It always remains a challenge:finding the right time to work up a sweat. Is it smarter now to exercise in the morning or in the evening? Or does it not matter much when you start your workout? We will answer those questions for you!
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One of the benefits of exercising in the morning has to do with your metabolism. From a study by the International Journal of Obesity showed that people who exercised in the morning (i.e. before noon) lost more weight than people who exercised after three o'clock in the afternoon. Exercising in the morning also helps you to actually move. If you start exercising in the morning before doing other things, you don't have time to make excuses for not being able to exercise.
In addition, exercise also helps improve your cognitive functions, which positively influences your memory, attention span and the way you process things. Ideal for when you still have to work or are going to study afterwards. It can also help you to make healthy food choices during the rest of the day.
Especially in the summer, exercising in the morning can be a big advantage:it is much less hot and stuffy in the morning than later in the day, so a much nicer moment to work up a sweat!
Finally, there is also the advantage of preparing for sporting events:because these often start in the morning, it is wise to train around the same time of the day as the event takes place. This way your body can get used to being active around that time.
There are also, of course, benefits to exercising later in the day. Think, for example, of your muscle function:it experiences a peak in the afternoon and evening. Research showed that athletes who exercised later in the day experienced improvements in their sprint performance, speed and muscle strength, as well as the muscle mass they built. Training later in the day is therefore certainly an advantage if you do strength training or do cycling, running or other endurance sports. Especially because your stamina also seems to be greater in the evening than in the morning. In addition, exercising later in the day also helps regulate your blood pressure.
Another great benefit of exercising at the end of the day is the effect that exercise can have on your mental health. When you've worked hard for a day or taken care of your kids, exercising can de-stress and provide a mental break. Make sure that you pay close attention to your posture during exercise, because if you are tired it can just ensure that you do not perform the exercises properly and so incur an injury…
Finally, a big advantage of exercising later in the day is that it has a positive effect on your sleep. Research shows that you can sleep soundly after exercise as long as you are not too busy just before going to bed. Sounds good, right?
Whether in the morning or in the evening, it is especially wise to find a time of the day when you find it easy to keep up your exercise regularly. Research shows that consistently exercising at the same time can bring benefits. It gives you the routine and consistency you need to do it every time.
Do you really want to choose between morning or evening? Then look at your sports goals:do you want to start the day with a workout to boost your metabolism or do you go for an evening workout to maximize your performance? The choice is yours!
