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Are Workouts Better In The Morning

We love working out in the morning. You wake up, brush your teeth, put your shoes on and next thing you know you’re in a sweaty spin class getting a morning high. But are they better than midday or evening workouts?

The short answer: No. The long answer: Let’s get into it.

Physiological benefits of morning workouts
A 2015 study published in the journal Obesity examined whether morning workouts were superior for fat loss. The researchers found that in a group of participants, the individuals who worked out before 12 noon lost more weight than those who worked out later in the day, the exercise was controlled to 600 calories.

If you’re trying to gain muscle, morning workouts may not be better. A study in the Applied Physiology and Nutrition Metabolism journal found that individuals who worked out in the evening saw greater muscle gain during a trial than those who did the same workout in the morning.

This may have been due to increased energy levels and nutrient availability, because if a morning exerciser drinks coffee prior to their workout they make the same muscle gains as an evening exerciser, as shown in a 2012 study.

Mental benefits of morning workouts
Most of the physiological benefits of morning workouts are in part due to the mental benefits. For example, the aforementioned study published in Obesity that found that morning workouts were superior for fat loss, was most likely due to behavior change rather than real any physiological mechanism.

The morning exercisers were more likely to continue their health streak throughout the day, resulting in fewer calories consumed and higher non-exercise activity thermogenesis than the evening exercisers. When you workout 1st thing in the morning, you set the tone for the day: productive, healthy, active. The endorphin boost carries you through the day, helping you make healthier choices, even if you don’t realize it.

Research shows that morning exercisers are more consistent. A study found that the majority of people with consistent exercise routines and healthy body weight were morning exercisers. A 2019 study also found that morning workouts improve cognitive performance including attention span, decision making, and mood.

Structural benefits of morning workouts
When you wake up in the morning and immediately workout, you’re setting the tone for the day. You’re creating a healthy habit that becomes so ingrained in your morning routine that you don’t even think about it. Rather than waiting for the end of the day for your tiredness to build up and your excuses to start coming, you’re getting up and going.

Even if it’s just a 30-minute workout done in your living room, working out in the morning will engrain the right mindset for a healthier you.