We all know those early morning risers who get their workouts done before most people even open their eyes in the morning. Contrarily, we also know those who grind it out late at night and go to bed post workout-high. Not to mention people who get their workout done on their lunch break or in the middle of the day.
This probes the question, when is the best time to workout?
Am I limiting my results because of when I workout?
Let’s talk about each scenario…
Early Morning Workouts: Early morning workouts can be extremely great for many reasons! When you first wake up, your mind should be cleared and ready to tackle the day after a good night’s sleep. It often is a quiet time of day and can give you room and space for you to get your body and mind going! Many people with busy schedules find early morning workouts to be the most effective because they like to get their workouts in before their day gets going. Studies have shown that morning workout goers usually are the most consistent with their workout routines. It oftentimes can be the most consistently open time to workout before the day progresses. It an also set your day up for success! You conquered your workout so now you are ready to take on the day! It is important to note that first thing in the morning, your body temperature is lower. So, it may take a little bit longer to warm up and get your muscles moving. There have been studies done, showing that working out on an empty stomach can increase calorie burning. This is something that we incorporate often with our Intermittent Fasting program, LEAN FAST. We will workout first thing in the morning while still in the fasting state! Find out more about it HERE.
Mid-day workouts: Others find the middle of the day to be the peak time of energy! Your body temperatures are higher and your body feels awake and loose. A mid-day workout can boost blood flow to your brain and help you concentrate! Also, if you are working out mid-day, this can keep you from mindless snacking. It is important to note that eating your meal is recommended after your mid-day workout, so that you are not working out on a full stomach and then you can refuel your muscles afterward! Taking a break in the middle of a workday can also help people to finish the day strong and give them the extra endorphins that they may need to finish that last work project or get through that extra long meeting. Lunch breaks are built into the work schedule, so it can be a great way guarantee your workout time! We even suggest grabbing a co-worker to do the workout with you! It is always more fun with a friend!
Evening workout: In reality, many people cannot workout any other time then after work or even after the kids are asleep. Some even prefer this! This can be a great way to end your day as you end on a major win and allow time to work on yourself! It can be a great stress reliever too! Knowing you are working out later in the evening can also help to keep you on track with eating healthy foods throughout the day. You want to make sure you feel good and are ready to go for your workout, so you fuel your body with healthy foods! It can help to hold you accountable! Working out can be a huge stress reliever after your day. It can help you to get off some steam and process frustrations built up. You do want to be mindful of how late your workout though, because you want to give your body fuel after you workout, along with adequate time to settle down before you head to sleep.
Overall, all times of day can be great and effective!
The biggest key is to find what time works best for you to stay consistent!
You can ask the questions:
When will I be most motivated to workout?
When is the most consistent time?
When can my accountability or workout partner join me most often?
When will I have the least amount of interruptions?
Whatever time of day you choose to workout, we hope you make it a priority because working out has so many benefits! Regardless of the time, make sure that you refuel your body after the workout, stay hydrated, find a time and commit to it, write it in your schedule so you are less likely to bail, and look at working out as a mental break and a time for you to work on yourself!
At HIITBURN, we are all about the time-efficient workouts as we are busy people and we know you are too! We love to do HIIT workouts and find them super effective in weight loss and getting lean!
And did you hear? We are running a 30-Day Get Lean Summer Challenge that will have fast, effective workouts + Nutrition, recipes, and more! The workouts can be done any time of day and done essentially anywhere!
JOIN US FOR OUR 30-Day Get Lean Summer Challenge HERE!
As always, we are here to help you along the way! Get in touch with us on any question you may have! [email protected]