Whether you are considering starting a workout regimen or desire to become a more seasoned athlete, “When is the best time to exercise?” is the question that remains open for debate.
Should you rise with the dawn and storm through a session before the rest of the world awakes or prepare the brain and body for the dead of night that’ll be spent in the gym?
The truth as to which is better of the two becomes harder to find as both early birds and night owls clock in impressive advantages.
Scott Auguste and Tyrone Walton, gym fanatics, begin their morning workouts with smoothies and shakes.
Auguste’s smoothies include bananas, strawberries, blueberries and cucumbers. On the other hand, Walton’s pre-workout shake includes two bananas, two scoops of peanut butter and a cup of oats, mixed with honey and whole milk.
To kick things off, Auguste stretches and performs three sets of 20 push-ups.
A quick session focused on stretching and lengthening your muscles is a great way to improve flexibility, while avoiding being in a sweaty gym first thing in the morning. By doing this, your body and mind are both awakened and your nervous system is soothed, Walton noted.
You can carve out time in the morning to work out regardless of whether you prefer cardiovascular exercises or strength exercises, like Auguste.
Gym junkies Auguste and Walton both work on their shoulders and chest. This is followed by exercises focused heavily on the triceps and biceps.
In detail, Walton starts with “4 sets of 8-10 bench presses, 4 sets of 8-10 reps of chest flies” and then he goes into cross body curls with a weight he is not only comfortable with but one that he can control.
According to Healthline, committing to a routine means you’re more likely to do it, especially as morning exercise boosts concentration and alertness levels. In other words, you are bound to have a more productive day.
“In the mornings, I’m well rested from a good night’s sleep, which influences my increase of physical endurance,” Walton said.
“Morning workouts are preferred as I get to start my day on a high note, and after completing a workout a sense of accomplishment sets me up for an optimistic day,” Auguste added.
If you are not quite ready to become a member of the 5 a.m. club, don’t panic, fitting exercises after hours has its proven perks. Juwan Allman, a well-known trainer, can attest to this.
Those who exercise between the evening and the night tend to improve in energy and performance. The muscles remain stronger, more flexible and more powerful than in the morning, as it takes up to 20% longer for the muscles to exhaust themselves, Allman noted.
Allman’s night workout consists of strength training such as pull-ups, push-ups, dips, squats and crunches.
“Working out at night before a good night’s sleep increases my chances of building mass/hypertrophy,” he said.
In other words, getting enough sleep is essential for your muscles to heal and rejuvenate.
“As I go about my daily routine, I replenish my body with food and liquids that will help prepare me for my nighttime workout,” he continues.
Additionally, if you have some evening or nighttime habits you want to replace, such as snacking or drinking harmful products, exercise can swoop in and take their place.
So what time is best?
The best part of working out is that you’re in complete control of your body, discipline and fitness agency. Finding a time of day that works for you and sticking to it makes greater training gains, and that is what counts.
If exercising doesn’t naturally happen at 6 a.m. for you, accept that and sleep in. Both have their advantages and disadvantages as evidenced by these gym lovers – weight for it.
APN 