Can you build more muscle if you train in the morning? Science weighs in

Early birds may believe that training first thing in the morning is better for their bodies, but can you really build more muscle if you're in the gym at 6am?

Whether you love getting a strength workout before breakfast with the best adjustable dumbells, or a sweaty HIIT session at lunchtime, research says you may actually be better off waiting until the evening. 

Most of us love that feeling of starting the day with some movement, but some studies have shown that the ability to gain muscle mass is greater when you train in the evening. While other experts believe that consistency, making sure you're actually getting those workouts in, is actually key to getting the results you want, rather than the time of day that you're training at. 

There's always been a myth that early morning gym-goers will be the ones to see the most results, but it's not necessarily true. A Finnish study, in 2016, actually showed that when strength and endurance training was performed in the evening, the fitness fanatics actually experienced larger gains in muscle mass.

The experiment took place over a 24 week period and assessed the 42 men, with half who worked out in the morning and the other half who waited until the evening to perform their workout. All 42 men performed the same exercises but after 12 weeks the men who worked out in the morning started to see more results - with more gains in muscle mass.

Of course, it also comes down to preference and your routine – so, whether your weight of choice is one of the best kettlebells or you prefer resistance bands, changing your routine completely, just to gain muscle, could stilt your motivation. 

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There are also pros and cons to working out at different times of the day: a morning workout could give you focus for the rest of the day, and it may be the only time of the day that you can squeeze it in – especially if you have a demanding job.

However, dependent on how much sleep you've had and whether you've had time to have breakfast that morning, you may not have the strength to power through a workout in the morning like you would do later on in the day. If you're just getting up and heading straight to the gym, you could whip up a shake in one of the best blenders the night before.

Of course, a workout at any time of the day is better than no workout at all – so, despite the research, stick with whatever works for you.