Although evening workouts are convenient…
Taking this route with your training might be hindering your fat loss results.
Here’s what I mean:
Exercising later in the day can often disrupt your sleep patterns, increasing stress levels, and making it harder to manage hunger and cravings.
Most people inadvertently knock themselves out of a calorie deficit by mindlessly snacking at night.
Poor sleep alone can lead to higher levels of cortisol (the stress hormone), which promotes fat storage, particularly in the abdominal area.
Additionally, it can also decrease your body’s ability to recover, leading to fatigue and reduced workout performance.
“So what’s the best time to work out?”
There is no evidence that suggests working out in the morning will lead to better weight loss than working out in the evening.
However…
There are a lot of advantages to training in the morning.
I set the tone for the day every morning with a workout and cold plunge.
Like clockwork.
I don’t feel optimized if I do not
Morning exercise aligns with your body’s natural circadian rhythms and will promote better sleep quality as a result.
It also gives you an opportunity to start your day with a huge win, while setting you on a trajectory for greatness that day.
When you work out in the morning, you won’t just feel better- you will be more inclined to make healthier decisions with your diet that day.
When you exercise, your body doesn’t crave junk. It craves nutrient-dense whole foods and lean protein.
Training in the AM can also help regulate appetite and reduce cravings, making it easier to stick to your healthy meal plan…
Even while in a calorie deficit.
But that’s not it!
Working out in the morning has numerous other benefits, including:
1. Builds Self Discipline
Most people don’t wake up excited to workout in the morning, I know I don’t.
But doing things that you don’t feel like doing builds both discipline and character
Committing to a morning workout routine requires setting and sticking to a specific wake-up time. This regularity can help develop strong time-management skills and a disciplined approach to the day.
2. Enhanced Cognition
When you work out, oxygen and nutrients travel to your heart and lungs which then improves your cardiovascular system’s endurance and overall stamina. Physical activity increases blood flow to the brain which can help sharpen your awareness and consciousness.
Morning workouts will help you improve your general focus, concentration, and even speech patterns throughout the day.
I frequently make the argument that the mental and cognitive benefits of training supersede the physical.
3. Improves Mood
Working out is a natural remedy for stress. When you exercise, your brain releases mood enhancing endorphins.
So by killing a workout in the early
morning, not only do you set the tone for the day…
You trigger your brain to release a truck load of hormones that will make you feel more optimistic and cheerful for the rest of the day.
4. Improves Metabolism
Exercising in the morning can jump-start your metabolism, allowing you to burn more calories throughout the day.
This can contribute to increased natural energy levels as well as increased fat loss- provided you are in fact in a calorie restriction.
5. Boosts Natural Energy
The increase in metabolism as a result of morning exercise can help maintain higher energy levels more evenly throughout the day.
When you work out, oxygen and nutrients travel to your heart and lungs which then improves your cardiovascular system’s endurance and overall stamina.
People who exercise in the morning are often more consistent than those who do not.
This is likely due to the lower probability that other responsibilities will interfere with the workout schedule.
Morning exercise is also associated with more overall movement throughout the day.
This is a fantastic thing because MOVEMENT IS MEDICINE.
If you’re trying to break through a weight loss plateau or feel like your evening workout program has gotten stale…
I highly suggest giving morning workouts a try.
Morning workouts in my opinion are a LIFE HACK.
There’s a reason I pay my team at Nutrition Solutions to workout in the morning.
I make that investment because I know that by doing so, I will have a more motivated, fitter, productive, energetic team of killers.
Your health is your biggest asset to success—don’t take it lightly.
