Whatever time of day you choose to exercise for weight loss, always warm up gradually and cool down properly. Never exercise on a full stomach or after consuming alcohol. Gentle stretching of the limbs and the muscles prior to exercising is good practice, and will reduce the likelihood of muscular strains during the exercise session proper. Drink small amounts of fluid frequently (every 10 minutes or so) during exercise. If you wait until you feel thirsty it’s too late – you will already be dehydrated.

Cooling down is equally important. Never stop suddenly – take a few minutes to cool down to allow your system to return to normal. So if you are walking briskly slow down for a few minutes before stopping completely.

Finally, listen to what your body is telling you – if it doesn’t feel right don’t do it.