Nalisha Patel HealthMastery Head Personal Trainer

Why morning workouts are best How many times have you promised yourself that you will work out in the evening, as you snuggle under the duvet to get some more shut eye, only to not find the time later in the day? We are all guilty of assuming we will work out in the evenings and then not doing it due to being too tired or getting home too late. With a few simple strategies, you can learn to schedule in a morning workout (weights or cardio), stick to it and reap all the benefits it has to offer. Kick-start your day with an energy boost Let’s face it; most people are not morning people. In the cooler months when its pitch black outside when we wake up and cold, it is so tempting to stay in our warm cosy beds! When you first decide to work out in the morning it is a struggle to begin with, I won’t lie to you. But, with a bit of practice and perseverance, I promise you will feel the change in your energy levels for the rest of the day. By doing a brisk walk first thing in the morning, you will feel a boost of energy and also the added bonus of knowing you have got your exercise out of the way. Feeling like you have accomplished something already, so early in the day and with something that is good for you, will most likely influence your habits for the rest of the day. Early morning workouts are great for your metabolism By working out first thing in the morning, you will literally kick-start your metabolism and keep it elevated throughout the day. So as you sit at your desk all day, you are still burning kilojoules! What more could you want? Eliminate any excuses The average person from my experience as a personal trainer, are just not disciplined to get home from a long day at work and get into their exercise gear. By deciding to workout in the evenings, you almost immediately set yourself up to fail at a long term plan. Sure there are exceptions; some people love working out in the evening, but most can’t realistically fit it in. Aim to get up just 30 minutes earlier than usual and map out a 20 minute walk you can do in your area. If this is not feasible, consider investing in some sort of home cardio equipment that you can jump on in the morning and a set of dumbbells for weights. This ensures, rain or shine you will stick to your workout plan Some people need to eat prior to any form of exercise, so have a piece of whole wheat toast with a smear of peanut butter or avocado on it or a light cereal with milk. Drink a glass of water before your workout and have a sipper bottle on hand throughout as well. Establish a routine By deciding to exercise at the same time each day, especially in the morning, you program your body to expect it. Once you get over the initial week of getting up early, you will find it easier to do and maybe even look forward to it! The beauty of a morning routine, as mentioned before is that there are no excuses. Choose a suitable cardio activity and alternate your week day mornings with cardio and weights. The more you settle into a morning routine, overtime your body will compensate for your early morning workouts. In time you will literally feel ready to exercise when you wake up as your hormones, metabolism and blood flow gear up for your workout. Positive impact on the rest of your day Many studies have shown that by exercising in the morning, you will feel more energised, feel more mentally alert and function a lot better overall throughout the day. With exercising regularly, you will have a deeper and more satisfying sleep, which will prime you to wake up early to exercise. The only hurdle is the first week of starting to workout early, but after that, all the positives of this habit will prompt you to continue on long-term. Eat better overall       Many people find that the simple act of working out in the mornings has a positive affect on their habits throughout the day. This is especially true with their nutrition. As exercise releases endorphins and leads to an increase in energy, you may find that you crave less “junky” foods throughout the day and are satisfied with healthier foods and smaller portion sizes.  Feel less stressed As most of us woman lead extremely busy lives, we seldom allocate time out for ourselves during the working week. By setting aside time in the morning to work out, you are essentially carving out “you” time and you will most likely find a drop in your stress levels from establishing this one simple healthy habit. If you can wake up one hour earlier, you can exercise and then have a leisurely breakfast afterwards. Most people forget that we can design our life any way we choose. Know that by choosing to exercise in the morning you are ensuring a higher success rate of sticking to it. You will feel the effects of this simple habit throughout your day. If all else fails in getting you up earlier, try simple bribery such as a new workout outfit or massage for succeeding for 6 weeks at this early morning workout goal! Nalisha Patel HealthMastery- Mobile Personal Training. www.healthmastery.co.nz www.healthmastery.co.nz : FREE Report "How to lose 4 kilos in 4 weeks!"