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...
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.Landry.com
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