Is it more effective to exercise in the morning or at night? also, should you exercise before you eat or after?

Depends,BEFORE MEALS: It's MUCH wiser to exercise before you eat. After eating, a large fraction of our blood supply goes to the GI tract to digest our food. This takes energy. Exercising then interferes with digestion & less blood is available to muscles. As to time of day, morning is best for weight loss, 2-6 PM for building strength. See http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/11/best-time-to-work-out_n_4393400.html