| What's the best time of the day to workout?Very | | | | that exercise increases your resting metabolic rate to |
| simply, the best time to workout is whatever time you | | | | varying degrees. People seem to maximize this effect |
| can consistently fit into your schedule.Ideally, you're not | | | | when exercising in the morning.Lunchtime or afternoon |
| exercising in the morning one day, mid-afternoon the | | | | exercise, if it can be squeezed in, will generally help |
| next, and maybe squeezing in an evening workout in a | | | | you avoid the mid-afternoon energy dip which naturally |
| couple days.It's best to get into a consistent pattern. | | | | plagues humans due to our circadian rhythms.The only |
| I generally encourage clients to try to fit exercise into | | | | thing that I can think of that's really beneficial about |
| their morning routine. I can tell you that morning | | | | evening exercise is the social implications. Generally |
| exercisers are simply more successful at sticking with | | | | evening exercisers are a more social crowd. Want to |
| their program for the long term. Morning exercise | | | | meet someone special in the gym, rather than a bar? |
| becomes a lifestyle. Exercising before you head off to | | | | Evening exercise will maximize your chances.I should |
| work allows you to start the day feeling great. You | | | | also mention that you probably do not want to |
| feel productive and ready to take on the challenges of | | | | workout too late at night. Late-evening exercise may |
| the day.You may say, "Doug, I'm not a morning person. | | | | interfere with your ability to sleep for several hours |
| I have to be at work at eight o'clock and there's no | | | | after the workout. Of course, if you feel that you need |
| way that I'm getting up at 5:00 or 6:00 AM to | | | | more energy in the evenings, exercising right after |
| exercise." Every once in a while I'll get this response. | | | | work may be a good option for you. Test it and see |
| Fine. Then get your workout in later on. Maybe over | | | | what works for you. Everyone is a little different in |
| the lunch hour or right after work. But I'll tell you that | | | | regards to how exercise affects their ability to |
| you will generally run into more issues that make it | | | | sleep.Doug Jackson, M.Ed., CSCS is the owner of |
| easy to miss workouts if you try to schedule it later in | | | | Personal Fitness Advantage, a high-end personal |
| the day. When the day gets busy and push comes to | | | | fitness training business in Weston, Florida. Doug also |
| shove, your evening exercise sessions will likely be | | | | publishes and is Editor-in-Chief of Fitness |
| disrupted.Here are some facts that will help you pick | | | | Empowerment, an industry leading electronic |
| the right exercise time for you:Morning exercise allows | | | | newsletter that accepts free subscriptions at His |
| you to maximize the benefits of something exercise | | | | forthcoming work, Family Fit Plan ( is geared towards |
| physiologists call EPOC. EPOC stands for "excess | | | | helping families spend quality time together and get in |
| post-exercise oxygen consumption". Research shows | | | | great shape at the same time. |