Early birds never seem to be able to say enough about how wonderful a morning workout is. We get that it’s really invigorating and cool for you, but if you’re not a morning person, it can be difficult to get out of bed an hour earlier. Plus, the feeling of being so exhausted after the workout is just too much to handle. So, are there benefits to working out before or after work at a particular time of day? Or is it just a matter of personal preference?


When I spoke with most of the fitness coaches, they told me that it really does depend on each individual. ‘There is no hard and fast research that says either morning or night workout is better,’ says personal trainer Maurice Williams. ‘However, there are certainly benefits to doing either depending on the person.’ Personal trainer Lee Pickering advises that ‘it’s really up to you to know when your body is most capable of an effective workout.

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Does working out in the morning rev up your metabolism? Demmy James, a strength and conditioning specialist says, ‘Working out at any time improves your metabolic rate to a certain extent. Receiving that metabolic boost during the morning or the evening will not make a difference when it comes to caloric expenditure or body composition adjustments. The key takeaway is that individuals should focus on prioritizing their workout or exercising in general and worry less about the time of day, whether it involves hitting the gym before or after work. Metabolic adaptations will occur irrespective of whether the sun is rising or setting.”

However, there are advantages and disadvantages specific to morning workouts and late-night gym enthusiasts. Read on:

Advantages of Morning Exercise

1. You’ll Feel More Energized.

“You will probably have more energy in the morning,” says personal trainer Henry Halse. “Depending on how stressful your job is, both physically and mentally, working out before or after work and then going into the gym may be unrealistic. If you find that you can never muster up the energy to work out at night, try working out in the morning before work. That way you won’t have used up all of your energy and your workouts will likely be less of a drag.”

2. You Can Burn Fat Fast.

“If you work out in the morning before eating or after eating just a protein bar, you will get greater results [in terms of burning fat],” says PLYOGA Fitness founder and CEO Stephanie Lauren. “American diets are high in sugar. Your body will attack sugar first and then go after fat during a workout. If you work out in the morning, the ability of your body to attack fat over sugar is greater because you haven’t consumed most sugars yet at this point.”

3. There’s Also the Psychological Boost.

“The psychological benefits of morning workouts are paramount,” Lauren says. “You clear your mind and give yourself positive energy for the entire day. Most Fortune 500 CEOs workout before or after work for this reason.”

Disadvantages of Morning Exercise: Increased Risk of Injury

“A more thorough warm up will be needed in the morning, especially if you’ll be using resistance training exercises where you’re bending,” says fitness and nutrition coach Sean Flanagan. Dr. Miller also expressed worry about lower back issues for those who work out in the morning. “While we sleep, our discs swell with water, making them extra fluffy and more adapt to herniate or ‘slip’ if performing high spinal compression exercises like the back squat or repeated spinal flexion exercises like rowing (if not performed properly). It takes about an hour or so for those discs to get back to normal. So for the early exerciser who likes to hit the weights hard, getting up even earlier to ensure spinal health is important.”

Advantages of Evening Exercise

1. You’re More Physically Prepared.

“Assuming you’re not working out so late that you’re tired, your nervous system will be more ready for a great workout than in the morning,” Flanagan says. “In addition, you’ll likely have more food in your system. All this contributes to the potential to use heavier weights and do more repetitions, which will lead to more calories burned during and after the session.”

2. It Allows for Lengthier Sessions.

James said night is the perfect time for a longer and more social workout, with “longer warm ups, greater rest periods to allow for substrate replenishment, time to decompress, de-stress, and socialize with training partners.”

3. It’s Safer for Power and Strength Workouts.

Based on my interviews with fitness experts, many agreed that explosive exercises—such as power cleans or squats—should be done during the evening. “Doing that type of work in the morning is not as effective or potentially as safe as in the evening,” Miller says.

Disadvantages of Evening Exercise: Potential Sleep Disruption

“Exercise, like any other stressor, increases cortisol levels. Cortisol revs your body up—raises blood pressure, increases alertness, etc,” says pharmacist Brandon Allen. “Exercising in the evening makes your cortisol spike at a time when your cortisol levels should be declining. This can interfere with sleep patterns.”

I hope this article has been helpful to you. We should let Danielle Faust, a life and wellness coach, have the last say: “Whatever time you can work out is the best time to work out.”

Photo: Justin Case / Getty Images

#Lifestyle #Exercise #Fitness #Wellness

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