Specifically, researchers suggested that people who exercise at 7:00 a.m. achieve a higher weight loss than those who exercise later in the day. The study included people who had lost weight and were eating a weight-loss diet. The study participants were instructed to avoid snacking in the three hours before their workouts, so they could focus on exercising.



To find out if this works in real life, researchers used an online weight tracker. In addition to suggesting that people exercise at 7:00 a.m., the tracker suggested that people exercise at the same time every day, and in the same place. When a participant met these requirements, they would earn a star, and the participant would see how many stars they earned each day.


Participants included participants who had lost at least 10% of their initial weight and continued to exercise weekly for the first six months of the study. The study looked at the participants’ eating habits, exercise participation and weight in 12-month intervals.



The results? The people who exercised at 7:00 a.m. lost on average about one pound more in the second 12-month period than the people who exercised at other times. Additionally, 60% of the participants achieved their weight-loss goal, compared with 46% of the participants who didn’t follow the time-and-place recommendations.



How could exercising at the same time and same place as much as possible lead to greater weight loss than exercising at different times? Researchers aren’t entirely sure. But if you can exercise consistently, it may be easier to maintain your weight loss, compared with if you exercise sporadically.


Another recent study suggests that you may lose a pound or two more if you exercise multiple times a week, compared with if you only exercise once a week.


Another recent study suggests that you may lose a pound or two more if you exercise multiple times a week, compared with if you only exercise once a week. (Ethan Huff/Invision/AP, File)

"There are studies that show that people who exercise five times a week [lost] three to seven times more weight than if they exercised just once," says Emily Deans, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and reduslim review Dietetics.


Working out at the same time each day may help you maintain the habit, she adds, which is key. Plus, there’s a chance you’