Is it worth training before bedtime?

Training before bedtime and the body's reaction to it

It is widely known that sleep plays an incredibly important role in the context of the training and exercise performed. It is during sleep that there is a chance for the full regeneration of the organism on many levels - from the normalisation of muscle tension, through the renewal of exhausted glycogen stores, to the renewal of the overloaded nervous system. The very role of physical activity in the context of falling asleep seems logically beneficial. An organism exhausted by exercise will demand more sleep.

However, what about when you train right before bedtime? Physical exertion causes a number of changes in the body. First of all, of course, there is the rise in body temperature and the acceleration of the heart rate. Second, there are signs of increased hormonal activity. Exercise causes the body to release substances such as adrenaline, dopamine and cortisol - all of which affect the neuromuscular system. It's not hard to be surprised that after a workout, the body is still in a state of readiness for further work.

Training before bedtime. Time for calming the body

Another important point is that the body needs an optimum amount of time to calm down after exercise. The body in most cases needs at least 60 minutes to enter a state of relaxation. During this time, it will strive to normalise the level of adrenaline or regulate the accelerated heart rate. Therefore, if someone decides to train just before bedtime, pay attention to ensuring that the body has the necessary time to relax.

It is also hard to deny that doing sports does increase appetite. When thinking about evening training, it is worth noting that the meal after exercise will probably be the last one of the day. As is well known, dinner should be eaten no later than 2 hours before going to bed. Overeating just before going to bed can make it really difficult to sleep - a hearty meal will require a lot of involvement from the digestive system in terms of digestive processes. It should be remembered that the activity and efficiency of the intestines is much lower at night than during the day. It is not difficult then to have a "sleepless night" caused by irregularities of digestive nature.

However, there can be no biased approach to the question of whether it is worthwhile to train before bedtime. Physical activity in the evening is certainly a valuable way to relieve emotions and tension after an extremely exhausting day. By choosing the optimum level of intensity, appropriate exercise and sufficient time to relax, you can in good conscience decide to do your workout before going to bed. As in all areas of life, moderation and common sense should always prevail over the need to achieve your dream body shape.