Exercise - When's the Best Time?
Categories: Fitness
In this week's "Walking the Walk," I spread my daily workouts out over the course of the day, usually one in the morning, one after lunch and one in the evening. What I discovered -- beside the fact that this is a great method for squeezing in exercise on busy days -- was that I really prefer getting my workout done right before breakfast. Once the day starts to get away from me, exercise starts to fall farther and farther down my priority list.But is morning really the best time to exercise? Most studies say no. Strength output, reaction time and aerobic capacity all reach their peak between the hours of 4 and 7 p.m. So if you're looking for the best workout you can get, an afternoon workout might just be for you.
But ... and there's always a but ... keep reading.
Experts say that this advantage is pretty slight. Not only that, but the body can actually adapt to your favorite time of day to take that jog. Once you're working out regularly in the morning (or afternoon, or while watching David Letterman, if that's what time works best for you), that will eventually become your peak performance time.
As the NYT Well Blog points out, this is an important point for athletes. If you're going to be competing in the morning, then you should train ... you guessed it ... in the morning. But what about the rest of us average folk, who just exercise to be healthy and fit?
The takeaway for us, I think, is that time of day is only important if it affects your ability to work out. If you, like me, know that you're far more consistent when you exercise in the morning, then forget that peak performance stuff and set your alarm to wake you up. When it comes to working out, don't sweat the small stuff -- like the small advantage you might get working out in the afternoons. Instead, just make sure that nothing gets between you and that treadmill.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jason 3-07-2009 @ 10:41AM
I would like to add to this article by saying that exercising before breakfast can help you lose weight. Just make sure you have lots of water to drink and eat afterwards.
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martha 3-07-2009 @ 12:10PM
I find the best time to workout, for me, is as soon as I get home from work. Before I do anything else I change into my work out clothes and hit the treadmill for at least 1/2 hour. It seems to release the stress of the day, and I've lost 10 lbs. so far this year!
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increase site traffic 3-08-2009 @ 11:17AM
Morning is the best time to walk. A morning walk will give you a natural energy boost.
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Heather 3-08-2009 @ 4:42PM
Regardless when the 'best' time is to get a workout in- if I don't run first thing in the morning, it usually ain't happening... I find that a. I get it 'over with' and b. I feel like I can definitely get my day kick-started in the the proper direction.
On a side note:
Way to go Martha!
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u262f 3-10-2009 @ 12:38AM
The question to ask is "best time for what?" Maybe the afternoon is the best time IF you just want the best physical performance, but that doesn't necessarily say anything about health and fitness. Maybe exercising when you're weak would burn more calories and reduce more fat than exercising when you're strong, even if overall physical performance is worse. The physical activities that make people more competitive don't necessarily make them more fit.
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