Public awareness of the importance of exercising is getting bigger. Now, more and more people are starting to want to get as many benefits as possible from exercise, so many are questioning when is the right time to exercise so that the benefits can be maximized.
There is no definite benchmark when the right time to exercise. The reason is, sports that are done in the morning, afternoon, or evening have their respective advantages and still bring benefits to the health of the body.
Morning: The Right Time for Exercise for Those With a Busy Schedule
Many people think that the morning is the right time for exercise. The reason is, in the morning the air is still fresh, especially if the exercise is done outside the house. This is indeed one of the advantages of exercising in the morning. However, there are still other advantages, namely:
- Makes the body more energetic.
- Upgrade mood or mood throughout the day because in the morning the brain releases endorphins, which are hormones that stimulate feelings of happiness.
- Increase the body's metabolism, so that the calories burned in a day tend to be more.
- Make a healthier lifestyle because people who exercise in the morning tend to choose healthier foods during the day and at night.
- Improve work performance, because morning exercise is proven to improve concentration and decision-making ability
- Helps control appetite throughout the day and aids in weight loss.
If you want to lose weight, you can exercise in the morning on an empty stomach. Exercise on an empty stomach can burn 20% more fat than when you have breakfast. However, make sure you are strong enough to exercise without eating first.
Afternoon and Evening: The Right Time for Exercise to Release Stress
Some people who do not have time to exercise in the morning choose to do it in the afternoon or evening. Those of you who choose to exercise in the afternoon or evening need not worry because both can be the right time for exercise. There are various advantages of exercising at this time, including:
- The muscles are in an ideal condition for exercise because in the afternoon the body temperature increases and can warm the muscles.
- Exercise can be done more intensely because in the afternoon the strength and endurance when exercising is higher than in the morning.
- Can socialize with many people because more people choose to do sports in the afternoon or evening after activities.
- Helps relieve stress, so that it can make your mind more relaxed after going through work or studies that burden the mind.
- Can do sports that require high speed because in the afternoon the body is more agile and more responsive to reactions.
- Energy use tends to be more effective because in the afternoon oxygen is absorbed faster than in the morning.
There is no research evidence that explains the right time to exercise. This is because everyone has a different body circadian rhythm. Circadian rhythms are rhythms that regulate a person's physical, mental, and behavioral state within 24 hours.
A person may feel more energetic and stronger to exercise in the afternoon than in the morning, and vice versa. You can determine the right time to exercise according to your body's circadian rhythm and your comfort in doing it.
To maximize your exercise in the morning or evening, it is also important for you to take vitamin C before or after exercise. Taking vitamin C before exercise is believed to be able to burn more calories, even after the workout is over.
As an antioxidant, vitamin C is also known to make you last longer and recover faster after exercise. In addition, this vitamin can also make you feel more enthusiastic and energized to exercise.
Exercising, whenever it is, is more beneficial than not exercising at all. So actually, you don't need to worry too much about the right time to exercise.
But if you have certain health conditions, such as those that require you to take certain medications in the morning or evening, it's a good idea to discuss this with your doctor first.