FitSugar

Morning Exercisers Burn More Calories

FitSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:00:55 -0800

Whether you're a fan of daylight saving or not most of us have to live with that fact that it gets darker much earlier. That means if you used to sweat it out after work, you may have to rearrange your schedule and make time for it before your nine-to-fiver. Not too motivated to set your alarm early? Here's something that might perk you out of bed and help you deal with the new studies on exercise and weight loss. Researchers at Bangor University in the United Kingdom discovered that a.m. exercisers work out harder than those who exercise at other times during the day. That translates to more calories burned. Why is that? People tend to be more energetic and alert in the morning, and may also feel less rushed than those who squeeze gym time into the middle of their busy schedules.

That's not to say that morning exercise trumps exercise at other times of the day. If you're not a morning person or can't fit it in at that time, don't force it. The most important thing is to fit exercise in, period, whenever you can.

Tell me, have you switched to morning workouts because of daylight saving time?

What Time of Day Do You Work Out?

FitSugar — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 04:30:45 -0700

There is an ongoing debate about what time of day is best for working out - a.m. vs. p.m. Working out in the morning definitely has its benefits. It helps wake up your body, clears your mind, and relieves prework stress. It's also nice to get it done in the morning so you don't have to worry about fitting it in later in the day.

Exercising in the afternoon or evening has its pros too. You don't have to wake up early and miss out on sleep, and your body has a chance to warm up throughout your day, so when you exercise, there's less risk of injury. It can also be cooler at night, which is great during the Summer months.

Since there are pros and cons to each, the bottom line is that it doesn't matter when you exercise, as long as you do it. So what about you . . .

You Asked: Should I Exercise in the Morning?

FitSugar — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 10:00:00 -0700

You're asking and I'm answering . . .

Hey Fit,
I am not a morning person at all but all my friends keep telling me that I should exercise in the morning to get the most out of it. Should I suck it up and start exercising in the morning?
- Morning Mad Marisa

It's the age-old debate, "When is the best time to exercise?" To find out, just read more.

Sure we can go into all the little details of metabolism and VO2 Max, but let's face it, I'm not a scientist. To me, it's a simple as this: The best time to exercise is a time that you'll actually do it. If you are a not a morning person, then waking up early to work out is probably not going to be in your best interest. Sure, morning workouts could raise your metabolism and keep you consistent because it's done before you even start your day, but you're not going to reap any of these benefits if you're pushing the snooze button instead of the incline button on the treadmill.

I will say that there is nothing wrong with giving it a shot (many folks find that once they start, they prefer working out in the morning). Just take it step-by-step and use my tips for easing into early morning workouts.

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Shape Up! Alarm Clock: Cool or Not

FitSugar — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:00:00 -0700

This hilarious Shape Up! Alarm Clock (price unavailable) has you hit the weights instead of hitting snooze. The dumbbell-shaped alarm buzzes until you've done 30 reps of bicep curls. I'm all for sneaking in strength training and morning workouts, but I don't think I'd enjoying exercising amid the incessant buzzing. What do you think?

5 Things: Reasons to Exercise Before Work

FitSugar — Mon, 12 May 2008 05:30:00 -0700

I know that exercising in the early a.m. before you head to work can be a real challenge. If you aren't a morning person, missing out on sleep can seem very unappealing, but here are some reasons you may want to set your alarm for an early morning workout.

It's usually a peaceful, quiet time of day, so it can be a great opportunity to think and get some time alone.
Exercising in the morning can help wake up your brain, clear your mind, and help you organize your thoughts or your mental to-do list for the day.
If you get it done first thing, then you won't have to worry about trying to squeeze it in to your busy schedule, especially if you have kids. Plus, studies have shown morning exercisers are more consistent.
Exercising helps get things moving, digestively speaking, so working out early can prevent getting backed up later on in the day.
Since working out on an empty stomach can cause you to lose muscle, morning workouts will encourage you to eat breakfast, which has been proven to boost your metabolism, which helps to burn calories.

Tell me, how do you feel about exercising in the morning?

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Ease Into Early Morning Workouts

FitSugar — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 02:00:00 -0700

If you haven't had any luck sticking to an early morning exercise routine then you may want to take a different approach.

Like any other change in our lives, it's often easier if we slowly ease into it. This means that on day one of your early morning workout routine you don't plan to go to the gym for a full blown hour long workout. Instead, plan something small and attainable like 20 lunges or a five minute brisk walk. You'll no doubt start to feel the benefits of getting moving early, not to mention the joys of knowing you've burned a few calories before it even turned 8:00 a.m. As you get used to it, you can slowly do more - eventually you may just find that it's a fabulous way to start the day and that you are able to do morning workouts after all.

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5 Things About a Morning Workout

FitSugar — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 12:30:00 -0800

OK, so yes, it is very hard to drag yourself out of bed before the sun rises, but there are some fabulous benefits to working out in the morning. (What time do you like to work out?) Here are my top five favorite things about morning workouts:

Knowing that the workout is over before the day has even begun (and the kids and dog have woken up).
Getting energy to fuel my day from working out instead of coffee.
Drinking lots of water before 9 a.m.
Not having to fight the lunch or after-work traffic at the gym (and on the road).
Learning that I am a morning person after all.

What are your favorite reasons for working out in the morning? Share them in the comments section below.

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Fit Tip: The Alarm Clock

FitSugar — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 12:30:00 -0700

For those of you who work full time, it may be difficult to get away during the day to exercise. After work could be an option, but you're generally too exhausted to do anything more than make and eat dinner. You've got to exercise though, so before work is the choice you've made.

Here's a tip for getting yourself up in the morning. It may sound like a cruel trick someone would do to you in exercise boot camp, but it is really effective.

Place your alarm clock across the room, far away from your hand's reach. Place your sneakers and workout gear right next to your set alarm clock before you go to bed. This way, your alarm clock forces you out of bed and onto your feet in order to turn off that annoying sound. You'll see your sneakers and sports bra, and they will remind you why you set that stupid alarm in the first place. These visual reminders will help you resist the urge to climb back into bed. (I am not alone here, my pal DearSugar also says not to push the snooze button.)

If working out in the AM is important to you, then waking up and getting out of bed is the hardest part. After you do a couple of weeks of morning exercise, your body and mind will get into the routine and getting up will become easier (really!)

Fit's Tips: If you are a before-work exerciser, make sure to get to bed early every night. Exercise is good for your heart, but so is getting enough sleep. If you share your bedroom with another person, you better get up when that alarm clock goes off because you will have to answer to him too!

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Morning Core Workout

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 08:00:00 -0800

So you're headed out for an early morning run. Before you start jogging away, give this quick series from ACE (American Council on Exercise) a whirl. Not only will it wake you up, but more importantly, it's a great prehab workout since it will warm up your spine and core muscles to reduce your risk of injury.

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Don't Wake and Work Out: Eat a Bit First

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 09:30:00 -0800

With everyone concerned about eating extra calories over the holidays, I am here to tell you that you should eat ... before you exercise first thing in the morning. It seems that many folks think that if they work out on an empty stomach, their bodies will target fat. Unfortunately, that is just not true, and this persistent myth can actually set you back if you are trying to lose weight.

After fasting all night, since you don't eat while you sleep, your glycogen (or carb) stores are low. Glycogen is the fuel the body generally burns first for energy. If your glycogen levels are low and your body is in motion, your body decides to hold on to your fat. The body is essentially paranoid and thinks a famine might be coming, so it holds on to the fat as emergency reserve and targets muscle instead. This is not good, since you are working out to lose fat, not lean muscle. You want to keep lean muscle, because it will boost your metabolism.

The good news is that you just need to eat just a small amount to let the body know that fuel is on its way and you are not entering a famine. Just a simple snack that contains 100 to 200 calories will do. Me? I eat a banana and a small handful of nuts before a run, or I eat yogurt before a weight training session.