One of the most frequently asked questions at Jonathan Harfield Fitness revolves around the right time to work out. Naturally, it can be hard to find the time to regularly exercise. Some people like to squeeze in a morning session before work. Others prefer to hit the gym in the evening. But if you're looking to turn your workouts into a regular routine, it can be useful to know if a certain time of day can facilitate your fitness goals. This post will briefly look at some of the pros and cons of morning, afternoon, and evening workouts.
Morning workouts are widely considered the best time to exercise. As a specialist in body fat reduction, Jonathan Harfield Fitness advocates morning sessions for people looking to lose weight. Early workouts, especially if you have foregone breakfast, is the quickest way to burn through stored fat. People have a higher metabolic rate in the morning which means energy is mostly drawn from the fat reserves. Scientists have suggested that morning workouts can curtail the appetite, making you less likely to snack during the day. Exercising earlier can also create more consistent habits. Without the deadlines and distractions of the working day, you are more likely to adhere to your program.
Whilst morning workouts have an advantage, exercising during lunchtime also delivers positive effects. Jonathan Harfield Fitness develops many programs around balanced nutrition. Afternoon sessions are the ideal time to eat a couple of balanced meals before getting on with your program. Unlike early risers, people are much less likely to skip breakfast. This is great news if you're doing a long and strenuous program. As your body is already warmed up, muscle strength and flexibility should be at its optimum and the likelihood of injury will be reduced. Several studies have also suggested that afternoon hours are ideal for burning more calories compared to the morning or evening.
Many trainers will advocate against exercising later in the day. Evening workouts are believed to disrupt sleep patterns as the adrenaline kicks in. Yet at Jonathan Harfield Fitness we understand these theories are not completely supported by science. As long as running and jumping are not the very last things you do before going to bed, there is little evidence to confirm your sleep will be significantly impaired.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
It should be no surprise that the best time of day is, ultimately, the best time that suits you. People with a regular routine are most likely to produce the best results. A consistent and motivating routine, whatever the time of day, should therefore be your priority. So, whether you're an early riser or an evening enthusiast, find the time that best accommodates your lifestyle and stick with it.
