6 Signs You Need A Morning Workout

Exercise is hard to fit into a hectic lifestyle – there's just never enough time! And when you do manage to drag yourself to the gym after work, it's always packed. Night in it is then.

But not so fast! Failing to complete regular exercise can lead to worse things than a beer belly. Exercise regulates blood pressure, builds strong bones and increases energy levels – without it, it can lead to all kinds of health complications.

Ready to brave a morning workout? Here are 6 signs you need one.

You're Not Losing Weight

If you're struggling to hit weight loss targets, chances are you need to up the amount of exercise you're doing. According to a recent study made by the Journal of Physiology, the optimum time for fat burning is when the body is in a 'fasted state' – i.e. the morning!
Research shows that there's the potential for you to burn up to 20% more fat than you would exercising at any other time of the day. It was also found that those exercising on an empty stomach didn't feel the need to compensate for their early morning workout with additional calories, and didn't have an increased appetite later in the day. But remember: everybody's different. Be sensible and listen to your body. If you need a light snack to get up and running, try a protein shake or berries.
For those who can't stomach a morning run, yoga is a low-impact, stressing-relieving alternative that reduces cortisol levels, regulates blood pressure and helps curb cravings.

You Lack Discipline

The key to progressing in fitness is sticking to an effective plan, which can be a challenge when  juggling a busy career and social life. Dedicating an hour before work to exercise gets it out of the way, and frees up your day for any other plans you may have. Most importantly, scheduling and committing to regular morning workouts makes exercise a habit. The American Council on Exercise in San Diego agrees that unlike evening workouts when you're tired from the day, morning exercise promotes consistency and encourages you to stick at it, no excuses.
This type of dedication and discipline transfers to other areas of your life. Just knowing that you're stronger than the snooze button and lifting heavy before many have even tucked into their breakfast is really empowering – you can set your mind to anything. 

You're Low In Self-Confidence

If you're in need of a confidence boost, morning exercise is one of the best pick-me-ups around. Many dread hitting gym after work, which can lead to a lack of motivation and poor workouts. Early morning exercisers don't have this problem – there isn't enough time to over think what you're doing. You're up and exercising before you know it!
Soon enough, your fitness levels will be improving, you'll be in better shape and you'll feel a sense of achievement from sticking to your morning workouts. Just 20-30 minutes a day is enough exercise to improve your body image and maintain that confidence high.

You Can't Sleep

Sleepless nights are very stressful. It's a vicious circle: you're stressed because you're tired, but you can't switch off because you're worried about not sleeping. Morning workouts can help, and again this is largely due to timing. Getting your daily exercise early doors uses enough energy to leave you suitably sleepy come bedtime.
The endorphins released during exercise act as natural painkillers, alleviating stress/anxiety, ready for a great night's sleep. What's more, waking up at the same time each morning readjusts your circadian rhythm (natural wake-up/sleep times) and resets the body clock in a way that promotes effective sleep. This is less so for evening exercisers, who sometimes struggle to drop off after a late night training session.

You Lack Focus In The Workplace

If you're struggling to concentrate or find yourself easily distracted in the office, a morning workout could be just what you need to get back on form. Exercise stimulates the areas of the brain that control memory function and releases a protein called 'brain-derived neurotrophic factor' (BDNF). According to Harvard Medical School, regular bouts of BDNF rewires the memory circuits, thus helping us to concentrate better the more we exercise.
Speaking to Harvard Health, Dr John Ratey explains "when you exercise and move around, you are using more brain cells. Using more brain cells turns on genes to make more BDNF.” If you've a big presentation coming up or an important morning meeting, try to exercise 1-2 hours before to remove brain-fog and perform at your peak. It's a great way to boost productivity, no caffeine required.

You're Fed Up

If you've had one too many down days, embrace morning exercise. The 'feel good' neurochemicals serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine steadily rise through your body as you hit the treadmill hard, resulting in a more positive you. An early morning sweat session at the gym is all you need to boost your mood and improve your outlook on life. No more getting out of bed on the wrong side; a happy day lies ahead. See you at 6am.