Mish is all about working out in the morning (even throughout winter!!). You’ll “get the monkey off your back” and go into your day with a clean slate. But there are other good reasons to be an early bird.
We’ve enlisted the help of our 12WBT experts, fitness guru Dan Swanbury and nutritionist Georgie Moore to bring you 11 top reasons to make this winter the season of morning workouts.
Try it and see how it turns your day around!
1. Actually get it done!
How many afternoon or evening workouts have been torpedoed by meetings running late, phone calls or family commitments? Quite a few! Working out in the morning means it’s done, and can’t be interrupted later by things popping up.
Dan agrees: “You won’t put your workout off until later in the day, then run out of time and never get around to doing it.”
2. Make better food choices
It’s easier to say no to not-so-good foods after a morning training session – you don’t want to undo all that hard work!
Georgie says: “Some people find that exercising first thing provides them with a great start and reason to make better food choices, compared to those that exercise later in the day or don’t exercise at all.”
3. Beat the gym rush
Dan loves an early morning gym workout. “Depending how early you rise, the gym could be much less packed in the morning than the after-work rush.”
They say the early bird gets the worm, but in this case the early bird gets a free treadmill or squat rack at the gym!
4. Start your day in a great headspace
Working out first thing means you’ll not only feel great all day knowing your workout is done and dusted, you’ll be more relaxed too.
Georgie says: “Working out early gives you the endorphin kick first up, which means you start your day feeling better.”
5. Jump-start your metabolism
Dan explains: “Working out jump-starts your metabolism for the day, so you’ll be burning calories during the day and potentially until the afternoon or even into the night.”
You want your metabolism to work for you after a workout, for as long as possible. Calorie burn for minimal effort? Yes please!
6. Sleep more soundly
Dan says a sounder sleep is thanks to the health benefits of a routine. “Because waking at the same time in the morning gives you a routine, you’re more likely to get better quality sleep, and more of it.”
Any way to get more Zs has got to be a good thing, right?!
7. Improve your diet
A daily routine of exercise and a balanced brekkie sets you up for a successful day.
Georgie says, “Exercising in the morning has been shown to have an effect on regulating your appetite. This means you eat properly at breakfast and are less likely to binge later on.”
8. Be more productive at work
“Exercise has been shown to increase mental acuity for the rest of the day, therefore making you more productive at work,” says Dan. Hit the gym or park early and you’ll wake up more naturally (without needing that double espresso), and sharpen your focus.
9. You might make new friends
Morning exercisers tend to have a similar schedule each day, so you’ll be more likely training with the same people each morning. This can help build a sense of community, and give you mates to look forward to seeing in the early hours!
10. It builds consistency
Mish says consistency is key when it comes to a healthy lifestyle, and Georgie agrees: “Those who exercise in the morning have been found to be more consistent and regular exercisers.”
This benefit then flows into all aspects of your life: relationships, work and at home. A win-win!
11. Feel more accomplished
Having one ‘to-do’ item already ticked off while others are still figuring out what’s on their list for the day provides a great feeling of accomplishment. Like anything, getting up that bit earlier is a habit, one you can master in no time.
Remember, you don’t have to be a morning person to be a morning exerciser!
