Monday, April 24, 2023

What's the BEST time of day to workout?

What is the very best time of the day to workout for all the benefits? The answer is simple: the best time of day to workout is when YOU WILL workout! But if you're curious as to the perks and challenges of exercise during different times of the day...give this a read. I mean, we know that people are morning people, some are night owls and some are more energized in the middle of the day. So here we go...

The perks of morning workouts

• Working out in the morning can jumpstart your day and fill you with energy
• Research has shown that people that workout in the morning stick with their exercise routine more so than people who work out later in the day
• Working out before work/meetings/school/the kids are up means more time for the family and evening activities
• You don’t have to worry about “something coming up” and not make it to the gym later…you workout is done!
• Starting the day off right with exercise sets you up for a day of good healthy decisions

The challenge of the morning workout

• The snooze button…need I say more?
• Getting enough sleep is very important to your health, so if you aren’t able to get to bed early enough to get at least 6 hours of sleep before you get up to work out, you might want to consider another workout time.
• Your body temperature is at its lowest, so you need to warm up a bit longer than usual (10 minutes or so) to prevent injury

The perks of lunch workouts

• Working out before you eat lunch revs up your metabolism and can set you up to succeed with healthy choices during those heavy craving hours between 2 and 4 in the afternoon.
• Getting work friends to work out with you can help you be accountable

The challenge of the lunch workout

• Work gets busy…so sometimes the workout gets put on the back burner along with your lunch break

The perks of an afternoon workout

• Research has shown that you have between 4-5% more strength and endurance during the hours of 4 and 5 p.m. This can mean that you can workout harder and longer at that time
• Injuries are less likely to happen in the afternoon because your body temperature is at its highest and your muscles are already warm

The challenge of the afternoon workout

• Unless you stay at home, have a flexible work schedule or don’t work the typical 9-5 job, working out at this time may not be possible

The perks of a nighttime workout

• Some people are more energized at night and so working out is more conducive after dinner

The challenge of nighttime workouts

• Working out 4 hours or less before bedtime can disrupt your sleep
• Life happens and you might not be able to workout in the evenings because of family commitments or unexpected plans

Basically, you know yourself and what will work for you body and your schedule. Get into a habit that is right for you so that you will stick with it! Put it on your calendar and get your body moving!

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