People are busy. It’s hard to do everything we want and need to do with the demands of work and family. And we hear “self-care” coming at us from every direction. One way to help our minds and bodies navigate this stressful life is to carve out time for an exercise routine, but when should we do it? Well, the exercise routine that happens is always better than the one that doesn’t, but whether you work out in the morning or evening can change the results you achieve. Here are 7 benefits to morning and evening exercise.
1. Morning exercise can help us lose more fat, especially
if we exercise before we eat. Studies have shown that 24-hour fat burn is
higher when people exercise in the morning. Also, we are more likely to make
healthier food choices when we start our days with exercise.
2. Morning exercise can also help us be more alert and have
higher energy throughout the day. When we exercise, we provide more oxygen and
nutrients to our hearts and other organs, which strengthens our cardiovascular
and pulmonary systems and increases stamina. Exercising too late in the evening
can change our circadian rhythms and cause us to want to sleep later in the
morning.
3. Morning exercise can also help us sleep better. People
who exercise in the morning spend more time in deep sleep and wake up fewer
times throughout the night. Better sleep improves your mood and helps you make
better food choices.
4. Morning or evening exercise is good for improving
overall health, but results can vary based on sex. Several studies of women
have found that compared to afternoon exercisers, morning exercisers
experienced greater improvements in their blood pressure and blood glucose
control. Studies of men have found that afternoon exercise gives them greater
benefits in blood pressure and cholesterol reduction.
5. Afternoon exercise can improve strength and endurance
performance more than morning exercise. Your body is already warmed up from the
day and our core body temperatures are at their peak during the afternoon. If
you are training for a specific event or just chasing your own goals, afternoon
exercise can help you reach them.
6. Men and women who exercise in the afternoon experience
greater strength gains. If your goal is to increase your power, exercising in
the afternoon or early evening will help you achieve that.
7. Afternoon exercise can help you let go of the stresses
of your day, allowing you to be more present for your evening activities. It
can also allow for longer workouts when you aren’t racing the clock to get to
work.
No matter when you choose to exercise, sticking to a
routine is beneficial to the body. Our bodies function on a predictable rhythm
and seem to work better when we adhere to that framework. You can help yourself
maintain your routine by optimizing your recovery with Superberries Aronia
berry Concentrate. Studies have shown that Aronia berries reduce inflammation
and aid in muscle recovery, which will help you feel better exercising. Mixing
it in to your morning smoothie or with some sparkling water in the evening is
an easy and delicious way to make Aronia berries part of your daily self-care.