Answers from Expert: Michelle Cederberg

If you have a question for any of our experts, please visit our Just Ask page. My quick and simple response to 'When is the best time for exercise?' is whenever it is most convenient for you. When we're hit with these sorts of claims, we're often not provided with all the information we need to understand the 'why' behind them. Many 'weight loss' publications will encourage cardio exercise first thing in the morning, often on an empty stomach, because as you come off your 'fast' from sleeping, your body will more readily utilize fat for fuel. There is a downside to this logic, however. We all know that we need energy to exercise, and energy comes from food. While it may be true that your body will burn more fat first thing on empty, your workout may not be as effective or energetic as it would be had you fuelled your body properly before you started. Weight loss is really about burning more calories through activity than you take in as food. You could effectively burn more calories with a high energy fuelled workout than you would with a lower energy 'first thing, on empty' workout. If you have no problem getting to sleep after a late night workout, and you're experiencing success with this time slot, then don't mess with success! It would be a shame if you tried to switch to first thing, only to discover that you're not a morning person, or that your morning routine doesn't allow the same consistency as your evening one did. One suggestion for your 8 p.m. workout would be to minimize how much food you eat after your workout. It's a good idea to refuel after any workout, but later in the evening you'll want to keep it to a small snack that won't weigh you down before bed. Try a half cup of cottage cheese with some fruit, or a slice of toast with peanut butter. Good luck! Michelle Cederberg, MKin, PFLC www.liveoutloud.ca