Working out in the Morning vs. Night

jennierodriguez10

I have watched so many YouTube videos on this theory. Is it better to workout in the morning or after 5pm? What are some pros and cons? What’s your experience?

ecjim

Which do you prefer? What fits into your schedule? It probably is better to be awake for a while before you train - But it really doesn't make much difference. Just do what ever works for you

rheddmobile

Personally I prefer running in the morning and lifting at night. Running at night, I feel tired already and it keeps me from sleeping well. I just don't want to think about lifting first thing in the morning and afterwards I want to eat a snack and go to bed.

All the research I have seen on this subject was inconclusive, so it seems to me the best time to work out is what you will consistently stick with because it fits into your life.

Lounmoun

I prefer to do at least some activity before noon so that I don't put it off later when I am busy or tired.
I generally walk or do some other exercise in the hour after I wake up.
I don't think it does anything magical to exercise in the morning vs evening. I think it is best to just do it when can.

AnvilHead

The best time to work out is the time that fits your schedule best and when you'll do it most consistently.

Packerjohn

There are theories stating early or late is better, but actually doing it sometime trumps a particular time.

ata1anta

I work out before work. There is a gym in the building so I take advantage of it. My commute is over an hour each way, so I've usually had my first coffee by the time I get there.

sijomial

Even if this theory turns out to have a grain of truth for the majority of people that's irrelevant if you happen to be in the minority.

I prefer the middle of the day as personally that's when I have the most energy.
First thing in the morning is my worst time for exercise performance, for most of my working life it would have impacted on my sleep too. Evenings are fine for me right up to 10pm.

Experiment to find what suits you best, even then it has to fit into your schedule.

lowcarbmale

I've worked out early in the morning, late at night, in the afternoon and in the evening. For me it doesn't really make a difference but for consistency I prefer to work out in the morning. If you plan on eating a big meal after the workout I would not recommend to work out late at night unless there is some time between the meal and going to bed. I think this is a highly individual topic and agree with sijomial that experimenting with different times is probably the best way to go.

intrigame23

Workout at a time you will be able to consistently workout at. I don't think it matters if you burn 500 calories in the morning or burn 500 calories at night... it's the same 500 calories burned. Maybe I'm thinking too simplistically, but it makes more sense to just make sure we're exercising period.

For me, I'd lose less weight and exercise less if I worked out after 5pm because all my energy is spent (work with kids and cranky adults at an elementary school) and I'm an emotional eater. Stress, tiredness, etc get to me and I eat like an *kitten*. Wouldn't work for me.

What does work is getting up at 450am every day to get to the gym or walk. Stinks getting out of bed. but this is what I CAN do consistently. I have more energy to be productive during the day and take care of my family at night. And I sleep better.

Find what works for you. 😊

MikePfirrman

I have an incredibly busy schedule. I protect one part of the day just for me, at lunch. I work out Monday through Friday at lunch for around an hour. I add in a couple of hours on Sunday AM. I protect my lunchtime workouts like a fiend. What others have said, what works for you best. No right or wrong time, just when you will do it. I lift 2/3 times a week in the evening (or throughout the day), nothing real heavy, as I'm watching an hour or so of TV (about the only chance I get).

Sometimes, I'll mix in my lifting throughout the day. I have a Heavy KB near my desk (I'm lucky enough to work from home). I might do 20/30 pushups, 25 KB swings and military presses (or Goblet Squats or one legged deadlifts) every hour for 5/6 hours. That adds up to a decent whole body workout a couple of times a week too.

The hour at lunch is nearly all cardio, rower and Assault Bike, so the lifting has to get done in the other hours. I do hate early AM working out.

jemhh

Whenever it fits your schedule.

I'm not a serious competitor in any sport so having a small advantage by exercising at one time of the day vs. another is less important than where it fits in my schedule.

hesn92

I mean, who cares? If there is a minor benefit in working out at a certain time of day, it's not like I'm going to alter my entire schedule to make that happen. I've got a lot of *kitten* to do, so I work out when it is convenient for me.

rsclause

I like to get up early and run. Traffic is light to non existent. I don't care about whether it burns another calorie or not. If I wait til after work it is to tempting to put it off and I don't like to drink scotch during my run anyway.

kd_mazur

I agree with those who say to pick the time that fits. I was always an afternoon/evening exerciser but as my children have grown and become more involved with evening activities I find it more stressful to fit it in at the end of a long day.
In Aug, I started getting up an hour earlier, which in reality, is just getting up the first time the alarm goes off and not snoozing. I get the workout done and then I have time in the evenings to do stuff with the family without the additional stress of deciding when I will fit the workout in.

Sunshine_And_Sand

You can find a lot of stuff on when is the best time to workout, but honestly the best time to workout is the time that you will actually do it.
If 20 peer reviewed studies come out proving that 2am is the optimal time to workout, and you skip working out all together because you can't work out at 2am, then you've accomplished nothing. If you ignore it and workout when you actually can/will work out, then you've got your workout in.

janejellyroll

The best time to work out is the time you're most likely to do it. Even if there was evidence that working out in the late afternoon or evening was better, I would still exercise in the early morning because it's when I feel best and I prefer to spend time with my dogs and husband after work.

Pick the time that you like best. Focusing on the "best" time to exercise may be worth it for elite athletes, but it's irrelevant for all us regular exercisers.

4legsRbetterthan2

I think this is one of those topics where people are really trying to major in the minors. For the average person it really doesn't make much difference. Whenever you will get out and get going is when you should do it. Timing may have an impact for really high level athletes, but its not worth getting hung up on for most people.

Personally, I do some shorter runs on my lunch break throughout the week and my longer ones are in the mornings on weekends. I run better on an empty stomach and I find I get side tracked by other things if I try to wait till the afternoon.

cwolfman13

Do it when you can do it...my schedule is variable...sometimes morning, sometimes evening, sometimes middle of the day. Doing it in the first place and being consistent with regular exercise is going to trump any kind of minor benefit that might come with timing of exercise.

jillybeansalad

I cannot bring myself to workout consistently in the morning... unless mandated by some force. lol It sucks when I wait too long and it takes awhile to unwind, but I'm much more consistent if I do it at night.
Consistency is the best benefit for me. It's definitely an individual thing, I'm a night owl.

JBanx256

I work 12-hour rotating shifts, so sometimes I work out at 2am and other times I work out at 2pm. If I could choose, I'd prefer morning workouts but that's just me.

recodeexistance

JBanx256 wrote: »

I work 12-hour rotating shifts, so sometimes I work out at 2am and other times I work out at 2pm. If I could choose, I'd prefer morning workouts but that's just me.

I work 8 hour rotating shifts weekly, so i'm pretty much the same. However, i enjoy late night working out for the peace of the gym. But it means i have to accept there will be some fatigue from my job.

The whole eating late thing, not sure if that's a myth, but it's never bothered me to eat a large meal after gym, no matter what time/how close to bed it is.

Lolinloggen

My main reason and rule is When do I have the time to exercise and not feel rushed or pressured. Other than that I have a slight preference for the morning but I work out more in the evening. Exactly for the reason I stated; it is when I have the time.

I think it is a matter of preference an lifestyle,. Just as there are people that prefer getting up early or sleep in.

777Gemma888

I do both. An hour or 2 in the AM and 3 or 4 in the PM.

ritzvin

jennierodriguez10 wrote: »

I have watched so many YouTube videos on this theory. Is it better to workout in the morning or after 5pm? What are some pros and cons? What’s your experience?

Pros- not having to fight someone to the death for a F* squat rack. But seriously, most of my local gyms are over-packed hell after work. The time slot right before work for me (~0745am-0830am) usually has no wait for equipment, and you aren't tripping over people.

I do cardio after work.

jenjens86

I work out in the morning, because thats the best time for me. Kids are both at school and its just easier. Between 9.30 and 11.30 normally

bennettinfinity

Another vote for whatever time is likely to help you be consistent.

I prefer mornings because (for me) there are generally no surprises. There are too many variables that can come into play that would more likely conflict with an evening workout (again, for me).

ImSoSquishy

i have lifted at different time of the day and nights. i do feel a lot stronger after 5pm compared to mornings. but i think the main reason is because i usually don't eat much in the morning, as i'm just not really a breakfast person. when working out after 5pm, i had lunch a few hours before, and had time to digest the food to use as energy.

cerise_noir

777Gemma888 wrote: »

I do both. An hour or 2 in the AM and 3 or 4 in the PM.

You work out 5+ hours a day? Did I read that right?

Ed_Zilla

You know those days when you don't feel like going, but always feel better when you did work out. That happens anytime.

I say just work out when you can...morning, noon or night.

RealWorldStrengthLLC

I tend to workout directly after school (130pm) on weekdays, and first thing after I wake up on weekends. I have worked out as late as 8 pm (starting) on the regular during my time in the military.

I find there are pros and cons of each.

Morning - pros: fresh, max energy, nothing has worn you down yet, some studies show test is highest in the hours after waking. Cons: You dontvget to use it as an outlet for anything that upset you in your day because your day hadn't happened yet. Also, you tend to do this workout with less or no food in your system than if you do later in the day.

Afternoon - kind of a best of both worlds but also none of the max benefits of either...also, the gym is less packed.

Night - pros: you've had plenty of food, it is an outlet for anything that happened in your day, your me time, can be relaxing (oddly enough), a great way to end your day. Cons: sometimes you are just tired and don't go as hard.