Benefits of Working Out Early

I have never been able to work out late in the day. There was a point in my life when I would willingly get up early to workout and then force myself to go back later in the day. I found out that doing so may hurt more than help so I when back to working out in the mornings. I'm at the gym at 5am on the dot. If I get there any later, I mentally crash. Plus, the guys in the gym will razz the heck out of me. Lol! In my mind working out in the evening would have more benefits as you would be burning off those cals that you've taken in all day. However, your motivation would have to be pretty high to really get it in after working a job all day long. So, what are the benifits of working out early? 

Research suggests that morning exercise improves sleep, a benefit that could also promote weight loss. One study of overweight women between the ages of 50 to 75 showed that those who engaged in consistent morning exercise (about four hours a week) slept better than those who exercised less. The evening exercisers had more trouble falling asleep - even if they fit in the four hours a week. It is possible that by exercising in the morning -- instead of evening - the exercise affects the body's circadian rhythm (your internal body clock) so you get better-quality sleep. Good sleep helps control the hormonal balance that helps control appetite (WebMD). 

Another benefit is that if you get up and get it in, other things that are bound to happen in your day won't interfere with you getting to the gym. Working out in the morning also sets the tone for your day. Of you workout in the mornings, you are more likely to eat clean and plus, it decreases your appetite. There are probably other physiological reasons working out in the morning are beneficial, but as long as you are getting it in, time of day doesn't matter. :-)