Morning vs. Evening Workouts
Have you ever wondered if there was a perfect time of the day to work out? Did you ever think to yourself that maybe you would do better if you workouts were after work instead of before? Well there are definitely advantages and disadvantages to what time of the day you pick. While this article does not serve to pick one over the other, it’s meant to show the pros and cons of each. The truth is that a workout done at any time is beneficial to your health, but each time frame does have their advantages. Below we list out those advantages, and some disadvantages, of each so you can decide for yourself.
Morning Workouts
Pros:
- Completing it early means you are less likely to skip.
- Increased energy for the rest of your day.
- More calories burned throughout the day.
- Helps to keep you more alert during the day.
Cons:
- If your sleep patterns are poor than early workouts can make you irritable and even lead to you getting sick.
- Your muscles are stiffer in the mornings, meaning your body is cold and tight. You’ll need longer to warm up.
- Lack of fuel for your workout. Since you’ve been asleep, you are essentially fasting and in order to see the benefits of food you would have to wake up an extra hour early to eat!
Evening Workouts
Pros:
- Stress relief after a long day of work.
- More energy due to eating throughout the day.
- You are typically stronger in the evening due to higher energy and being warmer than first thing in the morning.
Cons:
- More likely to procrastinate. The more you put it off, the less likely you are to actually make it to the gym
- Can interfere with sleep patterns. Some may find it hard to calm down enough to fall asleep after a late workout.
- Gyms tend to be more crowded at night.
As you can see by choosing one over the other you are giving up some benefits, while gaining others. So in a sense they are equals. Really it comes down to personal preference, schedule availability, and commitment. If you are NOT a morning person, how committed to waking up at 5 a.m are you going to be? So don’t worry about the time of day you work out, worry about getting the work out in. The most important thing in any good exercise regimen is to be consistent, so all pros and cons aside pick a time of day that allows you to be.