What Time You Work Out Could Be the Key to Successful Weight Loss
Photo by Stage 7 Photography on Unsplash
Are you an early morning riser who likes to head to the gym as soon as it opens? Or maybe you’re a night owl who likes to wait for the gym to clear out to start your workout? Cheers to you for getting a good workout in, either way! But, what if we told you that the time of day you work out impacted your results?
According to a study recently published in the journal Obesity, 375 adults who have successfully maintained weight loss reported consistency in the time of day they exercised, with early morning being the most common time.
Anthony Hackney, a professor in the department of exercise and sport science at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill – who was not apart of this particular study – explains why working out in the morning could potentially be more beneficial. “In the early morning hours, you have a hormonal profile that would predispose you to better metabolism of fat. People naturally have elevated levels of cortisol and growth hormone in the morning, so you’ll draw more of your energy from your fat reserves, which can potentially help with weight loss.”
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Having a hard time waking up to work out? A study published in the Journal of Physiology found that exercising at 7am may shift your body clock earlier, meaning you’ll feel more alert in the morning and get tired earlier in the evening, potentially “priming you to get enough rest to wake up and do the same thing the next day.” Looks like you can’t use the excuse “I’m tired” any more!
When do you feel its best to work out? Do you enjoy working out at night or seem to reap more benefits after a morning workout? Leave us a comment below to join the conversation!
