Matt Roberts wrote in the Health section yesterday:

"If sleeping induces the greatest fall in metabolism, exercising in the evening is a wasted opportunity to sustain an elevated calorie burn rate, so morning is the better choice."

Is he saying morning over evening or evening is no good at all?

I wouldn't have lost two stone without exercising three times a week in the evening. I think he is saying if you have the opportunity to exercise in the morning than the evening it's better. Most of us (i.e. me) don't have this opportunity.

Don't they say that by exercising in the morning you have a better chance of losing weight since you will use up energy pre eating? and then something like if you want to strengthen up to exercise in the afternoon. I think it is supposed to depend on where your energy levels are during the day. I read it somewhere, but can't remember where. hmmm..

I rarely go to the gym in the morning. I can't seem to get motivated and my energy levels seem low in the morning. I read the article and took it to mean that exercising twice a day for 30 minutes is beneficial. I go to the gym at about 5.30pm because that fits in with work and family.

But I keep reading that morning exercise is the most beneficial so for that reason I bought a stepper machine which I can use for 20 minutes or so in the morning. I may not feel like making the trip to the gym but the stepper gives me at least some exercise (or will do when it finally arrives).

Yeah I read that and felt a little disheartened at first.. but his point I suppose was that if you do some exercise in the morning, you get your metabolism going earlier in the day and have greater potential for weight loss.

Ultimately though, exercise in the evening is still burning calories and you'll lose weight, so definitely not a waste of time. I tried getting up early to go to the gym before work but it is just impossible for me... find it much more tolerable after work.

Hope that it just means that morning better than evening, what I didn't want it to mean was evening exercise no use at all as I do both and in a way Evening is better as there's no pressure to be done by a certain time ready for work.

Thanks for everyone's thoughts will carry on as before!!

To be honest, I think the time of day is irrelevant. The difference in calorie expenditure is negligible; it's more important to do something you'll stick to. If that means first thing in the morning before work, that's fine. If it's a quick half hour before dinner, that's fine too. Don't ever be discouraged by research findings that suggest otherwise. It's the fact that you're making the effort at all that counts, and in the end, whatever exercise you do is going to bring you that little bit closer to your goal.

In addition some people may be better off exercising in the evening as they will be properly 'limbered up' (this for me would take ages to do in the morning) and it is a great way to work off the stress of the day - which in turn probably results in better sleep.

I absolutely agree with what you say, Steph, about working off the stress of the day. I don't much enjoy the gym element of my exercise but for sure the swimming is a huge stress reliever.

Also, it may be my age or the fact that I am not a morning person but I always feel I exercise far better later in the day.

I've heard studies saying 5pm is the best time to work out! I go to the gym in my lunch-hour, which works well for me -- if I exercise in the early morning, I end up incredibly sleepy by about 11am...

Lunchtime works great for most people, it gives me a boost for the afternoon, and more importantly, gets me out of work (no phone calls or e-mails to worry about)!

I must confess to feeling quite peeved when I read Matt's article and, from a motivational point of view it did very little for me as I usually only manage to fit in exercise in the evening. Whilst I accept that there probably are optimal times of day to exercise and the theory makes sense, I'm trying to lose some weight without being totally obsessed about the whole issue and maintain some semblance of a normal life.
As I sit here, it's dark outside and chucking down with rain and my desire to go to the gym is not high. BUT, applying a bit of reverse psychology/female stubborness, I intend to go for a swim tonight at around 7.30 not because it's a good time for it, but it fits in really well between dinner at 6pm and CSI at 9 pm, and something is better than nothing, optimal or not!!!! So there, that's me told!!

I don't see how it can make that much of a difference, if you do enough exercise to burn off 500 calories, then that's 500 calories burned up. Whether you burn them off in the morning or evening shouldn't make a difference.

Yes, completely agree Andy.

I don't know who Matt was really targetting with his article as I don't think i know anyone who could exercise at 9am and at 3pm, unless he is targetting housewives which i don't think is the Times audience.

I don't think it matters when you train as long as you do. it's the amount of calories eaten minus the amout you need that will lead to weight loss. it's basic science.

here is matt roberts' article.

http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/ women/body_and_soul/article3171559.ece

s'cuse me Bex but housewives do read the times ,dont know why you think they arent?

I must admit that while I'd agree there are a lot of housewives and retired folks who read the times, the vast majority of readers haven't a hope in H*ll of exercising at 9am and 3pm. On saying that I've change my routine so I now have a dinner break at 3:30 so I'm peaking at 5pm for the gym!!! Whether it works or not I can't say the jury's out so to speak.

Was a funny sort of an article that one!

Actually, a quick google shows that there are loads of different theories on this. On one page of results I found articles saying morning is best, late afternoon is best and that it doesn't matter when you do it. Since no one seems to be able to agree I'll definitely go with the latter.

i found all this interesting to read. mainly as i am NOT a morning person, and the thought of getting up early to go the gym makes me feel quite ill!

i think its in japan that a lot of companies introduced tai-chi in the mornings before starting work as they believe this can improve focus for the rest of the day, which i am sure is true, if you are a morning sort of person!

for me personally the afternoon is my morning, as i usually work late and often don't finish till 1 or 2 am, i think that makes me an "owl" and my view is, i do work out in the morning, its just a different time to most peoples morning!

I'm a "housewife", and most of my exercise is in the evening. apart from walking the dog. Even if it isn't the "best" time to be exercising it's surely better than slobbing in front of the tv. (After all I do that in the day time watching daytime tv, as a housewife with little else to do, apart from meeting my friends for lunch, shopping, having my nails + hair done, etc. )

You're forgetting about us layabout students! Some of us have nothing but time.

Seriously though, I do prefer to exercise first thing in the morning if I can. I used to go to the gym on the way into work, but that did involve getting there at 7am to have time to have a workout, shower, put on a suit and get in the office by 9. Now I've gone back to uni, I still prefer going to the gym in the mornings. Especially as it's nice and quiet at 8-9am because it's a university gym and most students are still in bed!

I've started cycling the 8 miles to work again, and that half hour burst of activity first thing in the morning is very invigorating. I've been putting off doing it as it's so cold and dark in the evening when I'm going home, but I've actually found it to be quite pleasant if I'm all wrapped up. The moon and the stars and the outlines of the mountains are quite beautiful and inspiring as you're pedaling along.

It doesn't rain all that often here though, and we have lovely showers at work and safe places to lock our bikes. That makes a big difference to your motivation!

Now I'm in my 30s I creak until about 12pm so I think things would start to snap if I did anything vigorous before lunchtime.....

I thought that article was weird and not very motivational for someone like myself who gets to work for 8am, has 30 mins to eat lunch so can't fit a decent workout in, but has time to enjoy getting good and sweaty in the evening.

And don't go upsetting housewives - they get very cross.

hi, whatever, where ever and however you get your exercise, it dont matter as long you enjoy it and it improves your health and fit ness. it can be working in the garden, boxing, walking the dog or running marathons. our interests and time restrictions are all different. do something you enjoy

Agree with you there.
However, we find it really boosts our day to get the exercise out of the way first thing - otherwise we spend all day dreading it.
And by feeling virtuous and energised before work, we keep the good habits up all day (no snacking, healthy lunch etc)
After work, there is sometimes an opportunity to slip in a little extra walk or bike ride (to the pub!)

I've read somewhere (can't remember where unfortunately! may have been elsewhere on this site) that after exercise the body is still going thru calories at a higher rate.

So if you exercise in the morning during the rest of your day (or the few hours after at least, not sure how long the effect is) your metabolism is higher. Of course the same thing happens if exercise in evening, but with metabolism reducing while we're asleep it doesnt quite have the same effect.

However I much prefer to exercise in the evening, I am not a morning person and if I had to get up early to exercise it would feel like a chore and I just wouldn't do it. So I say do what suits you best, as long as you do some exercise you will feel the benefits

hi i reckon whatever time of day is not important ,its if it fits in with your day even if its midnight ,every 2 weeks i do a nightshift getting home at 5 am on a monday morning i have 3 hours sleep then workout for 2 hours then back to work for 2pm ,if i didnt do this once afortnight my week would begin on a tuesday its not ideal but if you have goals needs must. i think every challenge is at the end of the day apersonel thing . on the tue following my only nightshift im tired and sleep like alog the rest of the week . sleep is as important as exercise and nutrition .

Hi - My advice would be to train when you feel you want to.

It may be optimal to train in the morning - but it is that training that is important.

I prefer to train early in the day - but with work and kids - this isn't always possible - so I generally training in the evenings.

The important is just to get out there and do it.

Enjoy it whenever you can - no matter what time of day.

JENNIFER