Why exercise in the morning

Morning exercise can help you make healthier choices. How to become a morning exerciser If you want to become a morning exerciser, Theard offers the following tips: Give it time. Related Stories. Exercise for stress management. Secret benefits of weight loss. How air pollution affects your workout. View all related stories. Share this story. Download the app today!

Living Better. I also feel stronger and faster. For me, those feelings subside around the 5 p. Your physical performance might improve: Research shows that most people function better, physically speaking, later in the day. Muscle strength, flexibility, power output and endurance are all better in the evening than they are in the morning. Your body gets warmer as the day goes on: Since your core temperature is warmer later in the day, many people can get into the groove faster for afternoon and evening workouts.

You should still warm up though! Hormones are on your side: Testosterone is important for building muscle in men and women, and your body might produce more of it during afternoon workouts than morning workouts , resulting in greater strength and muscle gains.

Late-day exercise can relieve stress: Exercise is always a good way to relieve stress , but working out at night can really help you blow off some steam. The surge of endorphins you get during and after exercise can be a sweet nightcap that helps you wind down before bed. Might help replace bad habits: If you have some evening or nighttime habits you want to replace -- like snacking, drinking, smoking or watching too much TV -- allow exercise to swoop in and take their place.

Once you get into the practice of exercising at night, you might find yourself surprised that you don't even miss your old habits. The above benefits to afternoon and evening workouts might automatically tempt you to designate the latter part of the day to exercise, but you should consider a couple of potential downsides, too.

Might interfere with sleep: The blanket statement that exercising at night is detrimental to sleep is a myth. That's not true for everyone -- scientists have found that exercising at night may have no effects on sleep at all , and some may even get a better night's sleep -- but some people might experience jitters if they work out too close to bedtime.

This generally only applies to intense exercise , like CrossFit or HIIT, as yoga, stretching and other gentle exercises can actually improve your sleep when performed before bed. May cause problems with consistency: If you're like many people, exercising at night may not work for you simply because you are too tired after a long day.

Afternoon and evening workouts might interfere with daily responsibilities, especially if things tend to pile up during the day. If that sounds like you, try shifting your daily routine to fit in a short morning workout. The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice.

Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

Be respectful, keep it civil and stay on topic. We delete comments that violate our policy , which we encourage you to read. Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion. This is the best time of day to exercise, backed by science Should you exercise in the morning, afternoon or night?

Amanda Capritto. The best time is one that you can stick with long-term. Sustainable fashion involves producing clothing in an ethical and environmentally conscious way.

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