I get asked this question a lot, what is the best time to run for weight loss? While there is no straight answer to this, I am going to answer this question and explain when you should go for a run in order to maximize your weight loss effort.
What is the best time of day to run for weight loss?
According to research, your exercise benefits are maximized when your body temperature is at its highest. For most people, that is between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., though some studies extend this time to 7 p.m.
Will running 30 minutes a day help lose weight?
If you are going for a run every day for weight loss, calorie burn is your goal, running 30 minutes a day will eventually help you to lose weight.
How fast you are going to lose weight will depend on how fast you run, Experts acknowledge that if you run at 5 mph for 30 minutes, you get to burn 295 calories.
Also, the number of calories you intake ( from the food you eat) will determine how fast you can lose weight running, the idea here is to create a calorie deficit if you run 5 mph for 30 minutes and burn about 295 calories and when you reach home you celebrate by eating that cake with 400 calories, you are not creating a calorie deficit and you will not lose weight.
In order for you to lose weight you need to combine your running routine and eating the right food, in short, you can not outrun the calories.
Is it better to run at night or in the morning?
Morning run
Personally, I prefer to run in the morning, this is what works for me, for you it can be at a different time, there are a few things that you need to consider.
If you are new to running, an early morning workout may actually be more challenging to your system because you are not warm.
One trick that worked for me was to have my running shoes near my bed, the reasoning for this is that I do not have to overthink when I wake up, just put my shoes wonder in the house for 2 to 3 minutes then move on with the running. ( I live near a public park).
I know this is easy said than done, there is a lot of inertia to run in the morning, but if you can get through that inertia it can be a great time to go for a run.
If you are not an early person do not run in the morning. If you skimp on sleep to fit your run in, you may be doing your weight-loss efforts a disservice.
Sacrificing a few hours of sleep to get in an early run may sabotage you. The National Sleep Foundation notes that lack of sleep can inhibit weight loss even if you are exercising and eating right.
Exercising too late may also negatively affect sleep because it elevates your body temperature for up to six hours, and more relaxed body temperatures are associated with better sleep.
Going for a run in the evening
Evening runs help lower your night-time blood pressure; running in the late afternoon or early evening helps you improve your form and build muscles.
Science says the best time to run is late afternoon or early evening( this is because your body is at its highest temperature).
Also, while late afternoon is best for long-distance runs, early evening is best for sprints.
Will running give you abs?
Yes, running can give abs, most people I know who run for fun have abs. While running is primarily a cardio exercise, it does strengthen and tone many muscles in your body, including your abs.
Can I lose 30 pounds in 3 months running?
Yes, you can lose 30 pounds in 3 months running, it will not be easy but it can be done, let me explain.
According to research, to lose a pound of weight you must burn off 3500 calories more than you consume, you can achieve that by doing exercises and eating fewer calories.
Let’s assume that you are going to consume the same amount of calories as usual, so in order to lose 30 pounds you will have to create a deficit of 105,000 calories in 3 months ( 90 days).
That is a deficit of approximately 1167 calories per day , experts acknowledge that if you run at 5 mph for 30 minutes, you get to burn 295 calories.
At that rate, you will have to run 2 hours per day for 90 days, this is double for some people and for some, it is not, running 2 hours per day is not easy.
One way to do this is to run for one hour in the morning and one hour in the evening and maintain the amount of calories you consume, but if you consume fewer calories, you might need to run a shorter time and if you consume more calories you might need to run longer.
Walking or running which one is better for belly fat loss?
I wrote about walking for the belly here. What I found is that walking and running help burn calories in the body, but they also help reduce belly fat, it depending on the intensity. However, running may help reduce belly fat more effectively.
Final words
The best time to run is when your body temperature is at its highest point, for most people that is in the evening.
For most people, that is between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., though some studies extend this time to 7 p.m.
Running is a good habit, and a good exercise if you run every day for an extended period of time, I would say at least 30 minutes every day for 6 months, slowly but surely you will see a massive change in your weight and your body shape.
Put on those shoes and start running today.