Thursday, October 22, 2009
Even though the clock reads 10 p.m., you’re bursting with energy. You head to the rec to work off some excess steam, but could doing those reps and sets late at night be bad for you?
Night worker: Kyle Sabatini, Topeka junior, works out when he can — at 8 p.m. But can working out at night be bad for your body?
Exercising at night is better than not working out at all, says Rick Sells, owner of the Lawrence Athletic Club, 3201 Mesa Way. Sometimes it’s just about finding the time to work out. Kyle Sabatini, Topeka junior, says he usually works out at night because it fits best with his schedule.
But it might be better for you to head to the gym in the morning, Sells says. Working out at night leads to eating late, which can be bad for you. Exercise increases your metabolism and burns off carbohydrates in your body. After about 30 minutes to an hour of working out, you’ll get hungry. Working out in the morning, on the other hand, gets your metabolism up, which helps burn calories all day. But if you exercise late then go home and scarf down a big meal and sit around the rest of the night, you store up fats and carbs, which leads to weight gain.
Exercising at night can also keep you awake longer. Working out kick-starts your metabolism, which gives you energy. That extra energy will probably keep you lying in bed, counting sheep an extra few hours after you would normally go to sleep.
If you’re a night owl, don’t avoid the workout altogether, but try heading to the gym a few hours earlier.
VERDICT: OK, BUT IT’S BETTER TO WORK OUT IN THE MORNING
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