What is the best time to do sports?

Performing physical exercise is one of the best habits that we can adopt, because it brings many benefits to our health in every way. However, it is not only the type of exercise you do and what you eat that matters; the time factor must also be taken into account. Faced with this question, some people ask themselves the question: “What is the best time to do sports?”.

To know what is the best time to train, we must take into account many variables, for example, the capacity physics we want to work on (strength, aerobic endurance, power, etc.), biorhythms, working hours, family…

In this article we will review these variables and propose some advantages and disadvantages of each of them according to the time of day in which we practice sports. Now, deciding what time is the most convenient to exercise depends on each one and their needs and daily habits.

• Related article: "Practicing physical exercise improves academic performance”

The best time to do sports, according to the objective

Some people prefer to play sports first thing in the morning, while others prefer at noon or at night. Now, some studies seem to affirm that, depending on the objective one seeks,

it is better to train at a certain time.

Aerobic resistance

Research suggests that aerobic endurance, the ability to maintain a healthy effort for as long as possible at low and medium intensity, work the same throughout the day.

Anaerobic resistance

Anaerobic resistance, which is high intensity effort and therefore of short duration, it seems to be better to work it in the afternoon, especially after 6:00 p.m. Apparently, the body temperature is ideal after that time.

Muscle mass

Many men want to increase their muscle mass, something that must be done without obsessing over, because the vigorexia It is a disorder that some individuals can present when they enter the vicious cycle of obsessing over bodybuilding. Studies suggest that, to increase muscle mass, it is best first thing in the day or last thing at night.

Loss of fat

Some experts recommend that to train to lose fat, it is better to do it in the afternoon, when metabolism slows down. In this way, we speed up the metabolism again, which helps to burn more calories.

If your goal is to burn fat, you may be interested in these articles:

• "How to lose belly: 14 tips to show off a slim figure"
• 24 fat burning (and highly healthy) foods

Train at one hour depending on our schedule or lifestyle habits

Sometimes the habits we have, our work, our responsibilities mark the best time to train. In this sense, if we train in the morning, despite having to go to bed early, we will have the rest of the day to carry out those activities we want. Morning training activates our body for the rest of the dayBut it can also cause our energy levels to drop considerably in the middle of the afternoon.

If you are going to train in the morning, you should know that it is necessary to warm up well and gradually increase the intensity. If you are going to train when you wake up, try not to do it on an empty stomach, and you should always be well hydrated. Eat at least a banana if you are going to train very early.

Training at noon can be a good alternative, but it is necessary to program well, and not everyone can exercise before eating. This time is a good time to relieve stress and start the evening in a different mood.

As for the night, it is not recommended to exercise very late, since the adrenalin it increases with exercise, as well as your heart rate, so it can be difficult to fall asleep at a decent hour.

However, these schedules are applicable for the majority of the population but those who work at night must adapt the training schedule to their own needs. Generally, people also have family responsibilities.

What variables influence performance

Our body and mind can also undergo variations throughout the day. Some people are more active in the morning and others in the afternoon, so circadian rhythms play a determining role. These can vary from person to person based on their habits or genetics. However, other factors can also be decisive. For example, hormones.

According to research, it is ideal to practice physical exercise when testosterone levels are high and, even more so, when there is a balance between this hormone and cortisol.

Testosterone increases protein synthesis, which is key to increasing muscle mass and strength. In the case of cortisol, which breaks down muscle proteins, it appears in times of stress, but after physical exercise its levels drop. The amount of both hormones is greater in the morning.

If you want to know more about testosterone and cortisol, you can read our articles:

• The effects of testosterone on the male brain
• Cortisol: the hormone that causes us stress

What are the benefits of physical exercise for our mind

Physical exercise has proven to be very beneficial for many reasons, but it is often more related to physical and aesthetic improvements. However, physical exercise it is also key to our mental well-being, our emotional health, our attention, our memory and produces happiness and pleasure.

• If you want to know more, you can read our article: "The 10 psychological benefits of practicing physical exercise”