Morning exercise has many benefits, including boosting your metabolism, energizing your day and releasing endorphins. Whether you lift weights, run, go to the gym, practice pilates, or use TFC’s online personal training, moving your workout to the first thing in the morning is how you can benefit more from the same workout.

“I feel like a million bucks!” my friend and workout partner Eugene shouted to me from his car. We’d decided to work out together a few months ago, but had only just made the mutual commitment to get up at the crack of dawn and meet at the gym.

I shouted back something profound like, “Yeah!” before we each turned and drove in opposite directions to go to work. But the point had been made to both of us. Our morning workout had already benefited us. We felt great!

But why?

Make It A Habit

The feeling of most morning warriors is that exercising in the morning gets your blood pumping, wakes you up better than a cup of coffee and sharpens the mind. Though there is research to back up the idea that regular exercise increases mental acuity, there is no research indicating that any particular time of the day burns calories more efficiently.

That said, the research does indicate that morning exercisers are more consistent exercisers. And that, given my experience at The Fitness Camp’s live boot camp, is absolutely true. If you get your workout in before the day starts, nothing can interfere with it. It’s done. But if you wait, everything will get between you and the weight rack.

Based on personal experience and the testimony of my clients, working out in the morning has a strong psychological effect. It sets you up for the rest of the day. And, by getting you moving early on, it boosts your metabolism and releases mood-elevating endorphins, which will help you feel great all day long. Combining exercise with an excellent breakfast makes unhealthy days few and far between.

Fat Loss

Most people have similar goals, and thought there is a segment of people who work out to build their muscle mass, the majority would like to get rid of fat while maintaining their current muscle mass. This is not so difficult to accomplish, but requires dedication and some early morning strategy. To burn fat while maintaining your muscle mass, here is your ideal morning routine:

• Wake up about 30-45 minutes before beginning your workout.
• Drink 16 ounces of water to compensate for dehydration while you were sleeping.
• This last part is optional: drink a quality protein shake, with about twenty grams of protein. This might minimize the amount of protein your body will use from your muscles. I say “might” because, like everything else in the exercise world, there is vicious argument over if it retards fat loss, or diminishes muscle loss, etc. Be sure your protein shake also contains a few carbohydrates, because the body requires some carbs to utilize (burn) fat.

Thoughts on Morning Workouts and Shameless Online Personal Training Plug

After years of working out at all times of the day, my vote is always to exercise in the morning. It’s done, it starts the day off right, there is a tendency to eat better throughout the day, and I feel much more awake and ready for the rest of the day. Sometimes I wonder if the psychological benefits outweigh the health benefits.

The Fitness Camp’s online personal training and nutrition coaching is designed to work at any time of the day, but mornings seem like the perfect time to put on the video and get to it. You’re at your house, you can make it a part of your morning routine without losing the time to and from the gym, you don’t have to pack for the gym, and when you’re finished you can have your post-workout shake/meal right there, waiting for you. By the time you leave for work, you will have rehydrated, worked out and eaten the most important meal of the day, all before answering a single call at your desk. It’s exercise heaven!

If you’re looking for an excellent training program, I urge you to try out The Fitness Camp. There are links all over the page. For sake of ease here’s another link. I am obviously biased, but I think TFC’s Online Personal Training, nutrition technology and success coaching blows away the other exercise options.

As usual, email me with any specific questions you have about morning workouts or TFC’s online personal training program, and I’ll do my best to help.

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