Is it better to train in the morning or evening?

26 April 2021
Many people wonder if it’s better to exercise before starting the day or if it’s more beneficial to do so at the end of the day, once we’ve finished with our daily obligations. I think there is no definitive answer. Below, I am going to indicate the advantages of training in the morning and training in the evening so everyone can choose the best time according to his or her personal circumstances and goals.
Training
Is it better to train in the morning or evening? - photo 1.1

When is it better to train in the morning?
If you want to lose weight, then the early hours of the morning is the ideal time for you! Exercising in the morning helps to burn fat. However, to train safely, it’s important to follow some instructions. The first thing you need to keep in mind is, that you need to do a very good warm up, since in the morning the muscles are cold and relaxed. Also, be sure to drink enough water before starting and finally, you need to pay close attention to the energy you have available. Start little by little and assess whether in your case it’s necessary to have some breakfast before training. For people who do sedentary work, it may also be advisable to train in the morning. That way you can start the day clear minded and full of energy.

When is it better to train in the evening?
If you do strength training and your goal is to gain muscle mass, it makes more sense for you to train in the evening. This is when your body has more energy and produces more hormones such as testosterone that promotes muscle development (and this also applies to women!). In addition, exercising after the working day has ended and after all other obligations are done, has a de-stressing effect, which greatly benefits the quality of sleep. If you train in the evenings, I recommend you finish the training at least two hours before going to bed to achieve the greatest benefit.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?
One aspect that’s equally as important as the previous considerations, for you to get the most out of each training session and achieve your goals, is that you feel motivated and have the energy to start each training session. Are you one of those people who find it hard to get up early and the mere idea of setting the alarm clock to an earlier time just to be able to train is already stressing you out? Then don’t push yourself too hard. Even though your goal is to lose weight, you will achieve better results if you arrive motivated and eager to start training, even if that means training in the evening. My main advice for you is this: train at the time your body asks for it the most!

This blog is written by one of our Personal Trainers, Joyce Mohringer.