Which is better, working out in the morning or night?

[yadrutas]

In terms of maximizing the effectiveness of your workout, is it better to workout in the morning or night?

[SgSpartan]

It's best to workout when the stars align themselves properly to the central of the universe...

For god's sake, you have better things to worry about. It's how hard you work while you're at the gym, not when you're at the gym.

[braden101]

I read something a while ago that said your energy levels are at their highest 6 hours after waking. Whether theres any truth to that, i dont know.

As long as you put in the effort, it wont really make any diference.Just more or less comfortable for you.

[WaterproofCat]

When it comes to lifting I am not completely sure.

But as for running or any other form of cardio it depends on your goals, If you are trying to slim down, it is best to run first thing in the morning, before you eat, because it boosts your metabolism all day. If you were training for a big race or something, it is better to run later in the day, when you have some food in you and sugar in your blood, your run will be at a higher intensity.

I know that you didn't ask about running lol, and I'm sorry if you found that irrelevent, but I suspect that it is something similar for weight lifting, I meant think about it, you will have more energy later on in the day after you have eaten more meals, therefore you will have more energer.

[tblack1224]

Its simple,

if you're a morning person then workout in the morning but if you're not, then workout whenever you feel the most energized.

[heycisco01]

Early to mid-afternoon works best for me - around 2pm. During the week, I lift at 7pm and usually do well. Much better than lifting at 9-11am on a Saturday morning.

[r_graz]

You're overthinking things if you're worried about this.

You work out at whatever time you prefer or fits your schedule. You work out at a time that will let you work out consistently. That will be far, far more important than worrying over minute differences in test or GH production based on time of day.

[ironwill2008]

You're overthinking things if you're worried about this.

.

^^^^This.


80/20, FTW

[gecko2424]

Circadian cycle.

Supposedly T is higher in the AM, but that's anecdotal.

If you feel like crap in the AM, work out at night.

[stowellomite]

I just want to make sure I can workout on my schedule so I go in the mornings to ensure nothing can get in the way. I hate missing a day...

[adamleonard]

It's best to workout when the stars align themselves properly to the central of the universe...

For god's sake, you have better things to worry about. It's how hard you work while you're at the gym, not when you're at the gym.

agreed..

[Hut*Hut]

Circadian cycle.

Supposedly T is higher in the AM, but that's anecdotal.

If you feel like crap in the AM, work out at night.

FWIW, which isn't much (and I address this to you, not the OP who is a nut), T levels at a given moment aren't very important. Ts just an agent of muscle growth which effects strength increases in the long term, not a popeyes spinach type thing. What does effect strength transiently is the CNS - and most people's CNS isn't fully 'charged'/fired up yet early in the morning. Which is why you feel like **** training in the morning (me too). That can change though - if you start training early in the morning consistently then your body will adapt - thats what it does. And in any case, like the saying goes to explain periodization 'fatigue masks fitness' - even if you always lifted 5% less in the morning, a % increase in that state will have the same effect in the long term as the same % increase in a fired up night training state.

Bottom line - doesn't matter a jot, do as you like/your schedule demands. I never feel right training til about 8pm.

[mstrguns]

im a morning person so i work out during the moening hours from 0600 to 1200, while i was in the corps we did our workouts in the am so it is kinda a habit, whille depolyed i wasnt able to work out so body weight exercises were the name of the game, i had to take 11/2 years off in 1998 for back surgery so here again light excercises were the rule im 67yo and while i was off for that time gained some fat now im paying for it trying to take it off, i do tend to ramble on .

[mstrguns]

^^^^This.


80/20, FTW

when i look as goos as you ill be happy,gunny

[jb4476]

In terms of maximizing the effectiveness of your workout, is it better to workout in the morning or night?

Exactly 58.4 minutes after your pre-workout meal is optimal.

It doesn't matter. Find what works for you and do it.

[CookAndrewB]

I think there have been plenty of smart answers so far. Don't get lost in the details. If you feel better in the evening, train then. Because of time constraints I train in the morning. Do I feel best then? No, but since it is the only "free" time I can manage, that is when I train. Know what? I have still made progress, it hasn't helped (or hurt) my fat loss, or anything else. As someone said, this kind of grasping at straws mentality to fixing the ideal training time... it is crap. It only matters how much time you spend under a bar that matters, and even then we are talking about how much time, in the past year, five years, decade, have you spent, not how much time you spent last week.

[Zjunky]

In terms of maximizing the effectiveness of your workout, is it better to workout in the morning or night?

Is isn't the same for everyone.

The best for you will be wherever you can put it into your schedule for the week and do it consistently. I know that there's no way I could get motivated to get up at 5:30 am and go before work, so I wind up not getting to the gym until 8:30 at night during the week.

Do what works for you on a regular basis. While fitness is a laudable goal, it's not the only thing in life. Take the rest of your life into account, then see when works best for you.