"When's The Best Time to Workout?"

by Doug Jackson, M.Ed.,CSCS

Question:"Doug, my work schedule is changing so I'll have less time in the mornings to workout. Will there be any changes in the results I'm getting if I begin to workout in the evenings instead?" -Josh Venis

Answer:"Hey Josh, I wouldn't worry about it too much. I prefer people to workout in the morning because you get the benefit of a great metabolic spike throughout the day. Plus, I find that things tend to come up in the evenings and people are more likely skip workouts at that time. But as long as you are getting the workouts in, that's the key. Also, there are a couple benefits to working out in the evenings. First, since you've been up all day, research shows that you will likely be stronger in the evenings, rather than the mornings. A secondary benefit to having been up all day is that as long as you are not mentally fatigued, you are actually less likely to suffer back injuries in the evening. Although I'm a fan of morning workouts, there is data to suggest that back injuries are more common in the mornings when our bodies are not fully warmed-up." -Doug J.