Best Time For Cardio

When is the best time for cardio? In the mornings? Before or after your workouts? Here are some pointers.

Energy Levels

The notion that you should always do your cardio in the morning is probably due to many people feeling their most energetic during that time of the day. But we aren’t all like that. If you, for example, are the type of person whose energy soars in the evening, then that time of the day is better for you. Rules of thumb are just that: general advice.

Time In The Mornings

And of course not all of us have time after getting up and before going to school or work. If you have to rise at 5 am, because you have to commute for two hours, it’s hard to squeeze half an hour of cardio in there. If that is you, it is better to do your cardio when you have time and can fully concentrate on it.

Before Or After Workouts?

Last but not least, one of the most often asked questions about the timing of cardio is if it should go before or after your workouts. In my opinion it depends on what your main goal is.

If you want to build more muscle mass, then your workout comes first. If your goal is getting better at endurance exercises, the workout comes last. Cardio and working out both tax your carbohydrate reserves and whatever comes before, will get the lion’s share. Also there’s a sneaky little enzyme that might get in the way.

If you have to do both on the same day and want comparatively good performances on both, then at least try to have 4 – 6 hours between them.

Video: Best Time For Cardio

Here is the video where I talk about this subject: