Timing Your Workout
A study carried out at Kansas State University*, indicates that a kilogram of fat will be oxidized sooner when exercising in the fasted condition in the morning than when doing the same exercise in the afternoon. By measuring respiratory gas exchange, caloric expenditure, and carbohydrate and fatty acid metabolism, these researchers showed that the mass of fat burned during aerobic exercise amounts to 67% of the total energy expenditure achieved when the same exercise is done later in the day or in the fed state."
The biggest advantage of training first thing in the morning is that you free up the rest of your day, allowing you to focus on work and enjoy your evening activities. More often than not, waiting till later in the day drops the priority level of training below other matters like kids and work.
Training in the morning will help "jump-start" your metabolism and keep it elevated for up to 24 hours, thus burning more calories throughout the day. However, don't expect miracles. Training in the morning alone won't make you fit overnight. You'll need to carry out a good training routine, maintain a healthy, low-fat diet, and acquire good sleeping habits.
