November 23, 2015
12 Tips for Learning to Love Your Morning Workout
Feel like there's never enough time in the day to squeeze in a workout? It's time to see your mornings differently. Daylight Savings has hit, so waking up with the sun and getting it done is your best bet. Here's how to do it.
1.Set your alarm even on the weekends.
"Some of what makes a 'morning person' is biological," explains Janet K. Kennedy, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and founder of NYC Sleep Doctor. "But habits also play a big role in how our energy fluctuates throughout the day." You'll need to develop a sleep schedule. "It can take a few weeks to start feeling more energetic in the morning, but consistency is the key," notes Kennedy.
When you go to sleep, you should be full, but never stuffed. "Carbo-loading at dinnertime can make you feel more sluggish and tired in the morning, as your body has to work hard throughout the night to digest everything properly, affecting your overall quality of sleep," Lisa Moskovitz, R.D., founder of NY Nutrition Group says. "On the flip side, skimping at supper means you won't have enough energy reserves for your morning sweat session." You should eat lean protein, half a cup of cooked whole grains and a cup or more of veggies.
When it comes to sleep, quality is more important than quantity. "Forcing yourself to go to bed early when you aren't ready to sleep is likely to backfire," Kennedy says. "If you aren't ready to sleep, you are more likely to feel stressed. And that stress will make it harder to fall asleep."
2. Get a workout buddy.
Having someone else accountable for your morning workout will most definitely help, and make it even more fun as well! Noam Tamir, owner of TS Fitness in New York, finds that early morning workout buddies make hitting the gym less intimidating. If you don't have someone in your life that fits the bill, let us help! With SweatFlix℠. With over 80 hours of real time workouts on demand, you'll have access to our trainers any time you want them! They will show up to sweat with you every day, so sign up, grab your gear and get to it!
Bad weather can be your biggest excuse for not springing out of your warm and cozy bed. Daniel Lucas, co-founder of Nimble Fitness, recommends having the right gear, so you'll be ready no matter what.
3. Don't let the weather get in your way.
4. Be mindful of your dinner habits.
5. Get stylish.
Lay out your outfit before bedtime to take that extra step out of your morning routine. [bctt tweet="12 Tips for Learning to Love Your Morning Workout"]6. Unplug yourself.
That blue light from your phone screws with your internal clock. Unplug an hour before bedtime.
7. Honor your body
8. Give up on the snooze button.
"The sleep you get when you snooze the alarm is not good quality and it can leave you feeling groggy," explains Kennedy. So set your alarm for the time you ACTUALLY have to get up.