Cardio Training for Fat Loss: What Time of Day? (Part 3)

What time of day should you perform cardiovascular exercise? The answer is simple: anytime. The most important thing is that you do it. Along with a proper diet, cardio workouts at any time of day will burn body fat.

Still, many people (myself included) believe that you can achieve maximum benefits from cardio first thing in the morning before you eat breakfast. Let's look at some of the reasons why this could be the optimal time of day to burn fat via cardiovascular exercise.

Glycogen Levels

The body uses glycogen (stored carbohydrates) as its main energy source. In the early morning before you eat breakfast, your glycogen levels are at their lowest. When glycogen levels are low, the body is forced to draw upon its secondary source of energy – body fat. Consequently, your body operates in an optimal fat-burning state.

If you perform cardio training after you eat, you can still burn body fat; however, you'll burn less because your body will burn the carbs you just ate first. Your body will always burn a combination of carbohydrates and fat, but performing cardio at depleted glycogen levels forces your body to burn more fat stores. Some studies have suggested that up to 300% more fat is burned when the body is in a glycogen-depleted state.

Metabolic Rate

Another advantage to performing cardio upon waking is that intense cardiovascular exercise is capable of elevating your metabolism for several hours after you're finished. If you perform cardio in the evening, you'll still burn fat; however, you'll be unable to take advantage of those highly-elevated metabolism levels during your waking hours. This is because during sleep, your metabolic rate is much slower than at any other time of the day.

Of course, you may find it hard to get up in the morning and perform cardiovascular exercise before eating breakfast. In fact, it's more than likely that you dislike the idea altogether. But keep in mind that once you're finished, you'll feel a well-deserved sense of accomplishment.

Make Time for Fitness

Think about it. You can start your day by accomplishing one small goal that can jump-start the rest of your day. Plus, the thought of having to do cardio in the evening won't hang over your head all day long.

Face it. You are also more likely to blow off an evening session when last minute things arise, as they often do. Plus, you will have no choice but to skip an afternoon or evening cardio session (unless you have a home gym and like late-night workouts). Life happens, of course, but skipping workouts can lead to trouble if it becomes a habit.

So make it a habit to do cardio to start your day. Before you know it, you'll be in a groove, and cardiovascular exercise will become a part of your daily routine. Need some early-morning motivation? Just remember the advantages of performing cardio first thing in the morning, and the extra fat you will burn by doing so.