Best time of the day to exercise?

[sydneycentric]

I exercise daily before eating breakfast by going for a 30 min jog followed by 4 sets of 50 sit ups. I don't think that this is sufficient for me to lose weight and tone up so I have joined the local gym. My question is to do with weight training. I would think that doing cardio before breakfast and doing weights in the evenings would be the proper way? What do you guys think?

 

[teddieriley]

^^whatever fits in your schedule. Through personal experience, I'm able to shed fat much faster (with proper diet of course) if I do cardio in the morning before eating. But I also find I am a little weaker in the mornings. I prefer doing weights at night. Unless you are training for something specific. Alternate. And you're going to have to do much more than sit ups and push ups if you want to tone your body (i.e. putting up more decent poundage with compound exercises).

 

[thekunk07]

3 hours after waking or 1 hr after dinner.

 

[rioni]

From what I've read, towards the end of the day but before dinner. Not sure how much a difference that makes though.

 

[aleeboy]

I don't do any cardio... only hit the weights. I do a mix of morning, afternoon and nights just so I don't make any excuses to miss something and because of the different exercises and loads I do. For example, if I have to do mornings, I would focus mostly on upper body coz I find my lower back and hamstrings a little too stiff to do leg work, squat and deads for example.

I'm not sure if there is any science behind this, but as long as your lifting (plus some cardio) you should be able to see results in no time. Keep in mind you may have to tweak your diet too.

 

[Eason]

Originally Posted by thekunk07

3 hours after waking or 1 hr after dinner.

How can you do 1 hr after dinner? Back when I lifted, that was possible (but not comfortable), but doing muay thai makes me almost puke if I ate an hour before.

 

[gimp]

I seem to be able to workout better around mid-afternoon. Barring that, evening.

 

[kdaust]

I only have time in the morning.

So its breakfast, walk to the gym, stretch, weights.

Then if I have time left before work i'll hit some cardio.

I don't think time of the day matters as much as maintaining a consistent routine. The results will come if you're consistent with diet and exercise.

 

[Flambeur]

Whatever fits your lifestyle, schedule, and makes you wanna keep going.

thats all.

for example, i prefer working out in the evening.

 

[IDirector]

I can never drag ****** out of bed to work out.

I'm a 7-9'er.

 

[ToruOkada]

mornings, in my experience.

 

[sydneycentric]

Thanks for all your replies!

 

[Mauby]

Originally Posted by teddieriley

^^whatever fits in your schedule.

Originally Posted by Flambeur

Whatever fits your lifestyle, schedule, and makes you wanna keep going.

I'm with these guys. Get into a routine and stick with it. Some say it's best to workout in the morning. I'm not a morning person. I could force myself to workout in the mornings and hate it. Eventually I'd just start skipping my workouts and spend that time sleeping.

 

[sydneycentric]

Ok. So I guess as long as there is a routine your body will get used to it.

 

[Flambeur]

Originally Posted by sydneycentric

Ok. So I guess as long as there is a routine your body will get used to it.

well no.

you have to listen to your body and know how it works.

there is no way in hell i would ever get used to working out in the morning, even though i've done it for prolonged periods of time.

on the other hand, i can work out at 11PM all the time and it never bothers me like morning workouts.

it has to do with your hormones too. My testosterone has to be waaaaay up in the evening.