9 exceptional advantages of early morning exercise

There is no better way to start your day than knowing you have done something amazing for yourself.  This is especially so if it involves throwing back the covers and jumping out of bed to exercise.  Okay, maybe jumping out of bed is too extreme but hey, just getting up early in the morning to make sure a workout happens is impressive.

But what if you’re not a morning person?  Maybe it’s a struggle just to throw back the covers.  Have you ever wondered how some people can be full of energy and so chipper first thing in the morning?  What makes that vim and vigor person to be so wide-awake that early in the wee hours of the day?

It’s a good chance they are exercising soon after the alarm goes off.  Prioritizing in an early morning workout can set the mood for the rest of the day, helping you approach life with an enthusiastic, optimistic attitude.

If early morning workouts don’t appeal to you, here are some reasons to reconsider the timing of when you exercise:

1.  Boosts attitudes, energy levels

 Making the effort to get up a little bit earlier to exercise puts us in a much better frame of mind ready to face the day.  Our attitudes and energy levels will be given a boost which carries over into our work day affecting how we relate to others.

2.  Endorphin release

Exercise and movement in general promote the release of endorphins in the brain elevating your mood starting your day off on a positive note. 

3.  Long lasting calorie burn

The benefits of exercise linger throughout the day.  You will continue to burn calories for hours well after the workout is done. 

4.  Increase fat loss

 You are more likely to increase fat loss by exercising early in the day.  Research from Japan found that fat oxidation occurs if individuals work out before breakfast.  The reason is exercising before breakfast mimics the fasting state which can help kick start weight loss.  If you have low blood sugar, eat a small energy bar or small banana 10-15 minutes before exercise. 

5.  Eat healthier

People who are taking the time and effort to get up and exercise early are most likely going to take the time and effort to eat a healthy diet.  Why else would you knock yourself out getting up early only to choose unhealthy foods to eat?  Instead you will want to continue your positive choices by eating foods making you feel fresh and energized.

6.  Sense of accomplishment

Getting in a workout first thing early in the day gives you a sense of accomplishment knowing you have crossed that off your list of things to do before the workday has even started.  And there’s a good chance you’ll be done with your workout before many people have even set foot outside of their bed.

7. Makes you feel more mentally alert

Early morning workouts significantly increase mental capacity allowing you to capture increased brainpower.  Once you’re done working out, you’ll feel more wide-awake, alert, and energized to take on the day.  Many people who work out early report their best time of day to accomplish a ton of work, whether on the job or at home is in the morning hours.

8.  It’s addictive

Getting into the routine of working out early morning can be addictive and this is the best kind of addiction to have.  This means you are setting yourself up for making this a habit to where you associate the workout with upon wakening.  Research has shown that on average, it takes 2 months or 66 days for a habit to become automatic. 

9.  Better sleep

Another perk from working out early is you will sleep better at night than people who work out later in the day.  Exercising at night can potentially make it hard for you to fall asleep disrupting your normal sleep cycle. 

What if getting up early is hard for some people?

If you currently don’t exercise first thing in the morning, it may seem hard to do particularly if it takes you awhile to wake up.  Here are some tips to help out with that:

·      Go to bed 30-45 minutes earlier to keep you on your normal sleep schedule.

·      This extra time will allow time to do a warmup and the workout without compromising adequate rest.

·      Get up at the same time each day to go exercise.  People who consistently exercise in the morning train their body to be prepared to workout at that time.

·      Set out everything you will need the night before.  This means your workout attire and setting out anything else you may use to keep you from rushing around the next morning.

·      Give yourself a pep talk.  Repeat “I can do this” or be more forceful and say “Get your butt out of bed.”

·      Some people may need a small pre-workout meal to provide more energy.  Drinking a healthy smoothie can provide ample fuel to power you through a workout. 

The important thing is to make exercise and physical activity a normal routine of your lifestyle.  Even if you can’t make an early morning workout fit into your schedule, keeping your body fit through exercise keeps your healthier and more productive overall.

Most importantly, choose an early morning exercise routine you enjoy.  This will help you get out of bed ready to start moving.  It might be a brisk walk or run, an early morning swim, a yoga session or a bike ride.   Whatever it may be, the important thing is to stick to the routine remembering to greet those early rays of sunshine with a smile.