Morning Workouts

What are the benefits of complete workouts in the morning? I have read that it helps keep your metabolism up longer during the day. I've also read that getting 8 hours of sleep with help with weight loss. Which do you find more beneficial, sleep or morning workout? I'm trying to weight the pros and cons of getting my butt out of bed in the morning.

Both. In order to DO a morning workout, I require sleep or my butt will not get out of the bed. For me, it really was all about getting it done. If I don't do it in the morning, I can come up with 5000 excuses as to why I'm "too busy" or whatever to do it in the evening. It took a few weeks before it became habit, but I'm used to it now. I don't like NOT working out in the morning. It gets my endorphins going and just sets me off right for the day. And seriously, if you don't get enough sleep, it's even MORE difficult to get up early and work out.

I find that unless I exercise in the morning it doesn't happen. I feel very virtuous if I I have pushed myself and that feelig lasts all day.

Evening workouts keep me up and then I don't get enough sleep. So if I go to sleep a bit earlier and workout in the morning then it keeps me going at work.

You need enough sleep to help your muscles heal.

I've recently started working out in the morning before I eat because of what I learned on the Fitness Black Book blog, something free called Vacation Body Blueprint. Basically it says working out fasted helps your metabolism (most metabolism info out there is BS), but basically this cause your body to internally produce HGH which helps with weight loss, metabolism, etc)

The bottom line is what works best is what makes you move more every day, and eat less every day, and of course sleep is necessary for the healing process and for your brain, etc.

Not enough sleep makes your hunger hormones kick in, makes you hungry, and it's nearly impossible to lose weight or maintain control of your diet that way. Anything that stresses you will hinder your progress.

blog bobbiesfitness.com

"The best time to workout is the same time everyday" I don't remember who said that but knowing me it was likely Jillian Michaels. The point is consistency, you're body will get used to working out at a specific time and it will perform better at that time. If you try morning workouts and like it then stay with them, if you try evening workouts and like it then stay with them.

Personally I like the early morning workouts, it wakes me up and gets me moving so I've got better energy and attention span during the day. If I workout at night it's because 1) I missed my morning one and am now grumpy 2) I had a very stressful day (or even got into a verbal fight) and it will help calm me down so I can sleep.

Yes, finding a balance between exercise and sleep is important but try to find a balance exercise really will give you more energy and put you in a better mood (once you've developed the habit, of course).

What are the benefits of complete workouts in the morning? I have read that it helps keep your metabolism up longer during the day. I've also read that getting 8 hours of sleep with help with weight loss. Which do you find more beneficial, sleep or morning workout? I'm trying to weight the pros and cons of getting my butt out of bed in the morning.

There are no benefits compared to workout out other times of the day. It's purely a matter of convenience and when you feel strongest/motivated.

I'm not sure how sleep helps weight loss directly, but it certainly allows our bodies to recover, which has numerous benefits, some of them indirectly related to weight loss.

I'm interested to hear the responses for this one...

I recently decided to start working out in the morning. Similarly I've heard that it boosts your metabolism. For me though, it's more a way to avoid making excuses for myself. I always justify skipping workout sessions because "I'm too busy" or "Something came up." If I wake up and immediately go for a run... I tend to avoid those excuses all-together.

Regardless, I am NOT a morning person. It has been a difficult adjustment.

Me too! The early A.M. is the only hard and fast commitment I can make. Otherwise it is excuse city for me! It's been about 6 weeks since I've made the change and I think I have adjusted okay.

Same here. I start my workout at 4:45 am. If I don't then I WILL come up with 3 million excuses as to why I won't and can't later in teh day. I've been doing first thing workouts for over a year and have never missed one. Good luck.

I have more energy in the morning and mentally, it prepares me for a better day all around. I find that if I can't workout in the morning, 9 times out of 10 I won't get the workout in at all because life gets in the way.

When I would go to the gym after work, I was watching the clock for it to be over so I could go home. Now that I go in the morning, I watch the clock thinking "I can still do this and this before I have to leave." It's a change of mindset for me. I think I am burning more calories now as well.