For many of us, exercising is quite a challenge. When you have finally gathered the courage to go to the gym, you naturally also want your workout to have the greatest possible effect. Is it better to exercise in the morning or in the evening?
Empty stomach
If you are a real early bird and do not mind setting the alarm clock at 5 AM, then exercising in the morning is not such a bad idea. There are a lot of advantages to it. First of all, exercising on an empty stomach ensures better fat burning, research shows . If you are not used to exercising on an empty stomach, be careful: it can make you feel dizzy or nauseous.
Sleep well
In addition, an early workout ensures lower blood pressure and a better night’s sleep, according to this study by Appalachian State University. The researchers discovered that seven o’clock in the morning is the best time to exercise. But the biggest advantage is perhaps that people who exercise early during the day burn more calories and make healthier choices.
Healthier choices
This is because your metabolism is shaken well, which means that your body burns fat faster during the day. In addition, you create happiness hormones during exercise, which makes you feel better and more positive throughout the day. This also allows you to make healthier choices when it comes to food.
Better prepared
But also exercising in the evening has its advantages, if you prefer to turn around in the morning. In the evening, your body is better prepared for a sweat session in the gym. Your muscles are warmed up, making you twenty percent more flexible than in the morning. In addition, you have more testosterone in your body between two and six o’clock in the afternoon , so that your muscles can handle a workout better.
Maximum power
This theory is supported by a study by the Clinical Research Center at the University of Chicago. In the evening you can lift more weight and sustain cardio for longer, because your muscles and lungs are at their maximum strength in the evening. So although your workout has more effect in the morning, you can do more in the evening. Instead of ten squats you can maybe have twenty, and instead of running two kilometers you can have four.
Discipline and regularity for sports
The only risk of exercising in the evening is that you have all day to think up excuses, which increases the chance that you will eventually spend the evening on the couch. A bit of discipline is therefore also important, but in the end you can decide for yourself whether you prefer to exercise in the evening or in the morning. Regularity ultimately ensures that you will see a difference.
