Top Ten Reasons To Exercise In The Morning. What Time Of Day Do You Exercise?

United States
June 21, 2007 10:23am CST
I am a morning person so I exercise in the morning when I get up. It starts my day off right and gives me energy. Here are the ten top reasons for exercising in the morning. I agree with them. So why mornings?... 1. Over 90% of people who exercise *consistently*, exercise in the morning. If you want to exercise consistently, odds are in your favor if you exercise first thing in the morning. 2. When you exercise early in the morning, it "jump starts" your metabolism and keeps it elevated for hours, sometimes up to 24 hours! That means you're burning more calories all day long just because you exercised in the morning! 3. When you exercise in the morning you'll be *energized* for the day! Personally, I feel dramatically different on days when I have and haven't exercised in the morning. 4. Many people find that morning exercise "regulates" their appetite for the day - that they aren't as hungry and that they make better food choices. Several people have told me that it puts them in a "healthy mindset." 5. If you exercise at about the same time every morning, and ideally wake-up at about the same time on a regular basis, your body's endocrine system and circadian rhythms adjust to that. Physiologically, some wonderful things begin to happen; A couple of hours *before* you awaken, your body begins to prepare for waking and exercise because it "knows" it's about to happen. Why? Because it "knows" you do the same thing just about everyday. You benefit from that in several ways.. a) It's MUCH easier to wake-up. When you wake-up at different times everyday, it confuses your body and thus it's never really "prepared" to awaken. b) Your metabolism and all the hormones involved in activity and exercise begin to elevate while you're sleeping. Thus, you feel more alert, energized, and ready to exercise when you do wake-up. c) Hormones prepare your body for exercise by regulating blood pressure, heart rate, blood flow to muscles, etc. 6. For many people, that appointed time every morning becomes something they look forward to. It's time they've set aside to do something good for themselves - to take care of their body, mind, and soul. Many find that it's a great time to think clearly, pray, plan their day, or just relax mentally. 7. Research has demonstrated that exercise increases mental acuity. On average it lasts four to ten hours after exercise! No sense in wasting that brain power while you're sleeping. :) 8. Exercise first thing in the morning is really the only way to assure that something else won't crowd exercise out of your schedule. When your days get hectic, exercise usually takes a back seat! 9. If finding time to exercise is difficult, anyone can get up 30 to 60 minutes earlier to exercise (if it's a priority in your life). If necessary, you can go to sleep a little earlier. Also, research has demonstrated that people who exercise on a regular basis have a higher quality of sleep and thus require less sleep! 10. You'll feel GREAT! DO IT! :)
3 people like this
10 responses
• United States
21 Jun 07
I also workout in the morning. I don't really like waking up early in the morning, in fact I hate it because I feel exhausted when I do but once I'm up I am fine. Then I am much more energized during the day. If I don't workout in the morning than I am usually a lot more tired, and then for some reason I can't sleep at night. If I wait after the morning I will always come up with some kind of excuse not to work out also lol so its a good thing. Thanks for all the information it was really helpful!
2 people like this
• United States
21 Jun 07
I know the same is with me. I have a morning routine that I do and there has been a couple of times that I have not done the routine and end up being tired all day. I have found for me it is better to do it everyday so that I am energized all day long.
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
22 Jun 07
Wow these are some great tips, going to save this one :) I must admit I'm horrible about not exercising regularly but know I should particularly as I'm getting 'older'. I do have much more energy in the morning so would be a great time for me.
2 people like this
@Corezz (1013)
• Netherlands Antilles
21 Jun 07
Well I like to exercise but not in the morning. Maybe at night I go run at the stadium to mantian my health and fizical apearance :D. Yea exerciseing is goo for you. It make your life more durabile.
1 person likes this
• United States
21 Jun 07
Yes, exercising is good for you whether it is in the morning or night. It is just a persons preferance. I like the mornings better. But I am a morning person.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
21 Jun 07
I exercise in the morning, but not very early. I have to check the internet first, and read my bible. I usually do it around eight am and go for a walk a little after ten. I weigh myself first though. Then if I feel I ate too much, I exercise like crazy at night so my metabolism can speed up while I'm asleep.
@ackars (1942)
• India
21 Jun 07
Thats great dude,I have rated you )+ve.You deserve to have a double + for this.But I can give you only one.I even doing some kind of study on the right time to do the exercise.I have read that it varies with peoples and their avilablity of time.But tha study also says the better time to be in the early mornings.
• United States
21 Jun 07
Thanks. I love to exercise and it makes me feel good. I am a morning person so I do my exercises first thing in the morning. It gives my day a super duper charger upper!
• United States
21 Jun 07
Wow, I tend more to do my exercising at night to help me sleep, but if all that information is true, I should reverse my schedule and exercise before I head into school. Thanks for the insight sunshinelady.
1 person likes this
• United States
21 Jun 07
I get a lot of neat things that come into my email address that I think are valuable and I like to pass the little bits that I get to my friends here at mylot. You all are a bunch of great people.
• India
21 Jun 07
I go to gym from 8:15 to 9:00 daily in the evening.
1 person likes this
@gberlin (3836)
22 Jun 07
I am a morning person also and I like to exercise before I go to work. In the summer I exercise in the afternoon because I am not working during the summer.
1 person likes this
@estherlou (5015)
• United States
24 Jun 07
I have a weak bladder and there is something about lying down at night to go to sleep that affects it. If I'm lucky, I get to sleep 2 hours at a stretch before having to get up to go the the bathroom. If it is a bad night, I get up every hour. So, you are wondering WHAT? Why are you in this discussion? The answer is...my exercise is during the night! LOL. I get a lot of up and down and walking during the night when I'd like to be sleeping a little more. If I get to stay in the bed at least 8 hours, (counting the up and downs and walking and going back to sleep) then I feel like I at least got a little rest. If the time period is only 6 or 7 hours...I wake up cranky because I feel I spent too much time walking back and forth to the bathroom instead of sleeping! LOL So..since my exercise is in the middle of the night..does that qualify as early in the day?
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
25 Jun 07
I find that if I don't exercise in the morning, then during the day I will find a million excuses not to exercise! Or, things will come up that prevent me from exercising. Once home from work, it is too easy to say, oh I need to get this done and that done! YOu are so right about the AM exercising kick-starting the metabolism. It really does. It also curbs appetite!