Exercising – When’s the right time?

Not sure what the ideal time is for exercising? When would your workout yield maximum results? Well, read on to get these answers and much more…

Morning v/s Evening workout routine

What’s the standard excuse given by those of you who love not to exercise? In the mornings when you are in a hurry, you are like “Evening workouts are more effective. I promise I’ll do it this evening”. And in the evening, you go, “I am too tired. I’ll do it tomorrow morning when I feel really fresh. That’s better for the body” and the story goes on….

(image by: zoutedrop)

Well…. Let me tell you something. There is never a good time to workout if you don’t want to. Or anytime is great for a workout if you are determined to. It’s all in the mind.Scientifically, there has been no concrete evidence showing that morning workout is better than evening or vice-versa. So, as long as you can manage to find time for a workout, any hour of the day should be fine. That being said, here are some of the Dos and Don’ts that should be kept in mind.

Workout Dos

– Wear proper clothes – preferably cotton with enough room to move

– Wear proper shoes – It’s not just for treadmill that you need the right shoes. Even if it’s just weight training, you should wear proper, comfortable shoes.

– Keep yourself hydrated. Drink water during and after your workout.

– Make sure you have given your body enough rest before the next workout. For instance, after weight training, your muscles need at least 24 hours to recover. Else, you might damage your muscles.

Workout Don’ts

– Workout on an empty stomach. You won’t have the stamina to workout. Have something light say 30 min to an hour before the workout.

– Workout on a heavy stomach. After a heavy meal, there should be a gap of at least 3 hours before you workout.

– Do something that seems too easy. If it’s so easy, it’s not going to be effective.

– Stretch yourself too much. If your body is too tired for a workout and you push yourself, chances are, you are going to end up hurting yourself.

Better weight loss results

Not being bound by a specific time may just prove to be more effective. If your body gets used to getting workout the same time each day, you are going to reach a plateau soon. By not sticking to a specific time, you are going to keep your body guessing and can thus delay reaching the plateau.

So, you lazy bums – no more excuse for not working out! Anytime of the day or night is fine. Just do it!

Summary:

• Any hour of the day or night is fine – variation could in fact give better results
• Wear proper outfit
• Drink lots of water
• Don’t workout on an empty or a very heavy stomach
• Give your body enough rest before your next workout – don’t overexert yourself.