Best Time to Exercise?

I am up very early often 4:30 or 5:00 a.m. and too often intend to
exercise but postpone it in favor of first coffee, and then breakfast.
Still trying to find the best time to exercise.

(CNN) -- Whether trekking on a treadmill or slicing through a pool, for
many people, exercising in the morning is like drinking a cup of
coffee. The early physical activity stimulates them and gives the day a
strong start.

"I feel great after morning exercise," said Orlando Suarez, a
39-year-old director of special events in Los Angeles, California. "I
feel very energetic, very clear. It's like I have a sustained energy
throughout the day."

But one neurologist is challenging the old convention of the morning
workout. In fact, Dr. Phyllis Zee of Northwestern University has a
different opinion about when is the ideal time to exercise.

"The best time to work out is in the late afternoon," Zee said. "The
reason for that is your muscle strength is at its peak, its highest.
You're going to be less likely to injure yourself. It's also a time
when people are most awake and alert."

The science behind Zee's assertion resides with delicate rhythms of the
brain called circadian rhythms. According to Zee, circadian rhythms
explain why working out later in the day might be more productive and
beneficial.

"One of the things that circadian rhythms does is that it determines
when your best performance time is," Zee said. "Your ability to perform
changes throughout 24 hours."

Circadian rhythms operate like an internal clock in the body. Neuron
signals are fired out by the hypothalamus [a region of the brain],
controlling sleep patterns, blood pressure, even our moods.

"These are rhythms that are innate," Zee said. "They are in almost any
organism, whether you are an animal or a plant, and they recur every 24
hours."

Circadian rhythms also control body temperature, a key element of a
more productive workout. According to Zee, by the afternoon, body
temperature is between one and two degrees warmer than in the morning,
making muscles in the body more supple and lowering the risk of injury.

Another circadian expert agrees.

"Maximum body temperature happens between 2 and 4 p.m.," said Dr.
Michael Vitiello, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at
the University of Washington. "After that, [body temperature] starts to
decline for most people.

"It all depends on whether you want to exercise in early afternoon or
early evening. But we're not talking about a gigantic difference [from
the peak period]."


Challenging popular notions

David Padron, a 28-year-old graphic designer in Fresno, California,
finds that his afternoon workouts aren't only easier on his body but
also that his performance increases, too.

"I look forward to it all day," Padron said. "I feel more relaxed. In
the afternoon, I have the energy to lift 20 more pounds than in the
morning."

Some health experts recommend exercising in the morning because the
body's metabolism will get an early start at burning calories and
sustain that higher metabolic rate during the hours after.

But for one fitness expert, that might not be enough of an argument for
morning exercise.

"There is some evidence that morning exercise promotes more fat burning
than other times of the day, but the difference is so small that it
really wouldn't matter," said Richard Cotton, an exercise physiologist.
"And if you're going to exercise inconsistently in the morning, then
it's not worth it at all."


Some better than none

Recently, a government study found an alarming exercise trend among
American adults. A staggering 60 percent of Americans don't exercise
enough, and more than 25 percent aren't physically active at all,
according to the report from the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.

Cotton, who is also a spokesman for the American Council on Exercise,
agrees that afternoon exercise might be a good way to prevent injury
and get maximum performance, but said the most important thing is a
consistent exercise regimen.

"In middle-aged and younger adults, it's probably not a big difference
for them in terms of their exercise time," Cotton said. "It is really
their lifestyle and what works for them that's really important when
determining your exercise time."

Health experts agree -- it's better to exercise some than not at all.
They say if people prefer to exercise in the morning, they need to
spend a few more minutes warming up to stay on the path to good health.

--
Diva
*****
The Best Man For The Job Is A Woman

One time on Usenet, Carol Frilegh said:

I am up very early often 4:30 or 5:00 a.m. and too often intend to
exercise but postpone it in favor of first coffee, and then breakfast.
Still trying to find the best time to exercise.

(CNN) -- Whether trekking on a treadmill or slicing through a pool, for
many people, exercising in the morning is like drinking a cup of
coffee. The early physical activity stimulates them and gives the day a
strong start.

"I feel great after morning exercise," said Orlando Suarez, a
39-year-old director of special events in Los Angeles, California. "I
feel very energetic, very clear. It's like I have a sustained energy
throughout the day."

But one neurologist is challenging the old convention of the morning
workout. In fact, Dr. Phyllis Zee of Northwestern University has a
different opinion about when is the ideal time to exercise.

"The best time to work out is in the late afternoon," Zee said. "The
reason for that is your muscle strength is at its peak, its highest.
You're going to be less likely to injure yourself. It's also a time
when people are most awake and alert."

snip

Interesting article, but afternoon exercise wouldn't work for me.
Not only do I have more free time in the morning, but also the
weather is cooler. I balk at exercise if it's above 55 degrees
outside. Speaking of which, I'm off to go walking on this lovely,
chilly Fall day... :-)


--
J.J. in WA * 275/231.5
Goal #2: 215 By Dec 31 '04
Goal #3: 195 by May 31 '05

One time on Usenet, Carol Frilegh said:

I am up very early often 4:30 or 5:00 a.m. and too often intend to
exercise but postpone it in favor of first coffee, and then breakfast.
Still trying to find the best time to exercise.

(CNN) -- Whether trekking on a treadmill or slicing through a pool, for
many people, exercising in the morning is like drinking a cup of
coffee. The early physical activity stimulates them and gives the day a
strong start.

"I feel great after morning exercise," said Orlando Suarez, a
39-year-old director of special events in Los Angeles, California. "I
feel very energetic, very clear. It's like I have a sustained energy
throughout the day."

But one neurologist is challenging the old convention of the morning
workout. In fact, Dr. Phyllis Zee of Northwestern University has a
different opinion about when is the ideal time to exercise.

"The best time to work out is in the late afternoon," Zee said. "The
reason for that is your muscle strength is at its peak, its highest.
You're going to be less likely to injure yourself. It's also a time
when people are most awake and alert."

snip

Interesting article, but afternoon exercise wouldn't work for me.
Not only do I have more free time in the morning, but also the
weather is cooler. I balk at exercise if it's above 55 degrees
outside. Speaking of which, I'm off to go walking on this lovely,
chilly Fall day... :-)


--
J.J. in WA * 275/231.5
Goal #2: 215 By Dec 31 '04
Goal #3: 195 by May 31 '05

Gal Called J.J. wrote:

Interesting article, but afternoon exercise wouldn't work for me.
Not only do I have more free time in the morning, but also the
weather is cooler. I balk at exercise if it's above 55 degrees
outside. Speaking of which, I'm off to go walking on this lovely,
chilly Fall day... :-)

Even though I had already done enough exercise today, I couldn't resist
going out in the waning light for a walk after supper. I went 3 miles
and was walking in moonlight by the time I got back. It was unbelievably
lovely s

--
On the bike . . .
Laurie in Maine
207/110 60 inches of attitude!
Start: 2/02 Maintained since 2/03

"SnugBear" wrote in message
.4...
Gal Called J.J. wrote:

Interesting article, but afternoon exercise wouldn't work for me.
Not only do I have more free time in the morning, but also the
weather is cooler. I balk at exercise if it's above 55 degrees
outside. Speaking of which, I'm off to go walking on this lovely,
chilly Fall day... :-)

Even though I had already done enough exercise today, I couldn't resist
going out in the waning light for a walk after supper. I went 3 miles
and was walking in moonlight by the time I got back. It was unbelievably
lovely s

--
On the bike . . .
Laurie in Maine
207/110 60 inches of attitude!
Start: 2/02 Maintained since 2/03

It's supposed to be near 70 and sunny here tomorrow. I think I'll use my
bike to run some errands in the morningg I may even load the bike on the
rack and head to one of the trails afterward. There aren't going to be many
more days like this one.

Beverly

"SnugBear" wrote in message
.4...
Gal Called J.J. wrote:

Interesting article, but afternoon exercise wouldn't work for me.
Not only do I have more free time in the morning, but also the
weather is cooler. I balk at exercise if it's above 55 degrees
outside. Speaking of which, I'm off to go walking on this lovely,
chilly Fall day... :-)

Even though I had already done enough exercise today, I couldn't resist
going out in the waning light for a walk after supper. I went 3 miles
and was walking in moonlight by the time I got back. It was unbelievably
lovely s


My thought on this is: the best time to exercise is the time you will
exercise.

Martha

On Fri, 22 Oct 2004 03:12:43 GMT, "MH"
wrote:


"SnugBear" wrote in message
. 1.4...
Gal Called J.J. wrote:

Interesting article, but afternoon exercise wouldn't work for me.
Not only do I have more free time in the morning, but also the
weather is cooler. I balk at exercise if it's above 55 degrees
outside. Speaking of which, I'm off to go walking on this lovely,
chilly Fall day... :-)

Even though I had already done enough exercise today, I couldn't resist
going out in the waning light for a walk after supper. I went 3 miles
and was walking in moonlight by the time I got back. It was unbelievably
lovely s


My thought on this is: the best time to exercise is the time you will
exercise.

Martha



Agreed. But I admit... I am definitely more of an afternoon, early
evening exerciser myself.

Cynthia
262/???.0/225

On Fri, 22 Oct 2004 03:12:43 GMT, "MH"
wrote:


"SnugBear" wrote in message
. 1.4...
Gal Called J.J. wrote:

Interesting article, but afternoon exercise wouldn't work for me.
Not only do I have more free time in the morning, but also the
weather is cooler. I balk at exercise if it's above 55 degrees
outside. Speaking of which, I'm off to go walking on this lovely,
chilly Fall day... :-)

Even though I had already done enough exercise today, I couldn't resist
going out in the waning light for a walk after supper. I went 3 miles
and was walking in moonlight by the time I got back. It was unbelievably
lovely s


My thought on this is: the best time to exercise is the time you will
exercise.

Martha



Agreed. But I admit... I am definitely more of an afternoon, early
evening exerciser myself.

Cynthia
262/???.0/225

One time on Usenet, "MH" said:
"SnugBear" wrote in message
.4...
Gal Called J.J. wrote:

Interesting article, but afternoon exercise wouldn't work for me.
Not only do I have more free time in the morning, but also the
weather is cooler. I balk at exercise if it's above 55 degrees
outside. Speaking of which, I'm off to go walking on this lovely,
chilly Fall day... :-)

Even though I had already done enough exercise today, I couldn't resist
going out in the waning light for a walk after supper. I went 3 miles
and was walking in moonlight by the time I got back. It was unbelievably
lovely s


My thought on this is: the best time to exercise is the time you will
exercise.

Excellent point, Martha... :-)


--
J.J. in WA * 275/231.5
Goal #2: 215 By Dec 31 '04
Goal #3: 195 by May 31 '05

One time on Usenet, "MH" said:
"SnugBear" wrote in message
.4...
Gal Called J.J. wrote:

Interesting article, but afternoon exercise wouldn't work for me.
Not only do I have more free time in the morning, but also the
weather is cooler. I balk at exercise if it's above 55 degrees
outside. Speaking of which, I'm off to go walking on this lovely,
chilly Fall day... :-)

Even though I had already done enough exercise today, I couldn't resist
going out in the waning light for a walk after supper. I went 3 miles
and was walking in moonlight by the time I got back. It was unbelievably
lovely s


My thought on this is: the best time to exercise is the time you will
exercise.

Excellent point, Martha... :-)


--
J.J. in WA * 275/231.5
Goal #2: 215 By Dec 31 '04
Goal #3: 195 by May 31 '05