Your Perfect Workout Time: A.M or P.M.?

Question: "Is it better to work out in the morning or in the evening?"

Answer: Many experts recommend working out in the morning to avoid the distractions (and excuses) that may come up later in the day. To snap out of sleep mode, warm up by walking or doing some light cardio for about 10 minutes, then spend another 5 to 10 minutes stretching, focusing on the same muscles you'll use during the workout. The bottom line, however, is that you'll get the biggest benefit from a workout when you have the most energy, says David Upton, Ph.D., an exercise physiologist in Fort Worth. "If you're sluggish in the morning and don't work out as hard as you do at other times, you might burn fewer calories," he explains.

Originally published in Fitness magazine.