When Is The Best Time To Workout?

Many believe that working out in the morning is the best thing that can be done for the body. It is mainly because they feel the body is refreshed after a good night’s sleep and has extra stamina to burn more calories. Some find the gym deserted at the crack of dawn and while others enjoy their jog in the tranquility at the park. There are others who wouldn’t dream of getting on the treadmill or bike before 6 p.m., when the day is behind them and their muscles feel stretched and loose. Now the question is which is better- the morning time or the evening? Personal trainers and experts on exercise say the effectiveness of your gym time depends partly on your body rhythms as well as what exactly you are trying to get out of it, whether it is losing inches around your waist or putting inches on your biceps. First, you have to pay attention to your body’s abilities, says Cedric Bryant, chief science officer for the American Council on Exercise, the nonprofit fitness certification and education provider. He counsels people that the best time to exercise is the one that works with their body clock and fits with their schedules.

But that said, from a physiological standpoint, Bryant says the afternoon may be a better time to engage in more explosive exercises, such as kickboxing or racquetball. Research has shown that the body’s temperature tends to rise by a few degrees in the afternoon, warming the muscles and connective tissues and resulting in a slight improvement in your performance capabilities. Working out in the afternoon also requires a little less time stretching on the mat because your heart and muscles are more prepared for the stress of exercise than when you’re fresh out of bed. Read More