Exercise
in the Morning!
If I had to pick a single
factor that I thought
was most important in a successful exercise or weight loss program,
it would be
to exercise first thing in the morning... every morning! Some mornings,
you may
just be able to fit in a 10 minute walk, but it's important to try to
do
something every morning.
So why
mornings?...
1.
Over 90% of people who exercise
*consistently*, exercise in the
morning. If
you want to exercise consistently, odds are in your favor if you
exercise first
thing in the morning.
2.
When you exercise early in the morning, it "jump starts" your
metabolism and keeps it elevated for hours, sometimes up to 24 hours!
That
means you're burning more calories all day long just because you
exercised in
the morning!
3.
When you exercise in the morning you'll be *energized* for the day!
Personally, I feel dramatically different on days when I have and
haven't
exercised in the morning.
4.
Many people find that morning exercise "regulates" their appetite
for the day...that they aren't as hungry and that they make better food
choices. Several people have told me that it puts them in a "healthy
mindset"
5. If you exercise
at about the same time every
morning... and ideally wake-up at about the same time on a regular
basis, your
body's endocrine system and circadian rhythms adjust to that, and
physiologically, some wonderful things happen; A couple of hours
*before* you
awaken, your body begins to prepare for waking and exercise because it
"knows" it's about to happen...why? because it "knows" you
do the same thing just about everyday. You benefit from that in several
ways...
a)
It's MUCH
easier to wake-up. When you
wake-up at different times everyday, it confuses your body and thus
it's never
really "prepared" to awaken.
b)
Your
metabolism and all the hormones involved in activity and exercise
begin to elevate while you're sleeping. Thus, you
feel more alert,
energized, and ready to exercise when you do wake-up.
c)
Hormones
prepare your body for exercise by regulating blood pressure, heart
rate, blood
flow to muscles, etc.
6.
For many people, that appointed time every morning becomes something
they
look forward to. It's time they've set aside to do something good for
themselves...to take care of their body and mind. Many find that it's a
great
time to think clearly, pray, plan their day, or just relax mentally.
7.
Research
has demonstrated that exercise increases mental acuity...
on average it
lasts four to ten hours after exercise! No sense in wasting that while
you're
sleeping. :)
8.
Exercise first thing in the morning is really the only way to assure
that
something else won't crowd exercise out of your schedule. When your
days get
hectic, exercise usually takes a backseat!
9.
If finding time to exercise is difficult, anyone can get up 30 to 60
minutes
earlier to exercise (if it's a priority in your life). If necessary,
you can go
to sleep a little earlier. Also, research has demonstrated that people who
exercise on a regular basis have a higher quality of sleep and thus
require
less sleep!)
10. You'll feel GREAT! DO IT! :)
Author
and exercise
Physiologist, Greg Landry, offers free weight loss success stories and
articles, and unique weight loss programs at his site. http://www.greglandryfitness.com
Thank You Greg Landry!
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