Those who go to gym or have hired personal trainers some time in their life would believe this fact that if you want to build muscles you should workout in the evening while if your objective is fat loss & body toning & maintenance you should workout in the morning. So is this true? What is the basic rationale behind this? Let us discuss this in detail
Frankly, there is no such rule! The best time of workout depends upon personal preference, lifestyle, consistency & above all your circadian rhythms. You may find some people are morning people- they generally start their day early while some are night owls. This depends upon your circadian rhythms. We have discussed circadian rhythms in our previous blog. Briefly circadian rhythms are daily cycles of sleep & wake cycles. This cycle regulates your physical, mental & behavioural changes in 24 hour time span. As discussed earlier, body temperature, blood pressure & metabolism are deeply impacted by our body’s internal clock. The changes in environment have an impact on circadian rhythms including light & darkness, temperature, artificial light, alarm clock, meal timings & timing of your workout. So the basic question arises- are you a morning person or a night owl?
So it all depends upon your circadian rhythm if you should workout during the AM or PM hours.
If you are a morning person!
Those who workout in the morning tend to be more consistent with their workout & daily routine. The basic reason is you get your workout done before any event or distraction during the day that gives you a high probability of succeeding your fitness goals. People who exercise in the morning day tend to manage their time better & feel full charged up & energized during the day. If you do your workout in the morning, make sure that you start with warm up so that your body temperature is elevated & muscles warm before you indulge in a full range workout. If you find difficulty in working out in the morning empty stomach such as fatigue, dizziness, we suggest have a small snack at least 90 minutes before the workout- it can be boiled eggs ( 2 to 3), one small bowl of oats submerged into water or milk, banana or low fat yoghurt.
If you are a night owl!
Evening workout is a perfect way to close your day. Some folks think that evening workouts are the best since they help in relieving the stress they encounter during the day. You feel more alert, your muscles appear more flexible & your body temperature is elevated during evening workout. You also have an additional benefit of having food in your body which can keep you energised during the workout.
Key takeaways
Whether your fitness goal is weight loss, fat loss, relieve yourself of stress, body toning or muscle building, adopt a schedule & routine that you can consistently follow. Schedule time for workout which works best for you. Your body’s internal clock will reset itself & your sleep habits & meal timings will fall in place or adjust based on when you decide to exercise.
