It is generally believed that your effort and regularity matter more than timing when it comes to exercising for weight loss. This might not be true completely as per some researchers, the timing plays a significant role in shedding kilos. But what’s the best time to workout?
Some research indicates that exercising in the morning leads to losing belly fat or stored fat better than any other time. While other studies show that working out in the afternoon and night help you gain more muscles and better body shape. So, it’s better to start exercising in the morning to lose weight. Then, progress with some training in the afternoon and evening for getting in shape by working on your muscles.
We discussed why it is so in more detail here. You can determine the best time to work out to lose weight in the end.
Is It Better To Workout In The Morning or at Night To Lose Weight?
This is one of the best questions ever! Both a.m. and p.m. workouts have their benefits and drawbacks for losing weight. Here we explained each morning and night exercise effects so that you can determine the best time of day to get moving.
Exercising In The Morning
Ideally, there are plenty of benefits to working out in the morning. Starting your day early in the morning adds some extra hours to your day. This means that your body burns more calories for daily activities in comparison with when you are sleeping. Moreover, when you get done with your workout before the day starts, it enables you to begin your day with a dose of endorphins. This leads to less stress and a calm mind that help you prevent overeating during the day.
Recent studies show that women who walked briskly for 45 minutes in the morning were less distracted by delicious-looking food pictures, as compared to when they didn’t work out at all. This helped them to be more physically active throughout the day as well.
Working out in the morning can boost metabolism, which means that you will progress to burn calories throughout the day. In addition, it has been found that exercising in the morning can help you sleep better, in comparison with exercising in the evening or anywhere close to bedtime.
Exercising at night
The human body’s ability to perform is at its peak in the afternoon and night, according to healthline.com. The body temperature of most people is at its highest level from 2 pm to 6 pm. As the body temperature gets higher, it optimizes your muscle function and strength. Therefore, your body is most prepared to work out at this time, making it an effective time of the day to exercise.
In addition, your heart rate and blood pressure are at their lowest during late afternoon and night. This reduces your risk of injury and can also improve your workout performance. According to science, if you aim to gain muscles, this is the best time for that. However, it is not suggested to train too close to bedtime because it may make it hard to get good sleep.
All in all, it doesn’t matter what time you choose to exercise in the first place. The first and probably most effective point to losing some pounds is to exercise regularly. This is what matters the most and the benefits of exercising regularly are unprecedented. From less stress to a better body shape, fitness, and flexibility, it helps in so many ways. Regular workout is the key to losing weight and being disease-free for the rest of your life.
What Time Is Best For Exercise For Weight Loss?
Let’s face it, if I told you that the best time to work out for weight loss is 3 a.m. (not true, by the way), did you believe it? 99% of people would ignore me and move on. So, to be honest, there is no universally “correct” answer to this question. That’s why the real-world, practical answer to this significant question is a little bit complex.
Advice on when to fit an exercise routine into your packed day is all over the map. Working out at any time of day has many health benefits and potential pitfalls. Also, the right time to exercise for most people isn’t about how much weight you lift or how many calories you burn — it’s more about how you feel when training and how exercise fits into your daily plan. If it is so, just try to make it as simple as possible and just exercise regularly any time of the day suits you best.
But, for people who lose weight is one of their priorities, it’s good to optimize your workouts with good timing. Here’s what we know about how the time of day affects your training and losing weight goal according to research.
Morning, Afternoon, or Evening Exercise For Losing Weight?
Recent studies show that exercising in the morning and especially on an empty stomach is the best way to burn stored fat and drop some pounds. This is proved by a study by Erik Willis, a data analyst with the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention at UNC. In that research about 100 overweight people, previously inactive young men and women exercised five times a week at a physiology lab. They had to work out until they burned up to 600 calories per session.
After 10 months, almost everyone had dropped pounds. Even though everyone was doing the same, supervised movements, the extent of their losses fluctuated wildly. Those people who typically exercised before noon had lost more weight, on average, as compared to the men and women who usually worked out after 3 p.m. This is while many people who aim to lose weight tend to exercise in the afternoon or evening.
An afternoon exercise can be a great way to break up the workday. It simply provides a much-needed energy boost and mental health break, leaving you more productive for the rest of the day. Even a quick 20-30 min walk may be enough to drive all these benefits. A late-day workout, on the other hand, is a better fit for many people.
The evening exercise can be an effective stress-reliever after a long workday – if you have enough energy to work out and don’t allow fatigue to keep you from following through on your fitness goals.
What Is The Best Time of Day To Exercise To Lose Belly Fat?
Working out in the morning is found to boost metabolism, which means it will continue to burn calories throughout the day. According to another study by the University of New South Wales, training in the morning (before breakfast) is actually the most effective time for cardio exercises.
Cardio moves are a must for those who want to get fit and lose belly fat. This type of workout will increase your heart rate and leads to burning calories even after your exercise finishes. So, if you want to do some cardio to result in your weight loss, then try it in the morning.
When it comes to weight loss and building muscle, a recent study suggests the best time to work out varies between different people. It turns out that exercising at different times – for specific results – could get more out of your moves. US researchers conducted a 12-week study that sought to find the ‘elusive’ ideal time of day to train. Their findings indicated that those aiming to lose belly fat and reduce their blood pressure should exercise in the morning.
Will I Lose Weight If I Exercise In The Evening?
According to all studies, you will still lose weight by exercising in the evening or any other time of the day. However, the results wouldn’t be the same as morning exercise. Here I envy those who can fit in an exercise between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. That would be my ideal time to work out if I could do so regularly. I feel more ready for training in the afternoon as my body is more flexible, mobile, and physically energetic. I feel stronger and faster in the evening as well.
Many people experience physiological adaptations throughout the day, which makes afternoon and evening the best time to train for multiple reasons.
- Your physical performance might improve
- Your body gets warmer as the day goes on
- Hormones are on your side and gain muscle for you
- Late-day exercise can relieve stress
- Might help replace bad habits (like snacking, drinking, smoking, or watching too much TV)
The above advantages to afternoon and evening exercises might automatically tempt you to designate the latter part of the day to work out. Among all these benefits, losing weight is between the lines. I mean replacing bad habits and overeating can definitely lead to dropping some pounds.
Wrapping-Up
If you want to get the most out of the best exercises for weight loss, so it’s important to find the best time of day for your workout. The latest studies point to consistent morning workouts for sustainable weight loss, but don’t worry if you can’t fit that into your daily plan. After all, having time for any physical activity is better than none. So, find a time for working out that suits you the best and includes your fitness goals.