When is the best time to exercise?

Morning, midday or midnight – when is the best time to exercise?

This is a puzzle most individuals grapple with as they begin their exercise routine – where exercise is any kind of physical activity that gets your heart rate up for at least 10 minutes at a time.

Consistency is key and modest amounts of exercise are certainly better than being sedentary or a couch potato all day long.

The best time to exercise is a personal choice given that people are different and with varied predispositions to exercising at different times of the day.

Raphael Mirera of Jungle Fitness notes that most people prefer working out early in the morning after a good night’s sleep.
“Such individuals feel more relaxed in the morning and have the energy to jumpstart the day,” he says.

When the body is dormant, it converts energy into fat and a good workout could help burn those calories.

For those who have been sitting at the office all day, an evening workout could be just the thing they need to end the day on a relaxed mode.

Mirera says collectively, the best time to exercise can be based on a number of factors including location, type of physical activity and social setting.

Type of physical activity

Getting into strenuous physical activity might not be the best of ideas, especially if you are heading to work after your exercise.
Mirera recommends that intense exercises such as weightlifting, cycling and cardio training be reserved for the evening.

“This is because you have been dormant all day and the evening offer a better chance to burn those accumulated calories,” he says.
Relatively lighter exercises like jogging and the treadmill are better suited for the morning.

He says the important thing is that they are done moderately so as not to give the body undue pressure.

Social setting

Some people work out better when they are in a group than when alone.

If you are much more likely to work out consistently with a partner or group of friends, opt for a social plan regardless of time of day.

However, if you are the type who loves to exercise in solitude then steal every opportunity that presents itself, get away and get active for better health.

Get the children to join in to add some spice in your workout. If you can ride a bicycle, then get everyone to join as you ride through the neighbourhood. Alternatively, let the children ride their bicycles while you jog behind them.

Also get into some vigorous sweeping, mopping or vacuuming around the house especially on the weekend when you have the time. These housekeeping chores can help burn a significant number of calories, more so if done over a period of time.

Location

Your location could dictate the time of day you decide to work out. An outdoor setting offers an array of benefits including improved moods, self-esteem boost and restored mental fatigue.

Additionally, people work harder when in a natural environment and perceive their workout to be easier than when in a confined indoor setting. If you are lucky to have open grounds nearby, a morning jog could work for you.

You may not have time to go to the gym, but you may still be physically active by trekking to boost your metabolism.

Thirty minutes of physical activity is achievable in this simple formula; walk briskly for 10 minutes in the morning to work, walk 10 minutes in and around where you work and in the evening, walk briskly 10 minutes to your vehicle. This of course means you have to consciously park away from your office.

For those in populated cities with no open grounds to exercise on, hitting the gym could offer an alternative option of keeping fit. It is the overall effect of doing exercise consistently that really counts. If you are tight on time, be creative and break up your activity into smaller, daily bouts of exercise.

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