The Benefits of Exercising in the Morning

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  • Mandakat17
    Mandakat17 Posts: 105
    bump
  • dmoses
    dmoses Posts: 786 Member
    I really want to start doing my workouts in the morning, but I have trouble with my energy level first thing in the morning. I feel like I don't have the energy to go through with the whole workout. I'm not a coffee drinker, so that's out. How can I rev myself up fairly quickly so that I can feel more energized? I've tried eating a banana then jumping on the elliptical - sometimes that works, sometimes it makes me feel full and bloated... any advice??
  • JJHudgens
    JJHudgens Posts: 96 Member
    I've seen this "bump" all over this site. What's it mean!? :)
  • scagneti
    scagneti Posts: 707 Member
    I work out in the morning without the aid of coffee or chemical boosters. I'm usually tired when I get up out of bed, but by the time I pee and splash water on my face, I'm good to go. I don't eat first (unless I'm starving) because I don't like that bloated feel. You really just have to do it and your body gets used to it.

    Funny thing is now when I sleep in to 7am, instead of 5:30 (other than on the weekends when I can sleep until 9am), I feel so sleepy and lethargic. Exercise makes me feel great and really gets me going in the morning!
  • tulaniq
    tulaniq Posts: 46 Member
    Exercising in the morning Is WAY better than coffee! :)
  • ronchap
    ronchap Posts: 60
    I shifted to a couple of work outs a week first thing in the morning to help break a plateau by changing up my routine. I feel a lot more energy through the day and generally have a better lookout on the day
  • boobee32
    boobee32 Posts: 450 Member
    well..now that just totally goes against everything i have ever read from every trainer, nutritional expert, you name it...wonder which one is TRUE?
  • audjrey
    audjrey Posts: 360 Member
    @ JJArvayo - I think bump is the equivalent of the Italian, "boop?" as in "I don't know!"

    @ Boobee - I really think it depends on YOU. As I've said many times, I don't think there is one rule or one prescription for all. And I think because we're always changing, when we exercise changes too.

    For example, when I was 9 years of age I could wake at 6:30 and run a mile no problem. But when I was in my 20's, running was always better between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. Now that I'm in my 40's, exercise is good no matter what time of day it is, though I prefer mornings for intense strength resistant training because I seem to be my strongest and power walking is gentle and easy on the body and helps me wake up. Afternoons, on the other hand, are better for intense focused cardio like cycling, skipping, and hitting the heavy bag around while evenings are better for yoga and moderately paced walking.

    Of course this could be very different for you. Personally, I don't listen so much to personal trainers or any other expert more than I do my own body, as I believe my body is its own best practitioner.

    @ dmoses - I usually wake and do light housework for 20 minutes, and eat breakfast before working out because that is what works for me. If I tried to attempt doing any sort of cardio or strength-training program without being completely awake or without eating I'm sure I'd be accident prone and injure myself. It's like I tell my husband - 'just because I'm vertical with eyes wide open and moving around, don't mistake me for being awake'. It takes me a good half hour just to feel and be fully awake. You might have to concede that maybe mornings are not for you and perhaps a different time might suit you better.
    If you feel bloated in the morning, maybe it has something to do with your late night or last meal of the day. Maybe you're bowels are moving as they should to help you eliminate fecal matter and maybe you need to up your fiber to help remedy this. I know I feel bloated if I've eaten too much the night before and haven't yet had a bowel movement. A hot cup of green tea or hot water and lemon often remedies this for me. Truth be told, it could so many things that is causing you to feel this way. At times like that, you really do need to be your own set of eyes and examine every little part of your diet, elimination, and sleeping habits to see where the problem area might originate.
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