What is the Best Time to Work Out to Achieve Greater Weight Loss Results?

What is the best time to exercise?

• Some people will tell you to work out in the afternoon so that your body will have had time to warm up. You can exercise more easily than in the morning when your body is naturally sluggish.
• Some people will tell you to exercise in the morning during hot weather because the air temperature is cooler then. Your body won't have to work as hard to stay cool, so you can work out harder.
• Some people will tell you to avoid evening exercise because it will rev up your body, making it difficult for you to get to sleep.
• Some People will tell you to exercise in the morning to avoid air pollution peaks. then you will avoid ozone and carbon monoxide levels high enough to affect your lung functioning, causing shallow breathing.
• Some people will tell you to exercise in the morning to rev up your metabolism and burn more calories during the day.
• Some people will tell you to exercise a couple of hours before dinner to reduce your appetite.

Any Time is the Right Time

“You can find a good reason to exercise at any time of the day”, says Jennifer W. Washington, Ph.D., director of wellness services center for the occupational health program at Oregon Health Science University in Portland.

The best time to exercise is the time that fits into your schedule the best. So, whatever time is most convenient is really the best time because it increases your chances of maintaining your exercise habit, she says.

Find the Time That Fits into your Schedule the Best

So, if you enjoy getting up half an hour earlier than usual in the morning, sliding an aerobic video into your VCR, exercising and then showering and going to work, then mornings are your best time to exercise.

If you find you have a spare half an hour between the best time you get home from work and the time you need to cook dinner, then the late afternoon is your best time.

If you feel most energetic during your lunch hour, then noon is your best time.

Hence, the best time is your time.