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The best time of day to work out
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You may have heard that the best time to hit the gym or get any kind of exercise is in the morning, but a new article in Redbook magazine claims that late afternoon or evening might actually be the best time to get your body moving.
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The article says that between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. is the best time to exercise, “because that’s when you’re hottest, literally.” Your body temperature reaches its daily peak (2 to 3 degrees warmer than in the morning), giving you maximum muscle strength, flexibility, agility, and stamina as well as faster reaction times. Even your lungs are using oxygen more efficiently at this time, according to the article. “You’ll work out harder with less perceived effort and are less likely to injure yourself.”
But keep in mind that any exercise, of course, is better than none, so if an early workout fits best with your schedule, keep it there. “In fact, a.m. exercisers are most likely to stick to their habit: Studies have shown that more than 90 percent of people who work out in the morning are consistent about doing it,” according to the article.
Morning, on the other hand, definitely is the best time to weigh yourself. Stepping on the scale first thing (after the bathroom, before breakfast, wearing little to nothing) gives you the most accurate read on your weight, which can fluctuate by up to three pounds during the day. It’s a good idea to weigh in daily: A study from Brown University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill showed that 61 percent of people who did so maintained their weight within five pounds over time (compared with 32 percent who weighed in less often), mainly because it helped them catch weight gain early.
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