Not everyone has the luxury of deciding when they get to squeeze in their workouts amid their busy schedules. But for those who have the flexibility to choose to work out either in the mornings or the evenings, science favors workouts earlier in the day.
Why morning workouts have a leg up — and their one downfall
Mornings are apparently made for moving. “They set the tone for the rest of the day, so you tend to make healthier choices when it comes to eating,” says Brooke Van Paris, NASM- and ISSA-certified personal training manager at Life Time in Deerfield Township, Ohio.
In fact, morning workouts may hold the edge for reshaping your body. “Studies allude to improved fat burning if you do cardio first thing in the morning,” says Carol Espel, MS, director of fitness at Pritikin Longevity Center in Miami. Morning workouts can help you increase calorie burning throughout the day, decrease your appetite and aid in weight loss, she adds.