Lose fat

𝟓 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐞

Morning exercise has many health benefits. If you have a hard time sticking to a routine, move your workout to the first part of the day. The following five benefits might just outweigh the earlier wake-up call.

1. 𝙈𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙭𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙙 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨.

“Morning workouts help reduce the possibility for obstacles to present themselves,” Jasmin Theard, ACSM HFS, an exercise physiologist at Piedmont Atlanta Fitness Center. “There is also less opportunity to make excuses.”

2. 𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙡𝙡 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙥 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙗𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙭𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙙𝙖𝙮.

There are many mental health benefits of exercise, and working out first thing helps you experience those benefits right away. “Exercise leads to the secretion of neurotransmitters that promote mental clarity and an improved attention span,” she says. “You’ll feel a sense of accomplishment, as well as rejuvenated and recharged.”

3. 𝙈𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙭𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨.

That early morning sense of accomplishment can also help you have a healthier day. “When you get up and exercise, you establish a healthier mindset, which makes you more mindful of what you eat during the day,” she explains.

4. 𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙢 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙭𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙞𝙨𝙚.

Exercise has also been shown to boost metabolism. While no study definitively proves that exercising in the morning increases your metabolism more than other times of the day, it does help to ensure you squeeze it in.

5. 𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙡𝙡 𝙨𝙡𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙭𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜.

“Exercise in general helps create a hormonal balance and helps you get into a routine, which can help improve your sleep,” she says. Exercise and sleep go hand in hand because getting enough sleep is also linked to weight loss.

𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒂 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒙𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒓

If you want to become a morning exerciser, Theard offers the following tips:

Give it time. It can take three to four weeks to adjust to a morning workout routine.

Don’t burn both ends of the candle. You’ll need to establish an earlier bedtime if you start waking earlier to exercise. If you don’t get enough sleep, it can be impossible to make the transition.

Fuel up. It’s best to have some source of fuel, but it varies from person to person. Some people have a more sensitive stomach, so you may have to experiment with different foods to determine your best pre-workout fuel.

Remember, any exercise is better than no exercise at all. If you find it easier to fit in a workout during your lunch break or after work, stick with the routine that works best for you.