What Is The Best Time Of Day To Lift Weights?

Your workout quality isn’t just about what you do; it’s when you do it. It may come as a surprise to many to discover there is in fact a best time of day to lift weights for everyone – and for most people it’s roughly the same time, though for some people it will be a different time altogether. By finding the optimal time to lift weights for yourself you maximize the quality of your workout and maximize the quality of your results. In this article you will discover why certain times are better than others for most people, and how to find your own best time to workout with weights.

Why timing matters with weight training…

Weight training is an extremely strenuous form of exercise.  It’s not a light jog through the park or a 30 minute bicycle ride in which you pretty much go through the motions. Training with weights – and expecting improvements in strength and lean muscle mass – takes everything you’ve got. It’s hard and it’s intense – you’re pushing your body to its absolute limits. This means you must be absolutely ready for each workout so you can take it beyond where you went last time (the only way progress is made).

Some people feel better and more energized at certain parts of the day than others; and it’s at these times you should train. You probably already know which times you feel best at, but there’s no harm in testing to find out for sure – you’ve nothing to lose. (If you do test, be sure to test for a week at a time so your body has time to adjust to the time you’ve chosen and you get genuine feedback.)

When is the best time to lift weights – and why?

Most people will find they are at their peak in the morning, often a few hours after waking and eating. Testosterone levels are usually at their highest in the mornings which promotes aggression and strength, and if breakfast has been eaten around an hour or so before lifting, blood sugar levels should be favorable for exercise at this time, too.

It’s recommended you exercise no earlier than 1 hour after eating because it’s never good to exercise immediately after eating – it makes you nauseous. It’ll also give your food time to partially digest and your blood sugar levels time to settle down properly.

While most people become more tired throughout the day, others seem to become more alert and energetic. There may be a multitude of reasons for this but the result is the same: If you feel best as the day wears on, choose the times you tend to feel best and work out around these times. Simple!

Of course, life isn’t perfect: most people are limited by jobs and other obligations so training times may not be optimal or may even be erratic – just remember it’s better to workout when you can rather than skip workouts. Although taking every advantage you can get however small – they all add up to something bigger when combined – makes sense, don’t get too hung up on training times. If you can’t train at the times you’d prefer to train and you can’t make time, then just train when you can – your results will be 100% better than if you don’t train at all!

Also, many people learn they don’t have to work out anywhere near as long as they thought; most workouts can be concluded within an hour, which may give you more flexibility with timing than you previously thought. Remember that workouts should always be as brisk as possible to maintain optimum intensity without compromising quality.