Morning workouts vs. Afternoon workouts

I was exercising in the afternoons but I've noticed more of a difference once I switched it to mornings. I read that exercising early in the day jump starts your metabolism so you burn more all day long.

I workout at night but I have a hard time falling asleep and I think I limit my exercise because I don't want to get too pumped up.
I want to get some workout videos for the morning. But I've never been a morning person and I'm not looking forward to waking up so early. I do think that would be better for my energy levels that whole day though.

We had a whole discussion on this topic in the spring. I wish I could find the thread. A lot of research was done, and a lot of links were thrown out there, it's too bad I don't have the time to search the archives for it. Maybe someone else can.

The gist of it was this: Working out in the morning DOES in fact raise your metabolism more then evening workouts, but after lots and lots of studies have been done, the general consensus was that it doesn't raise it enough to make an effective difference in weight loss (maybe a dozen or so calories a day difference).
Most studies concluded that the best time to work out is the time that it's easiest for you to work out, because that way you are more inclined to do so. More important factors included, shaping your eating patterns to maximize energy levels around your work outs, setting up a schedule that works for you so that you are more likely to work out, and setting up a workout routine that actually keeps you intersted (I.E. not doing the same thing every day, finding something you enjoy...etc)

if I dont workout first thing in the morning, it's not going to happen!

You have to remember, too, that you are going to lose a good amount the first week especially while your body loses a lot of water weight and then it will probably slow down a little the second week while your body adjusts to new diet, exercise, etc..... But just keep working hard no matter what time of day....whenever is good for you.....and the weight will come off!! You just gotta stick with it! :flowerforyou:



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I found that doing the work outs in the morning are better...for one, if you do your workout FIRST thing, you are burnig off calaories, but if you do it later, after you have eaten and stuff, the only thing you will burn is the food you have eaten..so I just do it first thing before breakfast, and then I feel like i am actually burning off pounds inches and fat, then just what I just ate.

I think working out right when you wake up is best. You get it over with and once your up and at the gym you are awake. I work at a coffee stand and have to be there at 5am so I recently had to change my work out to the nighttime. For 2 years I woke up everyday and worked out and I LOVED it, I had so much energy and I noticed the weight loss.
I just recently started working out later and have realized I put it off until last minute and then sometimes I just don't go cuz I don't feel like it, yet if I did it inthe morning I would already have it out of the way and feel better about myself.
I wish I could work out in the morning but its just too hard, so in my opinion if you go in the morning it is easier to get i the habit then if you go at night. Pluswhen I go at night I have already ate most of my cals that day and I hate thinking "I have only worked off my fiber bar" etc. haha
Sad now I wish I didn't work so early so I could get back into my am workouts :frown:

I think that it is a personal choice. I do think that morning workouts are a little better because they get your metabolism going for the day. I personally workout twice a day. I do Tae-Bo in the morning to get me going and then my husband and I walk in the evenings (weather permitting) after dinner. It's an opportunity for us to have some "us" time, kids stay home and we aren't allowed to discuss work.