Every day, millions of people in the United States make it a priority to work out. However, only 23% of persons aged 18+ fulfill the required criteria for combined aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities. Most people’s main problem is a lack of time. CDC and Rand researchers believe that’s not the case in a new study published in 2019. An average of over 5 hours of spare time is discovered in the daily schedules of more than 30,000 participants.
No matter whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned athlete, “When is the ideal time to exercise?” is an often asked topic. Most individuals have a strict schedule for exercising and are quite protective of it. The decision to work out in the morning or evening is often influenced by other commitments, such as employment or child care. In other words, whether or not one is a “morning person,” or merely if one prefers the night.
Do morning workouts have an advantage over nighttime workouts, scientifically speaking?
Research published in Frontiers in Physiology throws some insight into the subject. Skidmore University conducted research with a modest number of participants, including 27 women and 20 men who were generally quite active and followed a regular exercise schedule. Over the course of a year, we monitored the progress of the participants. All four of these workouts were done four times a week for one hour, and they were all done for one hour each time. At 6:30 a.m., one group completed the routine, while at 8 p.m., the other group did it.
Those who worked out first thing in the morning: Weight loss, blood pressure, and leg strength were all higher in women (7 percent).
For those who choose to work out in the evening: Increases in strength, power, and endurance in the upper body were more pronounced in women, as were improvements in mood. Men’s cardiac, metabolic, and mental wellness had all improved and weight loss and a decrease in blood pressure were more pronounced in men.