This is the best time of day to exercise
While fitness gurus recommend working out first thing in the morning, because it doesn’t interfere with one’s schedule, those who do not identify themselves as early birds might shudder at the thought of getting out of bed for a 6 a.m. workout. According to CNN, people perform best at exercise later in the day.
Research shows that strength and flexibility are greatest in the late afternoon and that perceived exertion – how hard you feel that your body is working – is lowest. Scientists say these effects occur due to our circadian rhythm, which causes body temperature to rise slightly throughout the day and peak in late afternoon.
However, this doesn’t mean that you’re doomed to a subpar workout if you exercise in the morning. By exercising in the morning consistently you can eliminate the morning performance gap. Research shows that athletes who train in the morning improve their performance to levels similar to afternoon.
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Some people say that working out in the evening interferes with sleep – which might be a reality for some, but overall, research has failed to support this assertion. For instance, a small study of young adults found that doing vigorous aerobic exercise two hours before bedtime did not impair their ability to fall asleep or sleep soundly. Howeber, everyone is different, so it is possible that nighttime exercise may make sleeping harder.
Keep in mind that the best time to work out is whenever you can. If you exercise at different times of the day, note the hour as you are tracking your progress. That way, you’ll know for sure when your body clock may be the culprit for a less-than-optimal workout.
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