In The best time for Workout -part one- we analyzed pros and cons of morning and afternoon workout, now we’ll take a look to some pros and cons of working out in the evening.

Evening Workout

According to some research studies on lung function, body rhythms, temperature and hormone levels, the best time to exercise is around 6 pm.
Here are some pros and cons of working out in the evening.

Pros:

  • For most people, body temperature and hormone levels peak at 6 pm;
  • Muscles are warm and flexible;
  • Some of us are able to workout harder late in the day because the perceived exertion is lower;
  • Can help regulate the amount of food we feel like eating for dinner;
  • Late evenings don’t typically have the level of disruptions or distractions as other times of the day;
  • Exercising at the gym is often easier later in the evening when other members have gone home;
  • Late evening workouts can de-stress us and help us turn off our brain after a day of stimulation;
  • Exercising at night can make us more relaxed and tired facilitating a better night’s sleep;

Cons:

  • Distractions and conflicting commitments are more likely in the evening than in the mornings;
  • Exercising late at night may energize some of us making it difficult to get off to sleep;
  • Exercising outside at night is obviously more dangerous than during the morning or afternoon;
  • During summer, evenings are the hottest part of the day making it uncomfortable to exercise;
  • Night exercise doesn’t enjoy the “afterburn” effect – our metabolism drops when we fall asleep;

The bottom line

When it comes to exercise, the bottom line is that it is more important that we workout than when we workout.
If we can’t workout in the morning, or don’t want to but can workout in the afternoon or evening, we should do it.
Consistency is one of the most important considerations when it comes to when we work out.
If we consistently exercise at the same time each day, our ‘internal clock’ will adjust in time so that we have the energy and become mentally and physical ready to workout.
This point is particularly important if we are training for a specific event.
If we are training for a fun run that is going to start at 7.30 in the morning, it is a good idea to do most of our training at this time too.
If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it. If you currently have an exercise time and routine that is working for you, stick with it.
The time of day may make a difference for intense exercise, but for something like an easy walk, the difference between working out in the morning, afternoon or evening is likely to be negligible at best.

Conclusions

Do you know what the best time to exercise is in order to maximize fat and weight loss?
This article examined the pros and cons of exercising at various times throughout the day in order to help us all get more from our workouts and move that much closer to achieving our weight loss goals.
Regardless of what the research says, every individual is unique, and as such, each person’s body chemistry and inner clock is different. What works best for another person may not work for us. In fact, what works best for us today may change in a couple of months or years.
The most important thing about exercise is that we do some. It’s far less important what we do and when we do it.
The best time for all of us to exercise is the time that is free of interruptions, when we have sufficient energy and body temperature, and that can allow us to exercise as consistently as possible over the long term.

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