Exercise timing
 

Ok is there a better to time exercise? What about in relation to eating?

Thanks ladies

I think it's an individual kind of thing. I believe that studies have shown that morning exercisers stick with it longer than evening exercisers. Additionally, exercising within a couple hours of going to bed isn't helpful for a good night's rest. Lots of people exercise in little chunks during their day (walk at noon, during breaks, take stairs, park and walk, etc.).

I prefer to exercise in the morning. I always eat a little protein, carb and good fat before I exercise (e.g., 1/2 c fat free cottage cheese, 1/2 c blueberries, 6 almonds) because I've found that I need food for energy. Then I eat a little again within an hour of exercising.

Hope that helps!

Hi - my trainer told me that it is best to workout first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. She said you burn a third more calories then.....
I'm sure someone else will give you a better answer.
Personally, it has become a habit for me to work out first thing in the morning and it makes me feel like I've accomplished something good, plus makes me feel good for the rest of the day.........

But rethinking the question, the best time of day to exercise is whenever you can do it....lol

In my opinion, the best time to exercise is the time that works best for YOU. If you force yourself onto the treadmill at 5:15 am even though you're not a morning person, that is a plan that probably won't last very long. The goal is to live this new lifestyle of yours/mine/ours FOR LIFE, so exercise needs to fit into your life conveniently. I go to the gym based on my work/school/work ( :lol: ) schedule...this means 10am some days, 3pm other days, and occasionally 8pm - 9pm.

I've heard all sorts of opinions about what time is best...morning seems to be the most common answer. But if you do 20 minutes at 5am or 20 minutes at 7pm, you've still done 20 minutes -- and therefore burned (at least roughly) the same amount of calories. If there's a difference at all in number of calories burned based on time of day, I honestly don't know -- my trainer has never said anything about it, and early morning exercise isn't something I ever even CONSIDERED cuz I'm a lazy bugger! You could cruise around online, tho, to see if there's any info about early morning exercise = more calories burned. Or maybe one of the trainer-Mods will answer...

As for eating, I eat something high in protein (or a full meal, depending on what time it is) about an hour before I go to the gym. And I usually have a protein shake on the way home from the gym.

Thanks everyone for your input. I'm trying to do it every morning after I get the kids off to school but today it was right after lunch. I think I'll stick with the major workout first thing in the morning and then add a little bit broken up throughout the day.