Getting up early and working out certainly has benefits. Past research has suggested those who rise early are much better with making exercise a habit.
And we do need to get more people moving as the CDC has reported that only one-fifth of Americans get the recommended amounts of aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity.
I have four great reasons to share with you.
Number one involves losing fat. A Japanese study found if you exercise before breakfast, a process called fat oxidation happens. That’s where fat molecules break down.
Getting up early also leads to less cancellations which is reason number 2. We typically have fewer conflicts first thing in the morning and you’re not as likely to be distracted by that never-ending to-do list.
My third reason involves friends. Peer pressure not only increases how much you exercise, you’ll also have fun socializing.
And lastly, working out in the morning helps to reduce stress and anxiety, because you’ll release those feel-good hormones called endorphins.
- If you’re not a morning person, try motivating yourself with a prepaid class or schedule a time to meet a friend.
- Set out your clothes, water and other items the night before. And get to bed early enough that you sleep between 7 and 9 hours.
- Try experimenting with different times in the morning to find what works best for you.
- Once you find a morning time that works, stick with it for roughly 2 months. That’s the time most people need to make it an automatic habit.
The CDC recommends 150 minutes a week for moderate intensity activity or 75 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity activity. But don’t get hung up or discouraged by these numbers.
What’s important here is movement of any kind - like dancing, going for a short walk, gardening or mowing the lawn. All of these count and help your health.
Just please don’t be inactive.
