The question on everyone’s mind
Since I started working in a gym I’ve been asked a lot of questions but it seems one question is on a lot of people’s minds… “When is the best time to workout to lose weight? “When will give me results quicker?”
Honestly, I’ve still not perfected my answer because no one likes to hear “well it depends”. Everyone wants a definitive answer… “You should wake up at 6am and get to the gym ASAP, you’ll get the results you want in half the time because…”. Unfortunately there’s no black and white answer. For all the pros there might be for working out at one time of day, there are also cons.
If you’re anything like me, when I first wake up, getting my trainers on is the last thing on my mine. I wake up hungry! I have some food and just want need an hour to myself. I much prefer using the gym after I’ve been awake for a good few hours and have got a couple of meals in; I simply feel stronger.
But am I missing out as I watch members get a sweat on at 6.30 in the morning? Are they getting some extra benefits by being there so early? Does it really even matter?
Let’s briefly go over the options and a few pros for each…
Morning workout
> You get it out the way first thing – it’s less likely to conflict with any other responsibilities later in the day
> Exercise can increase your energy for the rest of the day
> Suggested to boost your metabolism throughout the day – assuming it’s done with proper effort (blog on this to come)
Afternoon and evening workouts
> Stress relief in the middle of or after a long day
> Strength and endurance are both usually higher later in the day. The body is more warmed up, the muscles are more flexible so you may have a more intense workout!
> More time to recover afterwards and can help with sleep quality
Energy is key
You can read all the scientific papers you like to find out when you’ll burn the most calories or put on the most muscle, but personal preference is just as important. You know yourself better than anyone else. Listen to your mind and listen to your body.
If you’re an early riser who wakes up with energy to spare maybe a morning workout is right for you! If however you only feel awake when you’ve had some food and a coffee, slowly becoming more alert as the day goes on, a later workout should sound more appealing. I encourage you to try different times of day o find what works best for you!
Heck sometimes you don’t even have a choice! You might have a busy life so you fit a workout in whenever you can and just get it done. The only bad workout is the one you didn’t do!
The bottom line is whether you get out of bed to head to the gym before breakfast, just have time in your lunch break or you’re in the gym an hour before bed, you will get the results you want. The most important thing is to find the option that works for you in the long term, sometime that you can stick to. Consistency is key!
