Our expert has the answers: When is the best time of day to exercise?

We asked an expert who needs to know. Mathieu Saubade, sports and exercise doctor at the University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), says: “The most important thing is to exercise whenever you can. In other words: If you don’t mind showing up to your 2pm session with wet hair and glasses marks on your face, there’s no logical argument for going to the pool at lunch.

Respect your biorhythm

But even if the time of day “does not make a big difference”, as the sports doctor says, there are a few points to consider: “Sports activity should match your occupational and biological rhythm. For example, you should not lose sleep time by getting up earlier or exercising late at night.”

Another thing to consider is digestion. “It is better to wait one to two hours after eating before exercising,” says the doctor.

Speaking of food, one study showed that exercising in the morning on an empty stomach “may be more effective for burning fat and losing weight.” Saubade confirms this finding: “In women, burns are more effective in the morning.” Conversely, exercising at the end of the day also has positive effects: “Both men and women who exercised in the evening said they felt better than those who exercised in the morning.” But Mathieu Saubade puts these results into perspective because they come from studies with small numbers of participants. “We only have a little data.”

It’s all a matter of mental stress

Metabolic effects are not the most important thing for the doctor when it comes to exercise time selection. “Especially when you start working out, you have to think long term: “What is the easiest thing that can be done all year round?” says Mathieu Saubade. He recommends testing at different times before committing. The expert reminds us that always using the same time of day for training is ideal for your biorhythm.

But the same applies here: do not panic if strength training is postponed from morning to evening. But this is not ideal. But you know what’s worse? There are no sports.