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Should I workout in the morning or in the evening?
..................................................................................
 Eugene:
It’s
undeniable that time of day impacts work out performance. A study
in the Journal of Applied Physiology showed that athletic performance in
elite swimmers was superior in the late afternoon/early evening (it’s
interesting to note that most record-breaking sports performances occur
around 2pm).
But what does this
mean? Should we all rearrange our workout schedules to zero in on
the circadian peak of late afternoon?
Obviously, life ain’t
so easy. Not everyone can pop out to the gym in the middle of the
day (“Just heading out to squat my brains out, boss; be back in a
few!”), not to mention the bedlam that would ensue if every single gym
member spontaneously showed up at 2pm (at least, with my Brazilian
Jiu-Jitsu training, I know I’d get a locker).
The differences in the
study may make a difference to an Olympic athlete, but for the vast
majority of us, the only person we’re competing with is ourselves.
Merely doing a little better than your previous best is enough to keep
our muscles growing, our cardiovascular systems improving, and our
waistlines shrinking. The problem most people have isn’t the
time of day they should work out, but lies in merely finding the time to
exercise at all!
Work out at the time
of day that’s most conducive to you actually getting to the gym.
If you’ve got an intense job that runs you around morning to night,
schedule an hour before work to get your workout in. Perhaps an
evening workout will help you de-stress from the rigors of your day.
Whatever the case, make it easy to be consistent. That’s
one of the keys to progress.
P.S. If you're a first time reader of
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About the Author:
Eugene Thong, CSCS, was born a weak, skinny,
bespectacled child. Now, thanks to a steady diet of martial arts,
scientific inquiry, and heavy compound movements, he's no longer weak.
His scientific bent, Zen-like demeanor, and efficient but intense
methods have made him one of New York's most sought-after personal
trainers.
 When
not helping clients cultivate their own inner 6-packs, Eugene can be
found arm barring opponents at Renzo Gracie's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Academy or sailing through the air on his snowboard. Read Eugene's
semi-weekly musings on
exercise, fitness, and fat loss at his blog
Eugene is Mike's co-author of The Black Book of Secrets. You can
purchase it by clicking here.
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