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