Perhaps you’re a morning person, ready to get up and go to the gym bright and early. Or maybe you only hit your stride later in the day, crushing your routine after work with a vengeance. But is one better than the other, and could you unknowingly be sabotaging your efforts by working at the wrong time? Let’s take a look.
Early bird
If you’re an early morning gym bunny, it’s probably because you like to get your training over and done with as soon as possible. But, as it turns out, you could be doing yourself a huge favour, too, kickstarting your metabolism early so that you burn more calories throughout the day, rather than while sleeping at night. You’ll also feel more energised, be more motivated to make healthy decisions and stick to your plan – and you’ll sleep better, too.
Night owl
Not a morning person? Turns out, you don’t necessarily need to be. Training later in the day will ensure a more relaxed morning, one with no rushing around to get to the gym first thing. You’ll also be more warmed up and prepared when you get there, with muscles that have been working throughout the day already. And if you’ve had a bad day, you’ll be able to blow off some steam in a constructive way. Research shows that post-work gym routines are often more intense because your body is at its peak efficiency.
So while there are pros and cons to be found on both sides, and no definitive answer to whether AM or PM workouts are best, there’s one point on which every expert agrees: consistency. Whether you’re an early riser or a late bloomer, the time you start training is less important than the time you make for training. So don’t stress about when to train, rather make sure you actually do train, and you’ll soon see the results you’re looking for.
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