Most of us feel pressed for time in the morning. We’ve got to get breakfast on the table, get sleepy kids out of bed and get ourselves presentable. Believe it or not, your day will be better if you make time for one more thing: exercise.
You’ll start the day in an awesome mood
The link between exercise and mood is hardly new. Even five minutes after your workout, you’ll feel energized and ready to take on the day. Plus, regular exercise is one of the best things you can do for your stress levels. Research even shows that people who find time for exercise tend to feel that they have better work-life balance.
You’ll be more likely to stick with your exercise routine
No surprise here: trudging to the gym after hours of work is a pain. You can spend your entire day dreading the deadlifts to come. Plus, excuses build up: a friend invites you over for drinks, you have to stay late at work, etc. Morning exercise ensures that life’s pesky distractions don’t interfere with your fitness goals.
You can use it as an excuse for your coffee habit
Studies show that moderate caffeine consumption before exercise can up your workout speed and quality, and it can even help you power through a tough sweat session. Ergo, you deserve one or two cups of coffee before your morning exercise.
You’ll build strong bones
Exercise isn’t just for achieving your optimal weight or getting that endorphin rush. It’s also essential for building and maintaining bone density. Weight-bearing exercises (think running, brisk walking, stair-climbing and aerobics) and muscle-strengthening exercises (weight-lifting or body-weight exercises, for example) are the two key types to include in your morning workout.
You’ll probably eat healthier for the rest of the day
Have you ever noticed that you feel extra virtuous after working out? No way are you going to ruin that feeling by sneaking snacks from the office cookie jar. And when you do eat your healthy snack, you may be surprised by how much it satisfies you. Research indicates that morning exercise may help you to feel more satiated by food than afternoon exercise does.
You’ll sleep like a baby
Working out increases your alertness, warms up your body and speeds up your metabolism. That’s fantastic in the morning. But in the evening, right before bed? Well, some people find that they toss and turn more after invigorating evening exercise. Most research, however, concludes that regular exercise in general will do wonders for your shuteye.
You might shed pounds more effectively
One study suggested that you can burn up to 20 percent more fat by exercising first thing in the morning, before you’ve eaten breakfast. Surprisingly, researchers found that this didn’t increase participants’ appetites later in the day.
