It is a debate which has been raging probably since bodybuilding first began, about when the best time to train is, day or night?
Well, really, there is no definitive best time. It comes down to several things you need to consider for yourself:
- Most people hold full-time jobs, so from a practical perspective, you need to consider when the most convenient time to fit your training in, is. Can you get up super-early and train, without feeling tired later on in the day at your job?
- Are you a morning person? Some people naturally feel terrible in the mornings, and to train at this time would be very difficult for them. (However, many people feel this way because they don’t eat breakfast, and just need to get the blood pumping a little!)
- Are you a night owl? Do you function best and feel more alive at night? Then, this could be your time to train…
What is known is that, testosterone levels tend to be at their highest in the morning, which is why men frequently wake up aroused. But, the difference this will have on your training is debateable.
My advice is to be practical. The less stress you bring on yourself the more you’ll enjoy your training and won’t start missing sessions out.
If you would like to train in the morning, but you would find yourself falling asleep at your job in the afternoon, then clearly, you can’t do this. Bodybuilding may be a passion, but you’ve got to draw the line somewhere or things can become chaotic and have a negative knock on effect for other aspects of your life.
Experiment to see what the best time of day is for you. It may be that you feel like crap now when waking up in the morning, but, if you get up, have some breakfast, splash some cold water on your face, do a swift warm up to get the blood flowing, and have an intense training session, you may well find this well and truly wakes you up from your usual morning slumber and sets you up for the day ahead brilliantly.