Is It Better to Work Out in the Morning? | Exercise.com Learn: Your Fitness Business Resource

Is It Better to Work Out in the Morning?

Tyler Spraul is the director of UX and the head trainer for Exercise.com. He has his Bachelor of Science degree in pre-medicine and is an NSCA-certified strength and conditioning specialist. He is a former All-American soccer player and still coaches soccer today. In his free time, he enjoys reading, learning, and living the dad life. He has been featured in Shape, Healthline, HuffPost, Women's...

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UPDATED: Aug 25, 2020

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  • Working out in the morning depends more on preference.
  • For some, working out in the morning can be best if they have a busy day ahead.
  • The types of workout you do, whether it be cardio or lifting weights, also depends on your individual fitness goals.

The question of what time is the best time of the day to work out has been around about as long as people have been working out.

However, the question as to whether it be in the morning or at another time may not be the best question to ask.

Perhaps the best question to ask is if it is good for YOU to work out in the morning.

At the end of the day, it is really a matter of preference over anything else.

However, there are some practical and substantive benefits to working out in the mornings.

Just know that exercise in itself is important for your overall health. If you are looking for an exercise routine, look no further. Go PRO today for access to certified personal trainers, workout plans, and more.

What Are the Benefits of Working out in the Mornings?

There are many physical and mental benefits to working out in the mornings and these benefits should not be overlooked.

Obviously, everyone knows how good a workout can be for your body, but some people discount the emotional and psychological benefits a good morning workout can have on a person.

  • Physically: From a physical standpoint, a morning workout can help to significantly raise your metabolism throughout the day.
  • This has a great number of physical benefits. Number one, an increase in metabolism will give you more energy. If you are overweight, a higher metabolism will burn more fat. It must be noted that if you are not overweight you will need to keep on top of your caloric intake because if you don’t and you are not getting enough calories, your body will burn muscle for fuel instead of fat and calories.
  • Physiological: The second overall benefit that you will receive when working out is both a physical and a physiological manner. Commonly known as runner’s high, people often have an enlightened feeling after working out which is a result of endorphins being released in the body. Not only does this empower your body to perform at a higher level but it also actually makes you feel emotionally better as well.
  • Time: The last noted benefit is that it gets one major thing out of the way. Most people’s days are busy enough, with work, school, family and other things as well, the days can be busy enough and it is easy to forget about a workout or simply to want to avoid it altogether.

By knocking out a workout in the morning, you are not only starting the day off right, but you are also getting one of those major things on your to-do list out of the way.

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What Are the Benefits of Working out in the Mornings?

The question of what type of exercise you should do in the morning workout is about as hotly contested as the time of day a person should workout. Once again, there is really no clear cut answer when it comes to this. You have your choice between cardio workouts or weight training workouts. You can even mix the two. The reality is that what exercise you do in the mornings will largely be determined by your fitness goals and your personal preference.

Cardio workouts are perfect for the runner in training. Cardio does have other great benefits as well such as an increase in heart strength and lung capacity. Certain cardio exercises like running, walking, and biking can help you to strengthen your lower body and most cardio exercises will help you to lose weight.

Lifting weight is another excellent form of exercise. While most people equate weightlifting with building muscle, weightlifting is perhaps one of the best ways to lose weight; some would even argue that weightlifting is better for weight loss than cardio workouts.

As you work out your muscles, you, in turn, raise your body’s metabolism. While cardio does this as well, weightlifting allows your metabolism to stay elevated for long periods of time. This means that not only will you be working to improve your muscle definition with weightlifting; you will be burning away that fat as well.

What Precautions Should You Take When Working out in the Mornings?

Warming up is the most essential thing to remember when working out, but especially in the mornings. Muscles, joints and other body parts are normally quite stiff in the morning. A good period of warming up, stretching, and preparation is vital to a good and safe workout.

Also, remember to rest as well. Resting is just as important as working out. Make sure your muscles have completely healed before working out again. Ignoring this will cause your results to be stunted and you could risk serious injury as well.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Do you need to go to the gym to lose weight?

No! Proper nutrition is a great first step towards losing weight. Movement of any kind is also beneficial. If you can’t afford a gym membership or do not have time to go to the gym, try some bodyweight exercises at home, go for walk or run, or get some movement in at your local park!

What is NEAT?

NEAT is an acronym and stands for non-exercise activity thermogenesis. It refers to the energy used to do everything outside of eating, sleeping, and purposeful exercise. By increasing your neat (taking the stairs, fidgeting, doing the dishes, etc., you can burn more calories throughout the day

How do you get the motivation to exercise?

There are many ways to find motivation to exercise. Here is a great article for more information on the topic.

Keep in mind that exercise will always be an important component of one’s overall health and working out in the mornings can have some benefits. Get started on your fitness journey today by going PRO and gaining access to certified personal trainers, workout plans, goal trackers, and more!

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