Is it bad to exercise in the evening? This is a question that often comes up because so many people do sport late in the day. From short lunch breaks to crazy work hours, many have no other choice than to do sport in the evening. But is it actually bad for your health?
The best time to do sport depends on you. We all have different rhythms.
It would be impossible to say that there's a perfect time for exercising.
But is it OK to do sport in the evening? Let us shed some light on the issue.
The best time to exercise depends on your goals.
Our body temperature differs at different times of the day. It is lowest one to three hours before waking up in the morning, and peaks in late afternoon around 5 pm.
It has been proven that the higher our body temperature, the better our physical performances are.
From this point of view, you could say that the "best" time for training is late afternoon.
It's not always easy to find the right time to exercise: in the morning, it can be hard to drag yourself out of bed before work, while in the evening, your motivation may be lacking after a hard day at the office (when it can be much easier to say yes to happy hour instead).
Each of these two times have their own advantages. Read on to find out more.
Wondering when the best time is to exercise?
If you can, opt for morning, because your body is primed and ready to go.
However, doing sport in the evening is still possible, even if you often hear that this is bad for you.
Don't worry: better late than never!
Exercising in the evening can be a great way to let off steam after a hard day.
It also helps you regulate your appetite and stabilise your weight, as being overweight can disrupt sleep (breathing trouble, snoring, etc.).
You often hear that for quality sleep, you shouldn't exercise late in the day.
After 7 pm, the body's temperature drops and you start to become drowsy. Your body is getting ready for sleep.
Exercising at this time can disrupt your biological rhythms.
Sport is stimulating: adrenaline and other stimulating hormones that are secreted while exercising can disrupt sleep.
It is generally recommended to give yourself at least two hours before going to bed after doing sport.
It is difficult to find a perfect balance. However, by following a few simple rules, sports and sleep can work well together.
If you follow this advice, you will sleep like a baby (as those who have no baby say)!
To not disrupt your rhythms or your sleep, follow these tips:
- exercise as early as possible
- do endurance-type activities
- avoid competitions when possible
- stay hydrated
- take time to stretch and cool down afterwards
- wrap up your workout with a few minutes of relaxation
- take a warm bath
To determine when the best time to do sport for you is, listening to your internal clock is more important than what anyone else has to say. Experiment to see what works for you.
And most of all, put your health first.
Remember that what counts most is being consistent: 30 minutes of any kind of exercise every day.
You've got all the best intentions. A pair of trainers at the ready. And a pair of skates, come to mention it. And your bike. Your racquet too. But... and there is a but.
The thing is that in between your job, studies, children, friends, season 5 of your current series and inevitable bus delays, well you don't really know when/how to fit in your workout. Here you can find our ideas to try to remedy this.