Benefits of working out in the morning

If you have a busy schedule, get your workout out of the way

The ideal time to work out is one that suits an individual’s lifestyle, sleeping habits and preferences. Working out at any hour of the day is beneficial as long as you’re putting in the hard work to stay healthy and fit. However, waking up early, ditching your snooze and getting your workout done in the early hours has numerous benefits. How you spend your first few hours in the morning sets the tone for the rest of your day. Here are some benefits that might convince you to get out of bed early morning and hit the gym.

No to less distractions

When you wake up you’re totally unplugged from the world for the first few minutes or hours. You haven’t started your day and turned your attention to your to-do list. For an hour or two, having no work, social or digital distraction means you can focus on your workout.

Banish food cravings

It might sound counter-intuitive, but a morning workout reduces appetite. A study by Brigham Young University found those who worked out in the morning for 45 minutes, their emotional response to pictures of food wasn’t strong. Not only were they less tempted by the food, but they didn’t feel hungry for the extra calories they burned while exercising.

Better productivity

Exercise is a good way to release stress and fatigue. When you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins. These endorphins interact with the receptors in your brain that reduce your perception of pain. Endorphins also trigger a positive feeling in the body leaving a person happy and in a better state of mind post work out.

Burns fat

Fasted cardio, commonly known as exercising on an empty stomach isn’t something for everyone. However, if weight loss is your goal, it might help you supercharge your fat burning potential. According to British Journal of Nutrition, working out before breakfast was shown to burn up to 20 per cent more fat compared to working out in the afternoon or evening.

Better quality sleep

Working out in the evening is likely to tire you out before bed and it also boosts your heart rate and core temperature but a morning workout can help you get a better night’s sleep. A study by Appalachian State University showed people who exercised at 7am fell asleep faster and slept better than those who hit the gym in the afternoon or evening.