FitSugar

Tips to Drag You Out of the Dark Morning Bed

Michele Bell — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 12:30:29 PDT

I don't know about you, but these dark Fall mornings are making it tough for me to climb out of bed. When I should be at the gym getting my workout on, I'm hiding under the sheets waiting for the sun to pluck me from my slumber. With daylight saving ending this weekend things should get a bit easier, but I know I've still got a battle ahead of me. I'm pulling out all the stops with these tips and hoping they can help my fellow not-so-morning people, too.

Before you go to sleep, set out your gym clothes in your bed so you don't even have to get out of bed to get dressed.
Do some stretches in bed to get your body breathing.
Keep a bouquet of flowers on your bedside table. Research shows that people feel energized by the scent of fresh flora.
Skip the gym altogether and pop in a DVD for a personal exercise routine in your own living room.

Want to see the rest of the tips?

Not a Morning Person? Try This . . .

FitSugar — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 03:00:00 PDT

That morning boost of caffeine might be a hoax, but that's not stopping the majority of people from chugging a cup of joe first thing to jump-start their brains. If you're hooked on your morning cup of coffee, why not try these drug-free techniques?

Sleep with your window shades open: Even if the sun is shining outside, you'll have no idea if you're sleeping in cave-like darkness. Keep your curtains slightly open and as the sun rises outside, it will gently pour in and gradually wake you up.
Snooze on purpose: I don't know how people can wake right up after their alarm goes off. I set my alarm at least 40 minutes before I actually have to wake up. That way, I can snooze many times, and it gets my body and mind used to the idea that soon I'll have to get out of bed.
Exercise in the morning: If you can, set your alarm even earlier so you can wake up and go for a walk, jog, or pop in a fitness DVD. Or you can even stretch in bed. By doing something you want to do, you won't be so aggravated about having to wake up.
Stop eating two hours before you lie down at night: Not only is this good for sleeping, but when you wake up your hungry belly will inspire you to get up and fill it with some yummy breakfast.

Want to know what else may help? Then

How Many Times Do You Hit the Snooze Button?

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 03:00:12 PDT

I'm one of those people who could sleep nine hours a night and still be tired in the morning - I just love to sleep! When my alarm goes off, I'm so groggy that I can't even think about waking up, so I usually set it early so I can snooze a couple times and catch an extra 20 minutes of shut-eye. What about you?

Wake Up and Work Out

FitSugar — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:00:21 PST

When your alarm goes off in the morning, do you curse its very existence and hit the snooze button eight times before you actually pull yourself out of bed? If you're not a morning person, there's no way you could begin to understand how other people can wake up early and fit in an hour workout before getting ready and heading off to work. Yes, some people are just naturally perky in the morning and prefer sweating it out in the a.m., but then there's the rest of us who make a point to work out in the morning because it's the only time we can fit it in.

If you find that you're skipping out on exercise altogether because you're too busy, have meetings, have family obligations, or are just plain exhausted, then morning workouts might be just the thing you need. How can a non-morning person turn into a morning exerciser? Learn a handful of ways to become an early riser when you

Dear Poll: Are You a Morning Person?

DearSugar — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 11:00:09 PDT

Though I occasionally have to hit the snooze button, I’m pretty good about getting up in the morning. I love having a few minutes to myself before I start getting ready to clear my mind and enjoy that perfect morning sunshine. But for some people, there's just nothing enjoyable about early morning, except sleeping! Which category do you fall under?

Source

Not a Morning Person? Try Flowers

FitSugar — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 02:00:00 PDT

Are you a morning person? Well, if you are always amazed at how your best friend can head to the gym bright and early each morning while you can't even form a sentence until after 8 a.m., then probably not. However, you may be looking for a trick to help change your unpleasant morning ways.

A recent study from Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital confirmed that non morning people reported being happier and more energetic after looking at flowers first thing in the morning. Perhaps the phrase should have been, "Wake up and smell the roses," not the coffee.

So head out to your own garden and cut some blooms to put on your nightstand. Don't have a garden full or roses? Then head to the local farmers' market to get some flowers perfect for waking you up - I'm thinking yellow flowers would do just the trick. Not only will you be getting out of the house and walking around, but you're also supporting the local farmers.

Who knows, you may be more inclined to get up and get active with your day if the first thing you see is a lovely bouquet of flowers, rather than the maddening glow of your alarm clock.

Source

Do You Consider Yourself a Morning Person?

FitSugar — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 03:00:00 PDT

A recent Gallup poll found that the majority of American adults feel their best, on a typical day, between the hours of 5:00 am and 11:59 am, making them "morning people."

Mornings definitely have their merits, and some people find that it is the best time to schedule and stick to a workout. Others, would never classify themselves as morning people.

How about you...

Source

Cranky in the Morning?

DearSugar — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 11:00:00 PDT

I am a morning person, but not everyone is. Many of my friends hit snooze until that last possible second and then drag themselves out of bed. Does this sound like you? If so, besides your morning cup of coffee, give these techniques a try.

Sleep with your window shades open: Even if the sun is shining outside, you'll have no idea if you are sleeping in cave-like darkness. If you keep your curtains slightly open, as the sun rises outside, it will gently pour into your bedroom and gradually wake you up.
Snooze on purpose: Set your alarm at least 40 minutes before you actually have to wake up. That way, you can snooze and get your body and mind used to the idea that soon I'll have to get out of bed.
Exercise in the morning: If you can, set your alarm even earlier so you can get up and go for a walk, or jog, or pop in a workout DVD. By doing something you want to do, you won't be so aggravated about having to wake up.
Stop eating 2 hours before bedtime: Not only is this good for sleeping, but it's a great tip for maintaining your weight. So when you wake up, your hungry belly will inspire you to get up and fill it with breakfast.

Want to know what else may help? Then

Avoid caffeinated beverages, spicy foods and alcohol late at night: They'll prevent you from getting a sound sleep so you'll end up waking up tired.
Get to sleep an hour or two earlier: You may be tired in the morning because you're not getting enough sleep.
Avoid taking naps during the day: If you take a power nap in the late afternoon, you won't feel tired when it's bedtime and your sleep patterns will get out of whack -- It's a vicious cycle you don't want to start.

Dear's Advice: If you're not a morning person, there's really nothing you can do to change that - it's part of your personality. Hopefully some of these tips can help make your mornings a little less traumatic. Be sure to let me know if there are any other tips that have worked for you and together we can conquer the mornings!!

Eat Cake For Breakfast and Lose Weight, Study Says

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:21:52 PST

If your insatiable sweet tooth is preventing you from losing weight, findings from a recent study may be just the thing to help you slim down. Researchers found those who ate a large breakfast that included something sweet lost weight and were able to keep off more pounds than those who ate a small breakfast.

A group of 193 obese adults (not a huge study) were split into two groups. One ate a large, 600-calorie breakfast that included a sweet item such as a cookie, cake, or doughnut. The other group ate a 300-calorie breakfast with no dessert. Both groups ate the same amount of calories daily: 1,600 for men and 1,400 for women.

Keep reading to find out more details about cake and weight loss.

In Her Shoes: April Beyer, Matchmaker and Relationship Coach

Anna Monette Roberts — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:05:36 PST

In the spirit of Valentine's Day, April Beyer, expert relationship coach and matchmaker, gives SavvySugar an insider's look into her unique career. Helping men and women find lasting relationships for almost 14 years, she is the founder and president of Beyer & Company, a matchmaking and relationship consulting firm. She's frequently interviewed and has been seen on Dr. Phil, 20/20, and Good Morning America. Beyond her weekly clients, April writes on her blog, conducts seminars, and is working on a book to help women prepare for love and romance. April tells us what it's like to assist other people on their journey to finding love and happiness.

SavvySugar: Can you tell me about your career path and how your business has grown throughout the years?

April Beyer: I started out in the high-end matchmaking industry nearly 14 years ago. I had worked with a matchmaking company and was there for about six or seven years. I was responsible for many marriages there. In 2003, I decided to venture out on my own and start a relationship coaching and consulting business. Now, I still have my matchmaking company. I work with a handful of highly successful marriage-minded men. I am also a coach and a writer.

Now my passion is to help women better understand themselves first so then they can naturally attract the man of their dreams. I am a little bit more of a holistic dating and relationship coach, but I think of myself more as is a communication and authenticity coach. For me, it's not about teaching people dating skills, it is teaching them relationship skills.

Click here to read more about April.