According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, over 80% of adults don’t meet the recommended guidelines for both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities.
The guidelines state that adults should do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise a week. That, or at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise a week.
Many people find it difficult to fit in exercise into their daily lives. But keep reading to find out 3 incredible reasons why you should do a morning workout.
What Are the Benefits of a Morning Workout?
Nobody likes the thought of leaving their bed in the morning. However, we all have to do it. Similar to exercise, nobody likes the thought of having to do it, but we all have to.
Morning workouts come with a heap of benefits, but these are our favorite ones that might convince you to ditch your lie-ins.
1. Burn More Fat
Having a workout first thing before you eat breakfast can help to burn more body fat.
One study found that those who exercised before eating breakfast burned twice as much fat than those who ate breakfast before their workout. This is because working out before you eat forces your body to use stored carbs and fat cells.
Working out in the morning can also help boost your metabolism. This means that throughout the day you’ll burn more calories. Evening workouts might boost your metabolism, but when you’re asleep your metabolism works slower, so the effects of exercise are less when it comes to burning calories.
2. Improve Your Mood and Your Productivity
Exercising in the morning can help to boost your mood and make you more productive for the day ahead. When we exercise, our brain release endorphins which make us feel better and happier.
Morning workouts might also help to make you more productive and focused during the day. Taking short two to three-minute walks throughout the day can also help to keep your focus throughout the working day.
3. Fewer Distractions and More Willpower
During the morning, you’ll find there are fewer distractions because many people are still asleep or preparing for work. This means that you’ll receive fewer emails, texts, and calls, so your workout can be more focused.
If you go for a jog it means there’ll be less traffic. If you go to the gym it means there’ll be fewer people and more equipment to use.
Your willpower will deteriorate throughout the day and you’re likely to find excuses as to why you can’t do an evening workout. However, you’ll find fewer excuses if you jump out of bed and start your workout immediately.
Before shower workouts also give you the willpower to get it done, so you can have a shower and get ready for work.
When Is the Best Time to Have a Workout?
Working out has a range of physical and mental health benefits, but when is the best time to workout? Having a workout in the morning or night can have different impacts on your body.
Morning Workouts
Working out in the morning can help you kick start your day. Instead of dragging yourself from bed in the morning and going to work all tired, a morning workout should energize you and prepare you for the day ahead.
Morning workouts might also help you to get a better quality of sleep at night.
Evening Workouts
However, morning workouts can be draining on your body, because you’ve only just woken up. You might feel that you have more energy during evening workouts. You might also feel stronger in the evening compared to the first thing in the morning.
Although exercising after a long day can be difficult to do because you feel tired.
Which Is Best?
There’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to working out. Some people prefer morning workout routines at home. While others prefer hitting the gym after work in the evenings.
The most important thing is that you are making time to work out. Remember to keep your workouts fun and active to ensure you stay engaged with the exercise. You might even decide to have a morning workout one day, where you go running in the morning and then the following day, you have a post-work gym session.
Essential Workout Tips
Remember to always warm-up and stretch before any workout. This can ensure that your muscles and body are ready for exercise. Warm-ups should focus on loosening joints and increasing your blood flow.
Stretching is also important because it prepares your muscles and helps to prevent any injuries. It is just as important to cool down after your workout too.
If you’re wanting to gain muscle during your workout then you might want to add a protein shake or food to your workout. Find out more about how introducing protein before or after workout can help you.
Don’t do exercise that you don’t enjoy, especially if you’re just starting out on your exercise routine. You’re much more likely to keep up with your morning workouts if you do exercise that you enjoy.
Kick Start Your Day With a Morning Workout
Whether you’re exercising to lose weight, keep healthy, or to boost your mood and productivity, there are a number of benefits that a morning workout can bring. All you need to do is go to sleep earlier the night before and set your alarm an hour earlier.
Are you looking for some inspiration for what exercises to include in your morning workout? Then why not check out some of our exercise articles and discover a fitness routine you love.