Best time to exercise

Q: Does it matter what time of day or night a person exercises? I am more motivated to exercise or get things done at night, after I have completed my day and put my son to bed.

A: The best time of day to exercise depends entirely on you. You’re only going to stick with exercise if it fits into your life – not the other way around. We often hear reports that morning exercisers are more likely to stick with their workouts, but that’s not true for everyone. There are just as many regulars at my 6 p.m. aerobic classes as there are at my 6 a.m. classes. If you can barely drag yourself out of bed by 8 a.m., a 6 a.m. jog may not be a good idea. Likewise, a working mom who feels guilty about heading off to the gym in the evening instead of spending time with her kids probably won’t get her money’s worth from her gym membership.

When trying to fit exercise in, you need to look at your schedule and your priorities. If exercising after your son is tucked in works for you, go for it! One thing to keep in mind: Vigorous exercise at night may make it harder to fall asleep. To help ease yourself into sleep mode, make sure you cool down after your workout and spend about 10 to 15 minutes stretching.

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