Pros And Cons For Exercise Timings

Submitted by Serena Mason on April 21, 2010

Pros And Cons For Exercise Timings

All of us exercise according to our own convenience and hardly ever stop to think about the right time to exercise. Though exercising at any time of the day is helpful, there are certain times of the day when exercising can be especially helpful.

There have been many different kinds of research on the functioning of different organs of the body and the body’s rhythm.

Most people prefer to exercise in the morning before they get distracted by their daily commitments. However, research shows that evening is the best time to exercise. Still, there are pros and cons to exercising at any time of the day.

• Mornings

If you exercise consistently, you are more likely to do so in the mornings. Since there are less distractions and interruptions at this time, it is ideal to exercise in the morning.

Once you get ready and begin your daily schedule of activities, it becomes difficult to make time to exercise.

However, if you wake up a little early, you can finish your fitness routine in the morning, without having to worry about it the rest of the day.

Exercising in the morning increases your physical stamina. It helps you stay energized throughout the day. It improves mental acuity and helps burn more calories as well.

However, the natural temperature of the body is lowest in the morning hours, and therefore, the blood flow, as well as the energy reserves are much lower than normal. Muscles are stiffer in the morning and the chances of injury are higher.

A lot of people are unable to wake up early in the morning, and therefore, can’t exercise consistently.

The body reaches a higher temperature in the afternoon, and hence, it is easier for the body to burn more calories later in the day.

• Evening

Though body temperatures start rising in the afternoon, they peak around 6 p.m. This is the time when both the temperature of the body and the secretion of the hormones are at their highest.

If you exercise around 6 p.m. in the three hour period before or after 6 p.m., you can achieve the most benefit out of your workout. Since the muscles are already warmed up, they are more flexible and less prone to injury.

You end up exerting less because the muscles are already warm and flexible. Since the natural metabolism of the body slows down during the second half of the day, you are able to improve your digestion and metabolism by exercising in the evening.

The biggest disadvantage of exercising in the evenings is that you are always tied up with certain commitments. Those who exercise in the evenings are the ones who forego their exercise the most.

By evening, the stress of the entire day’s activities also builds up and it’s easier to ignore the exercise routine. Moreover, once you are charged up with exercise, it takes your body about three hours to relax and go to sleep.