It might be surprising to learn that in addition to the commonly known factors responsible for a successful workout (intensity, duration, type of training, nutrition), you can now add when you workout to the list. When you perform your cardio can effect your calorie burn, strength and muscle development.

There is no one set time that works best because everyone is different, but getting an early morning workout has a few more benefits compared to a night time gym session.

(Of course, getting in a workout, no matter what time it is, is always better than no workout at all.)

Many of the benefits of cardio come after the actual cardio session itself. In the hours that follow your workout, the increases in metabolism, decrease in appetite, and overall boost in energy tend to help you burn more calories, feel motivated and continue making healthy decisions throughout the rest of the day. For these reasons, it is usually ideal to perform cardio earlier in the day, especially if weight loss is your goal, to take advantage of these little ‘extras’.

Another benefit of morning exercise is to prevent the endorphins released by exercise from keeping you awake at night. Working out a few hours before bed time can delay sleep and effect the quality of sleep. cardio and aerobics tend to keep them awake for a few hours post-workout, which usually means they are unable to sleep directly after.

Everyone’s schedule is different, so for some, and early morning workout is impossible, but if you have the chance, give morning workouts a try to reap the most benefits all day long.

In Good Health,

Kelly Turner

Kelly Turner is a Seattle area ACE Certified Personal Trainer, health and fitness writer and editor of the fitness website, PhysiqueSpeak.com. To contact Kelly with any questions, you can email her at kellycturner@hotmail.com.