AM vs. PM Workouts

Is it better to workout in the morning or in the evening? Well, that really depends on your personal preferences and lifestyle. There are several factors that should play into your timing your training.

What's realistic? Take an honest look at your own daily commitments and responsibilities. Where are thew bulk of your activities and potential conflicts with an exercise routine usually scheduled? Do you have a new baby that demands your attention first thing in the morning? Then maybe an evening workout when the baby's asleep would be suitable. Maybe you want the evening time to spend with your family after work and/or school. It's ridiculous to suggest you're going to give up the important parts of your life altogether to train, so perhaps getting a workout in the morning while the rest of the house is asleep is more feasible. The crucial first step here is being real with yourself and figuring out a time and routine you'll actually be able to adhere to long term.

Pros and cons: mornings. I'd venture to say that a fair amount of people grimace at the idea of waking up before the sun's up to exercise. Well, first off, it doesn't have to be THAT early. If you put a plan into place the day before and work efficiently, You may be able to get away with only an additional 30 minutes or so subtracted from your current wake up time. The pro's of morning exercise is that it has an advantageous boost to your metabolism, in that the EPOC (excess post-exercise oxygen consumption) will last well into your work day. This will help burn more calories more and more efficiently process calories consumed throughout your day. Some cons here are that hormone levels are not at their peak in the mornings, leading to a decrease in power and strength initially. If you're not careful, this can potentially lead to ineffective workout movements at best or injuries at worst. The keys to success here are planning and knowing your body and its functionality.

Pros and cons: evenings. Based on just my own personal observations, it seems like the majority of people tend to drift towards a later time frame for exercise. At this point in the day, most people have already been through their work day and have been awake for 8-12 hours. This means that you're no longer "cold" like in the morning, and therefore may be better equipped for physical activity. Also, with the increased hormone levels, you're likely to be physically stronger and able to endure a more intensive workout. However, with these increased hormone levels can also bring possible issues with sleep. Working out too close to bedtime can result in poor quality sleep, which can drastically harm your body's recovery, and therefore, negate all the hard work you just performed. From a surroundings/societal standpoint, this is also when gyms and the places in general are usually the most crowded which can increase your training time just having to wait on equipment or navigate traffic.

In conclusion, regardless of what time of day or night works for you, the best progress will be gained from the consistency you show. If you don't stick to a regiment, then it won't matter what timing tricks you employ, they won't get you very far without consistency. Remember, the worst workout is NO workout!