| Contrary to popular belief, women aren't
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| | low.
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| the only ones with biological clocks. We
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| | Don't Fix It If It's Not Broken
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| all have them, and heed their ticking on
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| | First of all, don't change your schedule
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| a daily basis. If you are a regular
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| | if you feel good beginning your day with
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| exerciser, you may have already
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| | exercise. Everyone agrees that exercise
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| determined your most productive time to
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| | at any time is better than no exercise at
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| exercise and follow a routine that works
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| | all. In fact, people who exercise in the
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| best for you. On the other hand, if your
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| | morning are more successful at making it
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| exercise time varies from day to day, and
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| | a habit. And though it has been suggested
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| it's wearing you out instead of pumping
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| | that morning exercise may put some people
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| you up, you may be interested in the work
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| | at higher risk for heart attack, further
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| of scientists who are studying the
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| | research indicates that there is simply a
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| proverbial internal clock and how to best
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| | generalized increased risk of heart
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| determine what time of day you should
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| | attacks in the morning. If your schedule
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| schedule your workouts.
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| | favors an early workout, emphasize
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| Rhythm: It's Not Just For Dancing
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| | stretching and a good warm-up to insure
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| The secret appears to lie in circadian
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| | that your body is ready for action.
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| rhythms, the daily cycles that our bodies
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| | Other Considerations
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| follow. These rhythms originate in the
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| | If stress relief is your goal, exercise
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| hypothalamus and regulate everything from
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| | always works, all the time. And if you're
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| body temperature and metabolism to blood
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| | wondering when it's best to train for an
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| pressure. The rhythms result from the
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| | upcoming event, it all depends on what
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| firing rate of neurons. They have
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| | time you'll actually be competing. If an
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| conformed to our 24-hour light-to-dark
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| | upcoming marathon begins at 7:00 a.m.,
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| cycle, and may be regulated and
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| | try training at that time of day. Though
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| reregulated each day according to the
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| | training at any time of day will raise
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| environment.
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| | performance levels, research has shown
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| Warm Is Better
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| | that the ability to maintain sustained
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| It is the influence of circadian rhythms
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| | exercise is adaptive to circadian
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| on body temperature that seems to yield
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| | rhythms. In other words, consistently
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| the most control over the quality of a
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| | training in the morning will allow you to
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| workout. When body temperature is at its
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| | sustain exercise during a morning
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| highest, your workouts will likely be
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| | marathon longer than if you train in the
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| more productive; when your temperature is
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| | evening.
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| low, chances are your exercise session
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| | Find Your Peak
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| may be less than optimal. Body
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| | To determine your own circadian peak in
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| temperature is at its lowest about one to
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| | body temperature, record your temperature
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| three hours before most of us wake up in
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| | every couple of hours for five to six
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| the morning, in contrast to late
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| | consecutive days. Body temperature
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| afternoon when body temperature reaches
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| | usually fluctuates by plus or minus 1.5
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| its peak. (To determine your own
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| | degrees throughout the day. Try
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| circadian peak, refer to the box to the
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| | exercising during the period three hours
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| right.) Studies have consistently shown
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| | before and after your highest
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| that exercise during these
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| | temperature. If you are an early bird or
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| late-in-the-day hours produces better
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| | a night owl, you may notice that your
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| performance and more power. Muscles are
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| | temperature peaks one to two hours before
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| warm and more flexible, perceived
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| | or after the norm (between 4 p.m. and 6
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| exertion is low, reaction time is
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| | p.m.); you can adjust your exercise time
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| quicker, strength is at its peak, and
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| | accordingly.
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| resting heart rate and blood pressure are
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