When is the Best Time to Work Out?
It’s a debate that never seems to get settled: When is the best time to work out? Are you more likely to experience the bennies of exercising if you do it in the morning, afternoon, or after the sun sets?
The research is certainly mixed. But Lara Carlson, PhD, associate professor of applied exercise science at the University of New England says that many studies favor the morning. “There’s research that has looked at people engaging in morning versus afternoon exercise, and those who exercise in the morning have lower blood pressure throughout the day and get better sleep,” she says.
That said, other research suggests that people may have more power and strength during early evening workouts. A study published in the Journal Of Sports Sciencesfound that between 4 and 8 p.m. participants’ grip strength, vertical jump, and even reaction times were at their best compared to other times of day.
Excerpted from Women’s Health
