Ever notice that when you exercise in the
morning, you feel more alert and productive all day? It’s not a coincidence!! A
morning workout does several things to your body and your mind. First, exercise jump-starts your metabolism, and keeps you burning calories at a higher rate all day. Also, you get your exercise out of the way and don’t have to worry about not having time for training should something unexpected pop up during the day.
But what do you do when your just starting out and you don’t quite have that training mojo? worse your cozy bed has you held hostage? ............
Don’t roll over and hit the snooze button for the 15th time,
Here are a few simple tricks to help you
get into the swing of things and be on your way to achieving your health and
fitness goals….Move your alarm clock
Don't sleep with the alarm next to your bed, move it to the other side of the
room. That way, you’ll have to get up and get out of bed to shut it off. Once
you’re up, it’s that much easier to stretch put on your training clothes, and
head out the door for a brisk walk around the neighborhood or hit the gym for a
morning training session. If you use an alarm that plays music, set it to a song
from your workout playlist to help get you in the mood for exercise.
Have a set goal
Every Sunday night, create your workout schedule for
the coming week. Tell yourself, for example, “This week, I’m getting up at 6
a.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and power walking 45mins before
work". Schedule your morning workout, just as you would an appointment. You’re
more likely to follow your morning workout routine if you write it down. If you
don’t make it, write a note in your calendar to explain why.
Later, you can analyze your exercise excuses and look for ways to overcome them.
Later, you can analyze your exercise excuses and look for ways to overcome them.
Prep the night before
To follow through on a morning workout routine, it
helps to have your exercise clothes and equipment ready the night before. That
way you don’t waste any time getting dressed and ready for your workout. One
possible disadvantage of exercise in the morning is that your time may be
limited — overcome this limitation by having a set routine and not wasting time
looking for a missing sock, your runners or drink bottle.
Make a date
Having a training partner or workout buddy is a great
motivator. Make plans to meet your training partner at the gym at 6 a.m. or on at
a chosen location at 7am to go on a power walk. You’re less likely to opt out
if you know someone is waiting for you. “You don’t want to be the one who
overslept or was too lazy to get up and get moving”.
Make friends at the gym
If you don't have an training partner yet, chances
are you will make one after a few weeks of sticking to a morning workout
routine at your gym. You'll become familiar with the regulars who also exercise
there that time of day. It does
inspire you to get up and move because you know they’re there and will wonder
where you are if you miss a day or two.
It’s a social factor that can help motivate you in the morning.
Make a workout playlist on your iPod
Music is a good motivator in the morning. If you have
a great playlist, it can be enough to get you out of bed in the morning. Having
workout music works for me.
Research has shown that listening to music when you exercise can produce
positive thoughts and help offset fatigue. I suggests using a faster tempo to
pump you up first thing in the morning and switching to a slower tempo toward
the end of your workout routine.
Reward your efforts
If you meet your exercise goals and get up early four
out of five days to work out for an hour, do something nice for yourself at the
end of the week, like getting a manicure, seeing a new movie with a friend, or
buy a new workout outfit, take a well-deserved soak— find what motivates you,
and use it to give you that push out of bed each morning for your workout
routine.
Broadcast it
Thanks to Social networking sites such as Facebook,
Google plus and Twitter, you can tell everyone you know about your morning
workout routine. Post your exercise plans on Facebook. Once you do so, it’s
harder not to follow through with it. You also can use social media to boast of
your accomplishments — tell your friends that you swam 16 laps (about a mile)
or went from power walking to jogging this week, next weeks aim to run. They
surely will be impressed, and it will motivate you to keep up your workout routine.
Look forward to a delicious breaky..
After your training session, have your breakfast — Reward
your efforts with a healthy delicious option that satisfies your bodies need
for fuel and your taste buds. Don’t
sabotage your exercise efforts by eating the wrong food choices. If you promise
yourself a healthy, satisfying breakfast, such as eggs with veggies or oatmeal
with fruit and nuts, when you get back, that will motivate you and keep you
going for the day.
Too sleepy? Give It time
At first it may be difficult not to turn off the
alarm and go back to sleep, rather than jump out of bed to exercise at the gym
or go on a 30-45 minute walk. But after about a week or two, your body will
adjust to your early workout schedule and it will be easier to get up and out
of the house and head for the gym. Here’s why: When you exercise regularly, you
sleep better at night. When you sleep better at night, waking up to exercise is
easier to do.
