Does the early bird really get the worm?

Lately, my workout partner and I have been trying to mix up our workouts by taking classes. A few weeks ago, we stumbled upon a real gem— Boot camp with Wayne. Boot camp is circuit training class lead by our fearless leader, Wayne. The music is good the people are nice and its a killer workout. Did I mention that its at 5am? When people hear the time of day that the class starts, they always question my sanity. What they don't know is that I change in the dark, don't brush my hair and show up half asleep at LA Fitness. When I finally get there, I start to wake up. What keeps me coming back for more? Its a refreshing change of pace to hit the gym before work once a week to mix up the doldrums that sometimes occur during after work gym sessions. I've noticed that I seem to have more fun in the mornings and I am willing to work a little harder and sweat a little more than in the afternoon. So, I got to thinking, are morning workouts better then afternoon or evening workouts? Is there really a better time of day to hit the gym? I did some research to give you some information regarding this burning question because I figure some of you might have been wondering the same thing. There are a lot of different views on this topic but some things keep repeating in the literature and are worth noting. 

• Our bodies follow sleep and wake cycles that are called circadian rhythms. This cycle is responsible for regulating things like metabolism, blood pressure, and body temperature. Although we are born with these innate rhythms we can train our bodies to follow a new rhythm. By this I mean by using an alarm clock, or eating at specific times daily your body will adjust. Likewise, if you exercise regularly in the morning, your body will learn to perform its best or be "Ready" for exercise during that specific time of day. 
• Reports suggest that injuries are less likely in the afternoon because you body is warmed up. In the morning, your body temperature is at its lowest and warming up muscles takes longer. 
• Researchers state that morning exercisers are more likely to stick to it that late-day athletes. There is less time for distractions or emotions to take over or get in the way of exercise if its done first thing in the morning. 
• Most research supports the idea that exercise can improve sleep quality. But does exercising too late in the evening keep you up? Studies have shown improvements in sleep from both morning and afternoon exercise, so it's not yet clear if evening exercise keeps you up. One study even showed that vigorous exercise half an hour before bedtime did not affect sleep.
• Studies suggest that strength training is best done in the afternoon when the body has sufficient energy and fuel from food. If you train the morning you may not have enough food nutrients to sustain a vigorous workout. 
• People who work out in the morning claim they have a more positive attitude throughout the day because they have already done something productive and used time wisely. This can in turn improve self esteem and overall mood. 

The good news here is that each individual person is able to decide which time of day is best for them. There is no right or wrong time, its just a matter of personal preference. There seems to be benefits as well as draw backs to both morning workouts as well as evening.