Start your day off right

Everyone knows that regular exercise has tremendous physical and emotional benefits.  But did you know that exercising in the morning before breakfast is the best time of day to exercise?  That’s right.  It improves mental focus, stimulates weight loss, and provides a boost of energy that lasts all day long.  It is a great way to start off the day! 

There is only one problem with waking up early to exercise -- you have to get out of bed!  Listen, if you want to start your day off with exercise, you need more than just good intentions.  You need a plan!  So here are some simple things you can do to make exercise a natural part of your morning routine (or anytime of day!).

Get Enough Sleep
A large percentage of the population simply does not get enough sleep according to several studies.  We are sleep deprived so it is no wonder why we have trouble waking up in the morning.  Failing to get adequate sleep will kill any hope of waking up early to exercise.  To really make this count, you need to go to bed earlier.   Don’t expect to wake-up at 5am to exercise if you watch TV until 1am.  Make it a habit to get a full 8 hours of sleep every night.  You will quickly discover that you are far more refreshed in the morning when you do and waking up early will be a snap.

You snooze, you lose
Procrastination is your enemy when it comes to waking early to exercise.  Keep your hand off of the snooze button – it’s evil.   Put that alarm across the room (out of reach) and turn the volume up nice and loud so you can’t sleep through it.  Get out of bed as soon as the alarm goes off or you may doze off again.  Remember, the longer you lay in your nice, warm, cozy bed the harder it will be to get out of it.  Don’t give your mind time to think about it or you will talk yourself out of getting up.  Also, have your workout gear ready and limit the things you need to do in the morning before you exercise.  That way you won't be distracted.

Don’t Skip
You must get up and exercise consistently in the morning or it will never develop into a routine.  It takes at least 30 days to develop a new habit so don’t skip workouts unless you are sick or you just can’t make it.  Once you start skipping your morning workout, you may just give up altogether.  Don’t’ let this happen to you.  Discipline yourself until it becomes a routine.  And if you are tempted to skip something, skip rope – not your workout!

Buddy Up!
Every morning I see two ladies power-walking through the neighbor at 5:00 AM.  They talk and walk as they burn calories together.  Although it is really early (like dark early), rarely have they skipped a workout.  It is obvious that they motivate each other to stick with it. Listen, it is far easier to quit if you go it alone.  A good friend will encourage you to overcome “quititis.”  So grab a buddy and work out!

Focus on the Bennies
You can probably think of a thousand reasons why you shouldn’t get out of bed and go exercise in the morning.  Purge your mind of those thoughts!  Instead, think of all the great benefits of getting up and hitting the gym early.  This will definitely motivate you to push through the morning fog.  And the better you feel and look as a result of exercising, you'll look forward to your next workout. 

Start Out Small
You're motivated to begin.  If you are just starting out, don't over do it!  Set achievable goals, like getting up 15-30 minutes early your first time out.  Every morning get up a littler earlier until you settle into a good routine.  This will keep you from burning out.  Remember to check with your doctor before beginning any new exercise routine if you haven't exercised in a while.   Be smart and sensible and you're sure to have fun.

Do Something You Like
Exercise should be fun so make sure that you choose a form of exercise that you enjoy.  The more fun you have exercising the more you are likely to stick with it!  Weights, cycling, dancing, jumping rope, exercise videos are all great options.  Yes, there are literally thousands of different exercises to choose from.  As long as the heart is pumping and you're burning calories, it doesn't matter what you do for exercise.  If you're not sure which exercise regimen is right for you, experiment until you find one that you like. 

Exercise is a vital part of a healthy lifestyle.  If working out in the morning isn't an option, find a time that works best for you.  It's important that you develop a routine, which takes a little time and effort.  Hopefully some of what I have shared here will help.  And who knows, maybe I'll see you tomorrow morning!