DAYTIME OR NIGHT TIME...WHICH WORKOUT TIME SUITS YOU?

Many of my active patients ask whether exercise is more effective at night, daytime, or in the morning. The quick answer is that exercise is always most effective when your body is at its strongest or most alert, regardless of time of day. Most people know their bodies enough to know if they are a “night time” or a “morning” person, or somewhere in between. This simply means that their body (and mental state) is at their most alert or motivated state during that part of the day. Ideally, this is the best time to exercise since you are more likely to exert more intensity and stay focused during your activity.

However, ideal time for exercise is not always the most practical. If you have a family that needs caring for, or have an early commute, morning exercise might get in the way and you’d have to settle for an even earlier time, or fit exercise at some point at the end of the day when you might be fatigued. This is usually the dilemma that faces many working adults who desire to have some sort of regular exercise pattern. In my experience, setting up a “practical time” for exercise is likely to yield the best results for this reason...you are likely to repeat a behaviour when conditions are favorable for that activity to occur. With regards to exercise gains, repetition and self challenge is the key to success.

If you cannot perform or function really early or late at night, don’t try to force yourself into making that part of the day your “practical time” for a workout. You are likely to under-perform, and are likely to have a difficult time trying to challenge yourself. Here are some tips to make exercise practical…

1. Check your email on the floor: Most of us use a smartphone or laptop, so get on the floor and stretch out your body while you are online.

2. Take the stairs, park farther, and walk at lunch.

3. Involve the family: Go to the park together or take on a sport that you and your child can participate in.

4. Make your home your gym: Learn to be creative using dumbells, free-weights, and exercise resistance tubing. You don’t need much space, and a short interval circuit routine can get your heart rate up quickly.

5. Learn to eat better: You are not likely to need as many calories during non-exercise days. Besides, disciplined nutrition is better for body-fat weight loss than exercise...really!

Good luck!