Weight loss & Obesity

Is There a Best Time to Exercise for Weight Loss

People ask me often what I suggest is the best time of day to exercise. Before I get into a little detail, my short answer is what I recommend in Today is Still the Day(1).  I suggest scheduling exercise sessions first thing in the morning, when possible, simply because you get it done before the rest of the day’s activities can intrude.

Consistency is key and scheduling it early assures it gets done. Another benefit to this is that if you exercise on an empty stomach (a cup of coffee or tea is fine), you also tap into stored energy (fat!) and burn that as fuel.

In a recent study(2) of people who successfully maintained weight loss, 47.8% of these consistent exercisers scheduled workouts in the morning. While this could indicate morning as the optimal workout time, the consistency is really the key.

[Also Read: How to Lose Weight]

If you find it easier to work out in the afternoon or after work and before you go home, by all means, do so! For over 20 years my husband went to the gym after school (he was a teacher) and worked out before coming home for dinner. He found it helped him relax and release the stress of the day before coming into the house. That was especially helpful when our children were small. Since he is semi-retired, he now works out early in the morning.  I have always been a first-thing-in-the-morning exerciser. I just like to get it done and then get on with my day.

So choose something you will do consistently and choose a time that works for you. Bottom line is that the best time of day to exercise is the time you will do it daily!

Related Post

About the Author:

Ann Musico, Holistic Health Coach

Ann Musico is a certified holistic health coach and founder of the Three Dimensional Vitality Website. She is also an author of several books, including Today is Still the Day, a wellness blogger and independent nutritional consultant who has worked with women of all ages over the past 10 years to empower them to exemplify lives of vibrant health and wholeness – spirit, soul and body – in a way that is simple and effective.

Her focus is on nutrition, detox and healthy, long term weight loss because she believes those areas are most often the root cause of so many other problems. She addresses them not only from the physical but from the spirit and soul as well, which are often overlooked.

Website: threedimensionalvitality.com