Share and Follow
Let’s be real: fitting in workouts with a hectic schedule is tough. With work commitments, family responsibilities, and the need for relaxation, finding time for fitness can be a challenge. What if there was a simple adjustment you could make to your workout routine that could supercharge your fitness levels? Recent studies shed light on the key to quick results.
New Study Reveals Consistency Can Boost Your Fitness Fast
Do you know when you typically engage in your exercise routine? Some people are all about early morning workouts, starting the day with energizing yoga or a run outdoors. Others prefer to exercise later in the day, using it as a way to unwind after work, hitting the gym, attending a spin class, or joining an intense kickboxing session.
Regardless of your workout time preference, a study from the University of Florida Health, featured in Medicine & Science in Sports and Exercise, highlights that both the timing and consistency of your daily physical activity can significantly impact your fitness journey. This might mean making slight adjustments to your daily schedule, but the payoff will be well worth it!
Morning Movers Came Out on Top
The researchers studied 800 older individuals with the average age of 76. Each participant was required to wear a wrist device that continuously tracked their physical activity levels for one full week (seven days). Following that, the participants completed cardiopulmonary exercise testing to get a complete evaluation of their respiratory and cardiovascular health.
The bottom line? Timing and regularity can make all the difference in the world. Per the study’s findings, individuals who moved most in the morning hours—and on a more consistent basis—experienced better lung fitness, heart health, and walking efficiency compared to those who trained later in the day and less consistently.
Every Bit of Movement Counts
“While we’ve long known that being active supports healthy aging, this study reveals that when you’re active may also matter,” Karyn Esser, Ph.D., senior study author and professor and chair of the UF College of Medicine’s Department of Physiology and Aging shared. “The circadian mechanisms that generate daily rhythms in our system are important for our well-being.”
It’s important to note that physical activity encompasses all daily movement, whether that be running errands, cleaning your home, tending to your garden, walking, or grocery shopping.
Needless to say, it’s essential to make working out a regular habit. No excuses! Adding more movement to your day is a surefire way to improve your health and overall well-being—well into old age.
Alexa Mellardo
