Fitness Face-off: Morning vs Evening Workouts

As a personal trainer, I'm asked thousands of questions about fitness and nutrition.  One simple question that keeps coming up time and time again is, well... A question of timing!  Is it better to exercise in the morning or at night?  Unfortunately, the answer isn't quite as simple as the question.  In all actuality, there are benefits and bummers to either arrangement, which I'll be sharing with you in this article.

Early birds might have the right idea when it comes to exercise.  One definite benefit of fitness first thing in the morning is adherence; to put it another way, if you get your burn in early, you'll be less likely to skip.  Exercise in the morning, and you won't have a chance to get too busy or tired.  Another plus of AM activity?  An energy boost that, depending on the type and intensity of your routine, could last longer than your quadruple mochaccino.  

Of course starting your day with a sweat session has a couple of drawbacks too.  The first challenge is fairly obvious. Devoting sufficient time to exercise before work can be near impossible, especially for those with long commutes, early starts, or inconvenient gym hours.  There's also concern about the repercussions of feeling the burn before breakfast.  Exercising while your body's fuel gauge is 'on E' means you have less energy to expend and can result in fatigue, poor results, and maybe even injury.

Evening exercisers, on the other hand, face a totally different set of pros and cons.  First the good news for night owls- penciling your workout in after work hours means you'll be reducing stress as well as your waistline.  There's nothing more therapeutic than a long swim, walk, or stretch session to end a rough day and melt the tension away.  A particularly stressful day could also be well channeled into an intense workout like boxing, weightlifting, or pounding the pavement.  Again, many also find it easier to make time for a workout once their daily obligations are fulfilled.  

Not everything is perfect when it comes to nighttime exercise, though.  For some, working up a sweat within a few hours of bedtime can result in disordered sleeping patterns, such as trouble falling, or staying, asleep.  Thankfully, not everyone experiences those ill-effects.  In fact, getting sufficient exercise, whether it's in the beginning, middle, or end of your day, appears to be a contributing factor for healthy, sound sleep.

What's the answer in the debate between night owls and early birds then?  All things considered, it looks to be a bit of a draw.  So try each arrangement, and go with whichever better suits your needs, personality, and schedule.  Both timings have benefits for your body, so just pick the one you're more likely to stick with and enjoy.  Just remember not to workout on a completely empty stomach- so if you want to exercise first thing in the morning, at least have a piece of fruit or a handful of seeds to get you through to breakfast!

I've always been more of an evening exerciser, myself- which works better for you?  You're welcome to let me know in the comments!

Have a fit & healthy weekend,

Sarah