Steve Chambers shares his own advice after years of reading other people’s opinions
A Liverpool personal trainer has revealed the optimal time he thinks people should exercise. Ultimate Performance gym manager Steve Chambers has been in the industry for over 15 years.
A fitness enthusiast, he said that during this time, he had “come across and read countless studies from around the world,” all of which promoted a “magical” time to exercise. He said there is “no shortage of research” on the best times to train, whether it’s academic papers, opinion pieces or social media influencers’ claims.
But Steve, who works at a city center venue in St Paul’s Square, said: “There’s no better time to exercise than when it’s convenient for you.”
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He told the ECHO: “If you’re an Olympic athlete and you’re trying to make that little bit of accomplishment that could be the difference between a silver medal and a gold medal, it might be worth forensically looking at different times of the day.” Train to see if there are any positive benefits.
“But for the average person who wants to exercise to improve their health, time to train is not an issue at all.
“My problem with these studies is that they can make people overthink things and lead them to believe that there is a ‘magic’ or ‘golden’ time for training. This can lead to you falling into the trap of scheduling your training based on what you read, which can lead to a lack of work-life balance. And it can do more harm than good.
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“The focus is on training when you want to, when you feel the best, when you can train consistently every day, and giving it your all.”
Steve said it’s important to remember that exercise promotes overall health, both physically and mentally. Depending on the type of exercise you do, it can help build muscle, improve your cardiovascular system, and reverse chronic diseases such as diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. It also produces feel-good endorphins and can reduce anxiety.
Steve added: “The list of benefits you can get from exercise is endless. However, these benefits only come if you train at a time that works for you, with intensity and enjoyment.
“My tips for the ‘best’ time to exercise are: Forget about research and data based on other people’s experiences, and train at a time that works for you, your lifestyle, and your daily schedule. is to find out.”
Steve’s Points to Consider
- When is it most effective to train?
- When can you put in the most effort?
- When do you have the most energy?
- When can you train most efficiently and effectively without being interrupted by a busy gym or phone?
He said: “Here’s a good example: Let’s say you have a job that requires you to get up early in the morning, or you have family commitments like taking the kids to school. But then, based on other people’s research, you decide that you want to exercise. I’ve read research that recommends training in the morning as the “optimal” time.
“So to squeeze in a workout, we wake up an hour or two earlier, sometimes as early as 4:30 a.m., but that can compromise our sleep. Good sleep is good for your health. This is a big deal because it’s the basics.
“And when you go to the gym, you may feel tired, sluggish, and mentally you may resent having to get up early to exercise. Can you? The answer is clearly no.
“So the most important thing when considering the ‘best’ time to exercise is understanding what works for your lifestyle and when you can get the most out of your session.”
