What's the Best Time of Day to Exercise? It Depends on Your Goals
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For most of us, the "best" time of day to work out is simple: When we can. Maybe that's before or after work. Or when the gym offers free daycare. Or when our favorite instructor teaches our favorite class. That's why we call it a "routine." And if the results are the same, it's hard to imagine changing it up. But what if the results aren't the same? They may not be, according to a new study from a research team at Skidmore College. The results of a 12-week exercise program were different for morning vs. evening workouts. Women who worked out in the morning lost more fat, while those who trained in the evening gained more upper-body strength and power. As for men, the performance improvements were similar no matter when they exercised. But those who did so in the evening had a significant drop in blood pressure, among other benefits.
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@meghomay The study is part of a growing body of research showing different results for different times of day among different populations. As it turns out, when you exercise can ultimately have a big effect. And we're not just talking strength and fat loss, but also heart health, mood, and quality of sleep.