Working out in the Morning vs. Night

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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?

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.