When is the best time to work out?
SOME people swear by their early-morning workouts, others prefer to exercise in the evening.
No two bodies are the same, so there are no hard and fast rules on the time of your daily exercise routine, but here are some ideas.
RUNNING
When’s best: Morning Researchers at Appalachian State University in the US found that 7am is the best time to go for a jog if you want to reduce your blood pressure and get a better night’s sleep.
Running in the morning will kick-start your metabolism, helping your body burn more calories throughout the day.
SWIMMING AND CYCLING
When’s best: Afternoon/evening Studies have found high-intensity exercise (like cycling) works better when your body temperature is higher and your joints have loosened up.
This means your performance is likely to be better during a 6pm ride than one at 6am.
Swimming, cycling and running work many of the same major muscle groups, so there is little difference as regards when it is best to perform any one of them.
WEIGHT TRAINING
When’s best: Early evening “Research into what time is best to exercise has been examined by considering circadian rhythms; the idea is that the human body clock has an optimum time for peak performance just as night time signals sleep,” explains Andy Lane, professor of sport science at University of Wolverhampton.
For weights, it would seem the optimum time is early evening.
One study found that those lifting weights in the evening increased muscle mass more than those who trained in the morning, but the difference was not significant.
YOGA
When’s best: Morning Many yogis prefer a morning session but this is predominantly for mental, rather than physical, reasons. Practising yoga as soon as you rise helps you dedicate yourself to yoga with a clear mind, before the day’s stresses get in the way.