“What time of day should I do my exercise?” That's a common question asked by people just starting out on an exercise program or beginning a supervised training program. You can find plenty of articles online, in addition to this one, covering the topic of the best time to work out. The unfortunate thing is that some of the advice does not take into consideration that the average person seeking the answer has a life beyond exercise and training. Often the writer, who is either a freelance writer and/or a fitness professional, will make suggestions based solely on when the average human body is most suited for handling the most demanding physical challenges. But even if you have the luxury of being able to schedule your exercise whenever you choose, you will find differing opinions on when the body is best suited for exercise, especially comparing strength training to cardiovascular training.

 For the writer, who possibly has total control over their own schedule, this advice is much easier to follow than it is for someone who works as an employee, or has small children. The average person who is exercising for general health, fitness or other personal reasons cannot always follow all of the same guidelines as a professional athlete or fitness model.                                                                                                                                                                  Factors determining when to schedule your work outs:

When you schedule your workouts will be a decision based on your specific situation. Some things that you have no or little control over like work or school schedules will narrow down what times you have available to choose from. Being energized for a productive workout is a big factor to consider. Don't neglect nutrition by missing meals for workouts, especially if you are trying to lose fat.
What it mainly boils down to is personal preference of the options you have available. If you are not a morning person waking up 2 hours earlier to exercise probably is not a good idea. You may not allow enough time for adequate, or any nutrition, and proper digestion. You may also not be motivated enough to give your workout your best effort.

If you do prefer getting up and working out at the start of your day you have the benefit of being more consistent with your training. You don't have to worry about the unplanned or totally unexpected causing you to miss working out.

Afternoon training has the advantage of your body being warmer, less at risk for injury, but not, hopefully not, too fatigued for a good workout. For most people, their occupation makes this time of day difficult for squeezing in a workout.

For those of you who are planning on going to a gym after work be advised this is usually the gym's busiest time, which for some can be a drawback. Other drawbacks for evening exercise can be reduced energy levels from work, and for some people, difficulty getting to sleep after an energizing workout.

If you don't know which time will suit you best, experiment by exercising during the different times you have available. Unless you know immediately that a certain time is out of the question try giving it at least a week to see how you do and how you like it. Keep in mind, exercise should be an enjoyable part of your day, not something to stress about. Make sure the time you pick is one you enjoy and can manage.