When
is the best time to exercise? Early morning when you
first wake up? Later morning after you've started
your day? During your lunch break at work? Sometime
in the early or late afternoon after a long day at
work, or perhaps in the evening a couple hours before
retiring?
When is the best time
to exercise? Early morning when you first wake up?
Later morning after you've started your day? During
your lunch break at work? Sometime in the early or
late afternoon after a long day at work, or perhaps
in the evening a couple hours before retiring? |
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Ask several different
people, and you will probably get several different responses
as to when you should exercise for optimal results.
Every individual is unique,
and as such, each person's body chemistry and inner clock
is different. What works best for me, may not work for you.
In fact, what works best for you today, may change in a
couple years.
You will perform best when
your energy level is high. So if you are a morning person,
early morning may work best for you. But just because you're
a night owl doesn't mean, you shouldn't exercise in the
morning. In fact, you may find that exercising early may
change you to a morning person.
Over the years, I have experimented
with different exercise times and routines. When I was pregnant
with my oldest son, I was substitute teaching. During that
time of my life, I would take a relaxing walk at the end
of my day. After having my second son, I walked/jogged early
mornings and on alternate days chose to do some afternoon
aerobics while my sons napped.
I've tried other times of
the day for exercising, and I always feel great after finishing
a routine, but I have found that the best time for me is
first thing in the morning. Though not naturally an early
bird, I enjoy running under the morning sunrise, and I have
found that since implementing my daily morning routine,
I have become a morning person. Starting my day with physical
activity also gives me the boost I need to make it through
a hectic day with three young sons.
Not everyone, however, can
bound out of bed first thing in the morning to exercise.
Maybe you already get up early to go to work. You must either
make the effort to get up a little earlier or find time
during a long work break or at the end of the day to squeeze
in some physical activity (even if it is only 20 minutes).
You may find, though, that the more time that passes, the
harder it is to exercise. You're tired and have so much
to do and just don't feel like taking some time for fitness.
Some enjoy exercising in
the early evening, since exercise helps them relieve the
stresses of the day and relax for the night. For others,
exercising vigorously at night may keep them awake longer.
(I do enjoy a few relaxing stretches before bed, but I avoid
aerobic activity in the evening for that reason.)
So when is the best time
to exercise? Any time that you can do it. I recommend trying
an early morning routine first if you can. lt starts your
day on a positive note and other responsibilities won't
prevent you from exercising. Researchers have found that
those who exercise in the morning are more likely to stick
with an exercise routine than those who put it off until
later in the day.
If early morning does not
work for you and you are disciplined and committed to exercising
another time, then by all means, do it then. The best time
for you is the time when you will do it and remain committed.
It's not always easy getting started, but if you stay with
it for some time, you will like what you see, and will be
more motivated to continue. |
