When your alarm goes off in the morning, do you spring out of bed, ready to face the day? Or do you hit the snooze button a few times, then grudgingly drag yourself out of a deep slumber, grumbling about your morning workout?
Many of us fall into that second group. In fact, some of us are such grouchy morning people, that we skip at least half of those well-intentioned morning exercise plans. Sound familiar? Obviously, the number one way to become more of a “morning person” is to make sure you’re going to bed on time and getting enough sleep at night. Aside from that, these four morning workout secrets can make your sunrise exercise time a bit easier. Over time, you’ll see that it’s not such a pain, and be more ready and willing to work out first thing in the day.
Raise your body temperature. Your body temperature drops while you sleep, and that’s part of the reason you want to crawl back under those warm, cozy blankets. Warm up with a brief, hot shower, crank up the heat in your car during cooler months (if you drive to the gym), and make sure to warm up your joints and muscles before your workout.
Warm up your lower back. Many people wake up with a stiff back in the morning, and jumping into a workout could raise your risk of injury. Be sure to warm up your lower back with a few yoga poses, and then stretch your quads, hamstrings, and glutes to relieve lower back tension.
Eat a small breakfast. Your body has fasted for at least eight hours, so refuel and boost your blood sugar with a small meal. Choose something rich in protein and complex carbs, and go easy on the heavy fats.
Drink water. Likewise, you’ve also gone without water all night. Since dehydration can reduce your exercise performance, drink a glass of water along with that breakfast. And as always, remember to sip liquids regularly during your workout, too.
For more tips on exercise, nutrition, and medical weight loss, call our office to schedule an appointment. We can review your goals, screen you for medical problems, and offer you the support you need to renovate your lifestyle.
