being able to cook dinner and just do whatever I want to in the evening. But if you're NOT a morning person (like my husband), then working out in the evening, when you feel more energetic, might be best for you...
 
I think both two time workout is very good for health.Morning workout is very important for our freshness or night workout is also important to our digesting process.:nopity:
 
Best to workout in AM!

The key component to losing weight is raising your metabolic rate so in the hindsight of life when is your metabolic rate at its lowest and most sluggish? Correct the AM!

Morning sessions will assist in elevating your metabolic rate and aid in reducing your bodies weight!

Shaner
 
Late night exercise will interfere with melatonin production.

Due to increased fluid retention in the spinal disks, spinal flexion based movements immediately following waking may harmful to the spine.
 
Last edited:
Morning.
Let me explain why.
If you are trying to make muscle, it is neccesary to have some fuel in your body. otherwise (fatloss) its just not required.

Moreover, what I recommend is High Intensity Workouts in the morning, even if its just for like 10 minutes, go full force. the reason is that such workouts break muscle to some extent and raise metabolic rate throughout the day.
 
vinesh said:
Morning.
Let me explain why.
If you are trying to make muscle, it is neccesary to have some fuel in your body. otherwise (fatloss) its just not required.

Moreover, what I recommend is High Intensity Workouts in the morning, even if its just for like 10 minutes, go full force. the reason is that such workouts break muscle to some extent and raise metabolic rate throughout the day.
Click to expand...

That fuel in your body would require a consumption of fuel in the morning. Since you burn calories when sleeping but pretty much verges with the idea of exercising at night, since you still have fuel in your body. HIIT training again can but performed at any moderate time of your liking.

So really morning mid-day night or whatever just depends on when you want to do it and the better thing is that you are actually exercising :)
 
I do my resistance training in the morning and cardio at night (on alternating days)

no particular reason besides that most of the machines at the gym are completely free in the morning and I tend to flake out on working out at night..I need muscle training much more than cardio right now so if I have to skip something it's likely to be the cardio.
 
Aerobic or in oxygen exercise puts the body into a state of burning FAT as fuel. So long slow but at the same time slightly getting towards 60% of your max HR will burn FAT and require you to go longer in order to burn more calories. Going all out for 10 minutes is not the way to burn fat effectively.

10 mins at 190HR = 1900 beats in the outut category. and not in oxygen thus not buring fat!
60 mins at 125HR = 7500 beats in the output category but well utilizing fat as fuel.

Lowest resting HR is in the sleeping and earliest awaken AM hours vs highest in mid to late day before bed.

Seems pretty simple to me how and when to exercise to lose weight.

I am a former National Class distance runner and practiced this to daily hitting a body fat percentage at one point of 3%. Its all input VS output and eating right. Lets not make this anymore complicating then it has to be.

Now you wanna tone up its a different animal you have to enter in resistance sessions like weights, hitting a heavy bag etc... running hills..... I have a whole video on my facebook site about this here (LINK REMOVED) Just request me as a friend and I will add you so you can see it.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I found to be a pretty good summary.

From a performance standpoint, and possibly an injury prevention standpoint, late afternoon wins. For consistency, and possibly energy and better sleep, morning wins.

But really it's much less important WHEN you exercise than how much and how often. Working out an hour 3 times a week in the evening is still better than twice a week in the morning.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top