WHEN DO I EXERCISE?

   If you exercise regularly, you may have already figured out the optimal time to exercise.  Some people always exercise in the morning and feel it is a great way to start the day.  Others are just not morning people, they may choose to exercise after work or early in the evening.

   Those who are not exercising regularly may find that figuring out when to set aside the time is one of the challenges in getting started.  This is a highly individualized choice and can be based on your body's biorhythms.   People who bound out of bed with high energy levels in the morning will likely choose to start their day with a workout.  Those who find their energy level peaks later in the day may choose to exercise later.

    Wayne Westcott, PhD, fitness research director at the South Shore YMCA in Quincy, Massachusetts, suggests that if you choose to exercise in the morning, spend longer warming up,  Instead of the typical ten minute warm up, go for twenty minutes.  Westcott suggests that the extra warm up time is necessary to loosen muscles and avoid injury because your body temperature is lower in the morning.

    For those exercising in the evening, allow at least two hours between ending your workout and going to bed.  This will allow enough time for the stimulation from the exercise to slow down breathing, heart rate and metabolism so you can fall asleep.

     So choose the time that works best with your body's biorhythms and then be consistent in following your exercise plan.  If you need help in planning and getting motivated to exercise, hypnotherapy can be a great tool to get you moving and BE WELL.