Do you often find yourself trying to commit to a workout after work only to find you don’t have the motivation or energy at the end of the day? Instead of going later on, change your routine and workout in the morning – there’s a lot more advantages to a morning workout. Getting up earlier might be the last thing you want to do, but let’s look at some of the benefits of a sunrise workout to see if we can change your mind!
When you first wake up in the early hours of the morning, certain hormone levels are elevated including testosterone which we know is crucial for muscle building. If you choose to work out first thing in the morning you get to work with these hormones when they are working at their best, whereas in the evening their effectiveness is starting to lower – which of course means you have to work harder for less effective results.
Often, a workout is planned around when you can find the time and as mentioned this is usually at the end of a working day the same as pretty much everyone else who has any fitness goals. By making time for a workout in the morning you leave yourself open to other activities later on in the day and you don’t have to spend your day at work thinking about hitting the gym. Also, as most people do workout later if you go early in the morning you are more likely to enjoy a quiet gym and have much better access to the equipment.
The next advantage is that a morning workout can set you up for the rest of the day. Exercise will often leave you full of endorphins and feeling much more alert and focused, so you put yourself in a much better position to have a great day – whether you’re at work or having the day to yourself.
We’ve mentioned how putting your workout to the end of the day can sometimes be met with a growing feeling of dread and lack of motivation which can in turn lead to sessions being missed – sometimes a drink with colleagues is much more inviting! Studies have shown that those who choose to workout in the morning have much more consistency and are a lot less likely to skip a session.
If your aim is to burn fat, you may like to know that a morning workout can give your metabolism a boost. Cardio heavy and hit intensity activities will get your heart rate going and make your body work a lot harder which will cause your body to burn more calories throughout the day.
Regular exercise is a great way to ensure good male health, so whether working out in the morning or evening works best for you, as long as you’re keeping active you’ll see the benefits. That said, some of the morning benefits can definitely help reduce that workout dread often felt around lunchtime if you’ve planned an evening session!
