Day Or Night: When's the Best Time To Burn?

A friend recently requested that I look into the age old debate over exercise: is it better to burn in the morning or evening?

Though some experts insist that an early morning routine burns more calories, there is no scientific evidence to support that theory.

"Whether you work out in the morning, afternoon, or evening, there isn’t a specific time of day that is more beneficial for weight loss," Julia Valentour from the American Council on Exercise (ACE) tells me.

While there are benefits for working out both in the morning, and at night, Julia tells me that working out is best done whenever you feel your best.

For some people, that's the morning.

"Exercising in the morning boosts epinephrine to make you feel more alert," says Julia. "Early morning exercisers are more likely to make it a habit, because there are less distractions and commitments that can interfere as compared to later in the day."

However, there are some drawbacks.

"You’re likely to feel less motivated when you haven’t eaten and therefore your workouts can suffer, making this counterproductive," says Julia. "Studies have shown that a small breakfast before working out can increase time to fatigue. "

That's certainly why I don't do morning workouts. I'm absolutely worthless pre-egg whites!

Luckily the evening has it's perks too.

"Studies show that late afternoon/early evening is the best time for sports performance, muscle strength, power output, and flexibility because body temperatures are at their highest," says Julia.

Again though, after dark sweat seshs have negatives too.

"Exercising too late in the day (2 -3 hours before bedtime) can interfere with the quality of sleep," Julia tells me. "The body needs up to 6 hours to cool down appropriately before bedtime, and sleep onset is related to cooler body temperatures.

Ultimately, it's up to you to find the optimum time for your body and schedule.

For me, that time is after work. Ideally, I'd like to work out two hours after I eat breakfast, but considering I have a job that's out of the question.

So the best time for my body and schedule is right after I leave the office. It's a time I can commit to, and that's what's important.

Julia suggests something to consider when choosing a routine is your habits and preferences.

"Consider what realistically can work in your schedule," says Julia. "Can you get up an hour earlier? Or will you hit the snooze button and sleep in? Next, think of when you feel most energetic. During hot weather, the mornings are cooler and therefore working out early might be more comfortable."

She also says to think about your fitness goals to determine your best time.

"Consider what you’re training for," says Julia. "Races, such as 10ks and triathlons are usually held early in the mornings, while some other sports activities are scheduled in the evenings. If you’re training with a performance goal in mind, it is beneficial to train at the same time of day you’ll be competing."

Choose wisely, and don't buy into the view that a certain time is biologically better for burning.

Even if (and that's a strong if) there was evidence that you burn a few measly extra calories in the a.m., that's not going to matter if you only end up doing it once a week.