Best time to train. Morning or night?

[Bruvstar]

I have heard rumpled that because your metabolism is at it's peak in morning it's beat to train then...


I've always trained a.m. What do you guys think?

 

[Rodbuster]

am!!

 

[stevesmi]

if you can train AM and then get a nap in the afternoon in then that is a great strategy. otherwise train late in the day before the sun goes down, eat, and then hit the sack hard. sleep is crucial after a workout either way.

the worst strategy would be working out at night after the sun is down. just not how our bodies are wired IMO.

 

[hardrock]

I've never been a big fan of the early AM workout. I need to get at least a few solid meals in me first. I generally don't get to the gym till 8 or 9 PM after work. Then it PWO shake, a meal an hour or so later, and another carb free shake before bed.

On off days, I'll train early to mid afternoon.

 

[machine23]

I think it depends on the individual. I've tried training in the morning and I just can't do it. I'm sluggish and low energy. I'm more of a later afternoon type. I don't think there is one proven way. Just my opinion tho

 

[stevesmi]

^^^ dont forget when you workout in the morning your body is coming off 8 hours of sleep and well rested. you can set PR's easier in the mornings.

 

[brownbrown]

I'm an after work gym hitter.
maybe cardio in the morning though

 

[miked8c]

What I have come to realize after working out in the entire spectrum of times is that consistency plays the largest role.

When I was a dumb 14 year old I used to lift at 1 am before bed during the summer

When I hit HS it was 2:00 every day after school

When I went to college it became 5 pm everyday

During winter break I go in at about noon

In the summers I get up before work (6am) to go to the gym because I life guard and all the sun ruins me for an after work workout.

The most important part about finding the right time is going at that time consistently. The first week of adjusting to a new time can be tough, but after a few days your body gets used to it and you'll perform just as well as you did when you went at your previous time. If your not a morning person, working out in the AM can make you a morning person, after the initial shock of your first few workouts.


I realize I am missing the question of when the BEST time is to workout, just thought it should be mentioned that anytime can be a good time to workout, provided you don't do anything screwy with your nutrition.

 

[Bruvstar]

It is personal preference but have to agree with stevesmi. I find I'm
Able to lift harder and heavier in the mornings after rest.

Is there any science behind the question

 

[Typo]

In the am, the more time you have to cram yourself with protein and carbs after a workout the better.

If you workout too late and only get one meal in afterwards you are most certainly not as well off as someone who works out early then eats all day.

I have had this debate many times and have done a lot of thinking/research and the conclusion I came to was food is more important than sleep in the hours following a workout.

 

[Bruvstar]

^^ makes sense it really does.

I was under the impression metabolism played a part in this...

 

[chaos13]

i love training mid to late afternoon. this allows me to eat 3 meals before my workout and usally around 3 meals after the work out before bed

 

[DZLS]

i'm an AM workout guy, usually 9:30-11:00 range... I work 2nd shift so it's pretty much my only option unless I would work out at 11pm after work, but that doesn't seem conducive to maximum effort...

i would like to see some studies done on workout times and results...

disadvatnage of AM workouts: I'm not a morning person, i love to sleep and stay in bed... getting up early enough to get a good amount of food into your system before hitting the gym

 

[machine23]

^^^ dont forget when you workout in the morning your body is coming off 8 hours of sleep and well rested. you can set PR's easier in the mornings.

I understand what u are saying but I honestly do not have the energy to be lifting early. I honestly need a good amount of food in me. Like I said, everyone is different. I'm at my strongest in the afternoon.

 

[stevesmi]

^^^ i lift after work most of the time. but i do the morning thing on weekends always.. i actually have more energy in the mornins on weekends then afternoons. weird but true.

i usually have some scrambled eggs, a couple millet pieces, and a sweet potato. great pre workout meal, won't fuck with your stomach.

 

[IncredibleHoss]

Bomb preworkout meal. I love russet potatoes

 

[crixus]

i love training mid to late afternoon. this allows me to eat 3 meals before my workout and usally around 3 meals after the work out before bed

this is the only path

 

[CSB]

I am a morning person so I usually wake around 3.45 eat a pre workout meal of oats and whey then hit the gym just after 5 with a few caffiene pills , but now that I am cutting its fasted cardio at 5 and weights at 6pm , just find I am shattered after a days work but has to be done

 

[Shane88]

I'd say best in the am or early afternoon on the weekends..so that means you can eat and get all the proper nutrition in, instead of going to the gym at 9pm say an only get one or two meals in after a workout.

 

[training700]

Studies have found subjects where stronger in afternoon than morning. Know I always am to max out

 

[seandh07]

I have to stick mine to the late afternoon for the simple fact that i have to be at work at 630 every morning. On contest prepe I'll throw in an hour or so of cardio at 4am with a decent breakfast 30min prior. that gives me 3-4 meals before weight training an 2-3 after with a decent (for me) amount of sleep. I say for me because ever since I was a kid I have only slept 6 hours a night. I've tried sleeping more but I just lay there wide awake and I'm not the type to waste my time laying in bed when I can be productive. On normal days when I'm not in contest prep Ill start my day around 5 which gives my 4 pre and 2-3 post meals. I've done it like this for about 2-3 years. Honestly never tried weight training at 4am but I feel I'd be completely drained!

 

[Bruvstar]

4am is very excessive though, but
Good for you, is nice to hear. I tend to gym from 7am-8:15 which is a
Lot more
Manageable for me

 

[Sol Rosenberg]

I do cardio in the AM and weights in the PM around 2-3 pm. This allows me time to get a few meals in after w/o. I don't have any strength in the AM for heavy weights.