Admittedly, not everyone is able to fit an early workout into their day. And of course, any exercise you do will pay healthy dividends. Personally, I just don’t feel complete and ready to start a day until I’ve completed my workout. I’ve tried having midday and midafternoon sessions, but it seems so easy to be lured away by the inevitable distractions. Suffice it to say, for the last 40 years, I’ve always had my gym shoes on by 5.30 am.
According to a study published in the European Journal of Preventative Cardiology, if you exercise in the morning you will have a lower risk of heart problems or stroke. Researchers looked at the physical activity levels of more than 85,000 people between the ages of 42 and 78 who wore fitness trackers for a week. The findings were especially prominent in women. Participants were monitored for up to eight years. Nearly 3,000 developed heart problems and 800 suffered a stroke. The healthiest had a habit of ‘working out’ between 8 am and 11 am. The study also found that those with the highest daily levels of overall physical activity exercised late morning and had a 16% decreased risk of coronary artery disease compared to those who worked out after midday.
Again, if you have been able to form the invaluable habit of regular exercise at any time of day, you are ahead of the pack with your health. But research is showing you can reap the best results if you can make it before noon.
Pic: Paul, Jo, and Tina
