Morning or Evening Workout – What is the Best Time to Exercise to Lose Weight?
They say the early bird always gets the worm, but in the case of workouts, that may not be necessarily true. We always try to pin down the answer to when the best time to exercise is, whether it is at the crack of dawn or after a long workday. Find out the right answer.
Your best bet is to pick a workout that aligns with your fitness goals. Whether you are a morning person or thrive on evening workouts, as long as you are working out you are reaping the maximum benefits. Or is it better to exercise in the morning? You must have heard many theories related to the best time to exercise, but does that make a difference? Does your workout timing impact your weight loss goals? Let us find out.
Working Out At the Crack Of Dawn
Technically, working out in the morning does not have that many weight loss benefits. However, experts believe that you are more likely to stick to your fitness routine if you exercise in the morning. Also, exercising in the morning on an empty stomach can help you burn fat. After an overnight fast, our bodies are reliant on fat as a source of fuel.
Some people also experience problems with sleep if they have trained too close to bed as the adrenaline level is high and the brain is active after a workout. If you have problems with sleep, try a morning workout and compare your sleep and do what makes you feel best. Now the ideal time slot is not scientifically stated, so you can choose any time slot for yourself early in the morning. How to Lose Weight (Tip #4): What Happens to Your Body When You Skip Meals? Here’s How You Gain More Weight by Starving Yourself.
Hitting the Gym after a Long Day
On the other hand, an evening workout can help manage your stress levels after a tensed day, which in turn can boost your progress towards weight loss. Sweating out squashes the stress hormone cortisol which has been linked to an increase in belly fat.
Exercising at night can energise you to the point that you might be unable to fall asleep until late. Exercising in the morning is like revving up the motor for the day, however, after an evening exercise session, it might take you a while to wind down, cutting into sleep time. Lack of sleep will lead to tiredness during the day. This cycle of tiredness will continue until your body adjusts to the evening exercise schedule. How to Lose Weight Without Cutting Carbs: 5 Tips No One Told You About Weight Loss.
So, it is important to pick the right workout for the evening. For instance, if you choose weightlifting, you need to ensure that your mind is energetic enough for it. So practising it in the evening will not be quite beneficial because your mind will be active throughout the night due to a rigorous workout. However, if you practice cardio in the evening, it will be beneficial because your body will be drained of energy and the brain would be exhausted and hence you can sleep well. Just ensure that you keep your portion sizes in control after an evening workout.
Bottom line – The best time to workout is when you feel best mentally and physically. Just ensure to keep your diet in check so that you get the maximum benefits out of your sweat session.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 22, 2019 09:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).