Does the time of day matter when you work out?

SugarBaby71
SugarBaby71 Posts: 3,630 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I used to work out every morning... and then life caught up with me and I started having to work out after dinner at night. So basically my workout is done and I shower off and head to bed within an hour or so.
I just realized that that is about the time I stopped losing weight. I stopped being an "early bird' and started having trouble dragging myself out of bed n the morning.

My workouts are 2 or 3 x longer now than they were when i used to do it in the morning and more intense. All I used to do was 30 minutes of cardio... either Zumba or a run.

Thoughts?

Replies

  • scribega
    scribega Posts: 159 Member
    I've wondered about this myself. I have done mornings, afternoon and night. I haven't seen much of a difference. From what I heard when I have asked around is that it doesn't truly matter when as long as you do something. I am sure there are benefits with doing something in the morning instead of evening and vice versa but as long as you do something is the key.
  • theCarlton
    theCarlton Posts: 1,344 Member
    Nope.
  • CeeCeeMee
    CeeCeeMee Posts: 356 Member
    While I don't "officially" know the answer to this question, I'd say that movement is movement.

    I tend to do a better and more extended workout in the evening but have noticed that I still need to give myself at least an hour before I head to bed. If I try to go to sleep too soon after a work out I tend to toss and turn and have a general poor night's sleep.
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    only in so far as intensity and energy levels go. If you feel better and push harder in the morning, then morning is the best time to workout. If you feel better and push harder in the evening, then evening is the best time.

    That's the standard, tried and true answer.

    There seems to be a growing push, at least among mainstream outlets, that suggests greater gains can be had (especially strength/muscle gains) when working out in the evening. There is little actual proof of this, but what I've read seems plausible based on my limited knowledge.
  • n3ver3nder
    n3ver3nder Posts: 155 Member
    The only thing you should potentially avoid is doing heavy lifting within an hour or so of getting up. Your CNS takes a while to come round (that's why we can be a bit clumsy in the morning). But for some people this isn't an option (firemen, combat personnel etc - they don't get a choice of when to get up and get to action sometimes) so people can adapt to it - just be aware there might be a period of adjustment.

    Also Charles Poliquin (fitness coach) advises that your synovial fluid takes a couple hours to 'warm up' but I can't get my head around the idea of one part of the body taking 2-3 hours to warm up compared to the rest of the body, so it's likely Bro-Science.
  • knovello82
    knovello82 Posts: 110 Member
    Jillian Michaels posted on facebook once that what matters is consistency-so if you work out in the morning, only work out in the morning, if you work out at night, do it every night, don't bounce around on your time of day.

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