You want to lose weight, and you’ve finally made up your mind that you are going to start exercising on a regular basis. Congratulations! Now you just have to find a time to workout that is beneficial to both your personal goals and schedule. Recent research shows that the best way to benefit from any exercise programs is to workout during certain times of the day.
Part of what determines the best time to exercise is your body’s circadian rhythm. This metabolic clock helps to determine whether you’re an early bird or a late riser. While there isn’t much you can do to alter your circadian rhythm, you can work with it instead of against it to regulate your exercise regimen. Exercising when you are more inclined to do so is more motivating than working out when you are not in the mood to. Here are some things to keep in mind before you start any exercise programs.
Early Morning Workouts
Working out in the morning is very beneficial for anyone that wants to lose weight. Exercising as soon as you get up is a great way to set the tone for the rest of your day. It gets the blood flowing, and releases feel-good endorphins that help to boost your mood. Recent studies show that women who exercise first thing in the morning are far less likely to make poor food choices during the day. Research also suggests that people who exercise in the morning feel less pressure to do so because they are getting it out of the way before their schedule begins. Women who exercise in the wee hours of the morning are also more inclined to engage in more physical activities to stay fit.
Afternoon Workouts
If your goal is to build and tone muscle, then you are better off exercising in the early afternoon and evening, between the hours of 2PM to 6PM. This is the optimal time for enzyme and muscular function activity. People that exercise during this time have more stamina to reach and exceed their workout goals to see better results.
Establishing the Best Time
To determine which time of day is best for you, try going to a few exercise programs first thing in the morning for a few weeks. Take note of how often you showed up on time and how you felt before and after class. Repeat the same process during the afternoon for a few weeks. Compare your results. The time of day that you showed up ready to workout the most is the time of day you should schedule your regular exercise regimen.
Trouble Keeping a Schedule
Anyone that has trouble making it to their exercise programs should consider signing up for a class at a time when they are more likely to appear. Even if you are a member of a particular gym, it doesn’t make much sense for you to pay for a class that you can’t make it to. You don’t have to rearrange your schedule to make it to class. Just take your class at a time that you will show up. Some people have great success by going to the gym as soon as they get up, but this is largely because they are morning people. If you are a late riser, consider going to an afternoon or evening class instead.
If exercising is not really your thing, there are ways you can incorporate it into your day without feeling overwhelmed. Park several blocks away from your job or in the back of your parking lot so you can walk briskly to and from your office when you arrive and leave. Take a 10 to 15-minute brisk walk during your lunch break. Regardless of what time of day you choose to exercise, remember that consistency is the key to seeing results.