Is Morning Cardio More Effective Than Evening Cardio?

Do I have to perform my cardio workout in the morning? This question is incredibly common and for good reason. The answer is: it depends on your goals. For some people, getting that cardio workout in first thing in the morning truly does make a difference, but for others, they can squeeze in that cardio workout anytime of day and still get plenty of benefit.

Who Should Get Cardio in the Morning?

Many bodybuilders feel that morning cardio is important when they are in training to cut down body fat and are fasting. This is pretty much for hardcore bodybuilders who are dieting to the max to prepare for a competition. The reasoning behind this is the following: glycogen depletion. Keeping the body's glucose stores drained forces the body to then burn protein or fat instead. This is chemistry 101 and it does make sense for those who understand basic chemistry and cell biology.

Who Can Do Cardio When it is Convenient?

If you are simply trying to maintain and are not fasting, you can pretty much do cardio whenever it is convenient for you. In this instance, doing it first thing in the morning really has no added benefit for you. Of course, if you want to increase your energy, you may want to get your cardio in the morning, but other than this, do it when you want.

What Type of Cardio Should I Do?

Regardless of your goals, you do not need to be a slave to the treadmill for an hour. A good 20 minutes of intense interval training will offer you the benefits and results you need. Of course, if you want to exercise for longer and are healthy and able to do it, then by all means, but if time is an issue, 20 minutes of high-intensity interval training is greatly beneficial.

You can choose to do this daily if you have the time. If not and you are simply trying to maintain your fitness, getting in this type of cardio about four days per week in addition to regular strength and flexibility training is a solid goal. If you are a bodybuilder, then your routine will depend on whether you are training for something or not. If you are trying to lose weight, aim for at least five days a week of the described cardio method mentioned above in addition to strength and flexibility training.

Resources

Military.com: AM and PM Workouts