When Should You Be Working Out Each Day?
There’s really no wrong time to get exercise, except perhaps during a funeral. But certain times of day are better than others depending on your specific fitness goals. Related: Lift…
Phil Walter/Getty Images
Phil Walter/Getty ImagesThere's really no wrong time to get exercise, except perhaps during a funeral. But certain times of day are better than others depending on your specific fitness goals.
Dr. Anthony Hackney, professor of exercise physiology and nutrition at UNC-Chapel Hill, says how you workout is more important than when. High intensity workouts yield greater results. However, some studies suggest that these peak exercise times may enhance those benefits:
- Best time for weight management: Morning. Working out first thing on an empty stomach may be more helpful with burning stored fat.
- Best time for intense training: Afternoon. By the afternoon, you’ve had time to eat a few times, raising blood sugar levels, which makes it easier to do more high intensity exercise.
- Best for stress management: Evening. Working out in the evening helps lower levels of the “stress” hormone cortisol and can lower levels of the hormone ghrelin, a.k.a the "hunger hormone."
While those strategies might be worth trying, the most crucial thing is to make sure you're getting some exercise every day. Anytime you workout it’s a positive, no matter what the clock says.
Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Phil HarrisEditor
Phil Harris is 50% of "Phil & Mel in the Afternoon" on K104.7. He has been with the station since 2013 and on the air in Charlotte since 2000. Before coming to the Queen City, Phil worked for radio stations in Pittsburgh, Austin, and Seattle. In addition to the weekly "Throwback Threesome" music video feature, Phil writes about things that matter to Charlotte sports fans and pet owners. He happens to be both.
Related Stories
