Your Back's Best Time to Work Out

By Craig Ballantyne

In general, there is no best time for a fat-loss workout. Training in the afternoon should get you the same results as training in the morning. Still, there are some important things to consider when determining when to work out:

• Will you able to train at a proper intensity at that time, or will you be tired?

• Will you be able to eat properly before and after the workout?

• Will you stick to a workout program scheduled for that time?

• Will exercising at that time be hard on your back?

Why do I bring up that last point? Because Dr. Stuart McGill, an expert in low-back disorders, recommends waiting at least an hour after waking up before engaging in any exercise that includes trunk flexion (i.e., traditional ab exercises like crunches). The reason behind his recommendation: Overnight, the discs between your vertebrae fill with fluid and are more susceptible to injury in the morning.

So don't roll out of bed and start doing sit-ups. (Most people should not be doing them anyway). And if you have soreness in the lower back, avoid bending over early in the morning. Use a position that is more back-friendly when putting on your socks and shoes, picking up dumbbells from the floor, etc. And no matter when you exercise, pay attention to your form and exercise selection.

Bottom line: You can still have a great workout in the morning, as long as you are extra careful of your back and lifting technique.

It's Good to Know: 911 in Other Countries

If you live in the United States, the fastest way to summon help is to call 911. Argentina and Canada use that same number. But what if you are on a business trip or on vacation overseas? Here is a partial list of emergency numbers that you may want to keep on file:

All European Union countries: 112

Australia: 000

Hong Kong: 999

Israel: 100

Japan: 119

Mexico: 060

Switzerland: 144

Thailand: 191

(Source: Travel and Leisure)

Word to the Wise: Roue

A "roue" (roo-AY) - from the French - is a man devoted to a life of sensual pleasure.

Example (as used by Rex Roberts in a review of the movie Quills): "Yet he [the Marquis de Sade] acted the roue to the end, carrying on an intimate liaison with a girl who worked at the asylum - he was 74, she was 17."

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These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise [Issue #2349, 05-07-08], the Internet's most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com/.