Other research also shows that the " afterburn" lasts longer when you exercise in the morning, which might help you lose weight over time.Ĭan make you more productive: Research has found that exercising in the morning has a beneficial effect on energy levels, alertness, focus and decision-making, which can translate to a more productive work day. This happens because your body must utilize fat stores that already exist to fuel exercise, rather than use the food you just ate as fuel. Might burn more fat: Exercising on an empty stomach - in the "fasted state" - is proven to burn more fat than exercising after a meal (in the "fed state"). Plus, sleep helps facilitate muscle growth, so you might even see more strength gains if your circadian rhythm and sleep cycle improve. Morning exercise also seems to boost deep sleep more than evening exercise, according to some research. May improve your sleep cycle: Waking up early might be difficult at first, but research suggests that a morning exercise habit can shift your circadian rhythm so that your body is naturally more alert in the morning and more tired in the evening, so you fall asleep earlier and can exercise in the morning again. If you workout first thing in the morning, you can't skip it in the evening because duties piled up. Morning workouts truly do have an edge, according to multiple research studies, and offer a list of benefits that might even sway some night owls to get their fitness on in the morning.Ĭan help you establish a fitness routine: People who exercise in the morning are often more consistent simply because morning workouts leave less room for excuses. That all said, morning workouts and night workouts both have their advantages and disadvantages as evidenced by decades of scientific research - let's discuss.
Research also suggests that your body can adapt to regular training schedules, so if you work out every morning, you will probably get a lot better at working out in the morning, and the same in regard to nighttime workouts. The fact of the matter is that people who exercise consistently see better weight loss and fitness results in the long-term. Perhaps you go to bed 20 minutes earlier and wake up 20 minutes earlier - now you're still getting in your 20 minutes of exercise it's just shifted your schedule a tad. I want to add a note on consistency, though: The best time to exercise is whenever you can, but the best-best time of day to exercise is the time you can stick with for days, weeks and months.įor example, if you're the person who only has 20 minutes at night, but you keep finding yourself skipping it, ask yourself if there's a way you can fit it into your morning instead. Likewise, if you can only squash 20 minutes of exercise into your day right before you get ready for bed, that's the best time to work out. If you reserve physical activity for packed evenings, there's a good chance you won't ever get to it.
If your only time of day to exercise is before work, then morning is best. We don't all have schedules that allow for a 90-minute workout, green smoothies with collagen and a 20-minute session with a Theragun, unfortunately. Let's get this out of the way first: The best time to work out is whenever you can. The best time of day to exercise is whenever you can do so consistently.
Read more: Lose Fat and Gain Muscle at the Same Time: Yes You Can The best time to exercise is whenever you can Here's what we know about how the time of day affects your workout, and how you can decide what's best for you, according to research. And for most people, the right time to exercise isn't about how many calories you burn or how much weight you lift - it's more about how you feel when exercising and how exercise fits into your daily schedule. Is it better to squeeze in a sweat session right after waking up, or should you push yourself to extend your long day by another 30 to 60 minutes?Įxercising at any time of day has health benefits and potential pitfalls. Some people swear the best time to work out is first thing in the morning, while others will entertain only the idea of exercising after work. Advice on when to fit a workout into your packed day is all over the map.