I found one that works great for me! It is exercising in the morning!
Last week, I began instructing the 5:00 A.M. boot camp at the YMCA. I was forced to get up early and exercise. I love it!
The early morning exercise has changed my entire day! Strangely enough I find myself having more time, more energy, and a bigger smile at work. Those I tell about my new routine say they can see how excited I am about it. In addition to my personal findings there are many more health benefits to starting your day with a workout.
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| The look of 5:00 A.M. |
The early morning exercise has changed my entire day! Strangely enough I find myself having more time, more energy, and a bigger smile at work. Those I tell about my new routine say they can see how excited I am about it. In addition to my personal findings there are many more health benefits to starting your day with a workout.
Health Benefits To Starting Your Day With Exercise
- Exercising early gives you more energy throughout the day. You don't walk into work half-a-sleep saying "Give me coffee!!" You may still want/need your coffee, but you will feel more awake, alert, and energized throughout the day with or without the coffee.
- You will smile more and be positively more positive. My friend Josh tweeted me the other day after a workout, "satisfied!" Your emotional state is affected because of the sense of accomplishment and satisfaction from the work you've done. Leaving you a positive person to be around.
- You will boost your metabolism. This is called "afterburn" of EPOC (Post Exercise Oxygen Consumption). After working out your body is at an elevated state and must consume more oxygen as well as more "fuel". This "fuel" comes from the broken down fat stores that are released after strenuous activity and the effects can last for up to 24 hours!
- You set up your eating schedule for success. The old saying is- Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper. When you exercise in the morning your body requires the most calories following that physical exertion. As your activity level decreases throughout the day you can taper down the calories in your meals throughout the day and eat your smallest meal last. This sets your body up for overnight fat burning. (Be sure to eat a little something 30-45 minutes before am exercise.)
- You more effectively burn calories for weight loss when you exercise in the morning. Your body will burn calories from your pre-exercise meal and draw the extra needed energy from your fat stores. Simply said- Your body doesn't have any "extra" junk to burn for energy.
- Your sleep habits will thank you. You think waking up is tough, but you get used to it. The routine exercise will actually help you sleep better making it easier to get up the next morning. My wife tells me I am like one of those Sleeping Dolls whose eyelids close as you put them on their back. If I go without exercising for a day or two on end I do not sleep as well.
I know morning exercise is not for everyone. My good friend Anita said, "I don't know how much you know about Black people hair, but I can't work out in the morning because I would come to work with a Jheri Curl. I told her I don't know much. I mean look at me.
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| My hair is more like a wispy straw-fro |
So, we set up Anita's exercise schedule for right after work. The most important thing is that you exercise regularly, however, if you are looking to change up your schedule or maximize your efforts try the morning work out routine. I hope it impacts your life like it did mine.
Will you try exercising in the morning?
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