The Best Time of Day to Workout

by She FIt on August 6, 2009

Everyone has their own schedule of working out. Some workout in the morning before work, others during their lunch break in the afternoon, there are those that enjoy evening workouts after dinner.

But when is the best time of day to workout?

Like most weight-loss tips, there is no one-size fits all answer.

There are pros and cons to each time of day.

Morning workouts are great because you don’t have any distractions. You also burn more calories from fat since your carbohydrate storage is low. On the flip side, since your body has gone almost 12 hours without fuel, your workouts are prone to be less effective. . . always eat something small and light before working out!

Working out in the afternoon is beneficial because your muscle temperature peaks in the afternoon, which increases your performance. The con to working out in the afternoon is that there are so many distractions that can get in the way.

Evening workouts are great as a stress reliever from your busy day as well as improve your sleep pattern. On the other hand, after a long day at work, cleaning up the house, and making dinner, you are more opt to skip out on your workout.

Lets face it, whether you workout in the morning of the evenings, running 2 miles will burn the same amount of calories. So, the simple answer is that the best time of day to workout is any time of day that will help you become consistent in your workout routine. The best workout is determined by your availability, how you feel, and how much time you have.

Personally I love working out in the mornings. I love the feeling of the crisp morning breeze as I run and being able to to process my day before it starts.

When is your favorite time of day to workout and why?

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Tagged as: clock, day, Diet, Exercise, exercise routine, fat burning, Fitness, get in shape, Health, Sparkpeople, Time, Weight loss, Weight Watchers, Workout

{ 18 comments }

1 Christy T (The Fat Girl) August 6, 2009 at 2:59 pm: Lately, I’ve been trying to fit in more exercise by doing more stuff… cleaning anything I can get my hands on, doing stuff outside, whatever I can do to keep moving.
2 Gina August 6, 2009 at 3:14 pm: If I don’t workout in the AM, I won’t workout at all! So the morning is best for me. If I’m bored at night, I may walk at night, when the sun is going down, because is GORRGEOUS.
3 Nell August 6, 2009 at 3:44 pm: I love working out in the late morning. My preferred routine is to wake up, eat a big brekkie, do whatever I need to for an hour-ish, then get in a run or some gym time. For long runs, though, I wake up really early, have a light snack, and head out the door within 30 minutes of waking.
4 unconfidentialcook August 6, 2009 at 4:35 pm: Thanks so much for stopping by, and please come again. As for me…if I don’t do it in the am, I don’t do it.
5 Sophia August 6, 2009 at 5:05 pm: I’m a strict morning work-out person. I don’t do anything strenuous, and I do it for the morning refreshment…The day is just not the same without some blood pumping in the morning!
6 Jody - Fit at 51 August 6, 2009 at 5:14 pm: Always a good thing to tell people.. the best time to work out is the time that you will do it!!!!

I have done quite a few posts on this. Like your food program & exercise program, the best one is the one you will stick with for life.. long term! Same with when you work out. This may even change over time depending on your life, circumstances etc.

Me, I am morn workout person… nothing can get in the way of me not doing it like in the old days when there were no 24 hour gyms & I had to do it after work & often things got in the way. PLUS, I am a person that needs an empty stomach… otherwise I feel UGH! Really, I work out at some crazy early hours but I consider it in my mind as morn!
7 roadcurvesahead August 6, 2009 at 6:00 pm: I like mornings the best… but since I work a rotating shift I tend to switch workout times every week.
8 South Beach Steve August 6, 2009 at 6:04 pm: I love the morning workouts. For me, the reason is simple. I don’t usually workout if I don’t do it first thing.
9 Pam (Highway to Health) August 6, 2009 at 6:16 pm: I tend to make excuses in the afternoon and evening so I have to stick with the morning workouts. I learned the hard way that you need to eat something before I go. Oops!
10 Kelly August 6, 2009 at 6:41 pm: I am definitely a morning exerciser because if I don’t do it in the morning, I know I’ll get sidetracked later on. However, I notice as I get more and more into fitness, I start looking for exercise opportunities. So I’ll go to the gym in the morning, but then maybe I’ll walk to and/or from work (2 miles each way), or maybe I’ll do some extra strength exercises when I get home from work if I have a little time. Doing crunches, push-ups, biceps curls, etc. while watching TV is the easiest thing ever.

So I guess I’m becoming an all-day, looking-for-every-opportunity exerciser.
11 Andrea@WellnessNotes August 6, 2009 at 7:08 pm: My favorite workout time is in the morning. When I have time, I like to eat some food (for example, a banana & some Greek yogurt) and have a cup of coffee as soon as I get up and then workout an hour later. I also try to make sure to drink quite a bit of water before working out, something I tend to forget first thing in the morning. If I do all of these things, I find I get the best workout. I tend to be quite tired in the afternoons, so workouts are much tougher for me…

I like Kelly’s point about finding exercise opportunities and being flexible. I think that’s so important.
12 Beth August 6, 2009 at 7:13 pm: I go back and forth, I think weightloss is better when I workout in the morning, but I’m not motivated to workout in the morning! So I end up jumping on the elliptical as soon as I get home. (if I don’t I’ll get distracted!)
13 Lori August 6, 2009 at 7:13 pm: I love the mornings just because it is finished for the day and gives me a real sense of accomplishment that lasts all day. I do fuel up before workouts.
14 Tay August 6, 2009 at 8:09 pm: I was always a morning runner because if I didn’t do it then, I wouldn’t do it at all! But I LOVED evening runs, when it was cool, and starting to get dark and I always felt SO strong! But it’s just harder to get out the door then.
15 Emily August 7, 2009 at 5:34 am: I change my workout schedule around depending on my class schedule. Last year, I worked out at night, and it really worked well for me.
16 Robin August 7, 2009 at 5:59 am: I think I like it best in the morning but I have to leave at 6am for work, so it doesn’t really work. when i get home after my hour plus commute it’s very hard to have motivation to workout at all…which is why i’m stuck here. i need to find a workout i enjoy more.
17 Cait (Cait's Plate) August 7, 2009 at 6:56 am: I’d have to say either 4pm or 8pm lately…especially in this crazy weather. But other days it’s nice to get up bright and early and have the whole rest of the day ahead of you!
18 Lara (Thinspired) August 7, 2009 at 2:46 pm: I agree–the best time to workout is whenever you will workout! My favorite time on days when I can is right before lunch or dinner. I like being able to come home, shower, and have a good meal! Also, I workout better on an emptier stomach as opposed to a fuller one. It took me a while to figure that out, but I think I finally know what works best for me