Is it better to exercise in the morning or at night?

Morning Exercise

To many people, exercising in the morning is their preferred choice. The most commonly cited reason is that exercising in the morning get your workout out of the way. Science also backs up morning exercise in some regards, as morning training tends to increase your energy for the rest of the day.

Training in the morning is a lot like breakfast, in that it gets your metabolism going. Simply put, you burn more calories all day long when you exercise in the morning. Studies have also found that morning workouts are preferable if you want a better night’s rest.

It’s been shown that people who work out in the morning are overall more likely to be consistent with their workouts. The real factor to consider is that consistency is key, no matter when you choose to work out.

Studies have also shown that different fitness goals are better achieved at certain parts of the day, and this is where training later in the day comes into play.

Afternoon & Night Exercise

Strength and endurance are both higher in the afternoon, while the likelihood of injuries is decreased. Exercising when body temperature is lowest, (typically later in the day around 4 or 5 pm) results in improved performance and increased power. At this time of day, muscles are more flexible as your body is warmer in comparison to the morning. Your reaction time is likely to be quicker, while heart rate and blood pressure will be lower. Additionally, protein synthesis peaks at this time of day as well.

Based on these facts, intense workouts such as weight training or hard cardio should take place during the late afternoon or evening. Calories consumed throughout the day are perfect fuel for night time training. Studies have found that those who hit the gym after work, are more likely to achieve a higher degree of fitness than early bird exercisers. Additionally, blood samples showed that levels of certain endocrine hormones significantly increased in those exercising at night.

Regardless of whether you exercise in the morning or night, the important thing to remember is that as long as you train consistently and stay nutritionally focused, you’ll achieve your fitness goals in no time.