Productive Mornings Are The Key To Success & Happiness (Part 3) - Morning Exercise

The closure to this mini-series is in regard to the effectiveness of Exercise in the morning. We all (should) know that exercise is necessary to having a healthy lifestyle and an efficient body, and I am a firm believer of 'healthy body = healthy mind'. Most people have good intentions of exercising and getting healthy, but not a lot of us actually see it through and it is all because of that dreaded first step of getting out the door. If you can muster up the determination and actually get out there you are going to reap many benefits, but if you want to maximize the benefits try doing your exercise early in the morning. Here's why:

1. Boost Your Metabolism - Working out in the morning is like a jump start for your metabolism, and gets that system of yours running efficiently.
2. You Are More Likely To Actually Work Out - By working out in the morning you are setting you body up for a regimen of consistent exercise. Excuses like fatigue after a long day at work or after work reports aren't a factor first thing in the morning. Consistency is key!
3. Boost Your Brain - Working out in the morning wakes up your brain and kick starts it into your day. Giving you more focus and ingenuity throughout the day. Perhaps working out in the morning is what will give you that edge to be a more appealing candidate for that promotion.
4. More Energy and Better Mood - Morning exercise makes you feel better. I have never went out running and on my return said ' I wish I never did that'. It sets you up for your day and releases endorphins making you happy.
5. Lose Weight More Effectively - Early morning exercise helps you burn those calories more effectively. By working out in the morning your body uses the calories you consume more efficiently than if you were sedentary in the morning.

Make sure you do a multitude of exercises and not just stick to the same repetitive exercises everyday. Variety is important! So after these three posts I hope I have convinced you all to at least try rising early. From a self confessed morning lark it really does make all the difference in your life. So get out there and make a truly rewarding change in your life.

How To Stick To Your Exercise Regime

In order to become the polymathic man one must develop all the main fundamental skills - Knowledge, Social Development, Creativity, and Physical Development. That means ALL of these categories. If you are an overweight, piano playing, Cambridge professor who is an active member of a local social club then unfortunately you are not a true Renaissance man.  Your overweight plight is what is preventing you from achieving this so if we are to strive for true personal development we must keep our body in prime condition. After all our mind and body are complimentary to each other. So in light of all this I have highlighted some key points that aided me in maintaining my personal fitness.

• Consistency: The best way I have found is to have a program written out and stick to it. Don't just exercise when you feel like it. You'll be more accountable to stick to it when you have a schedule for it.
• Variety: Change your workout. Don't just stick to the mundane repetitive exercise everyday. You will get bored and be less likely to continue your program. Try different sports to encourage your enjoyment in exercise.
• Training Partner: Having someone who is also trying to get in shape makes each of you accountable for the other. This really works when you feel like skipping a day but your partner does not.
  
  I myself am lucky enough to have my wife (who is an NCAA division 1 track & Field/Cross Country athlete) as my partner as she shares the same passion for fitness that I do.
• Have a Goal: Having a goal gives you motivation to stick to your program. You want to avoid that disheartened feeling you get when you do not achieve something you set out to do. Make it reasonable though. If you have never run try not to set out for a 17 minute 5k in a month.
• Compete: Sign-up for a local race, or sports tournament. Competing against other athletes will spur that competitive drive within you and make you want to train harder. 
• Keep Track: Keep track of your program stats - weight, BMI, Cholesterol level, Times for certain races, when you got tired during a badminton game etc. This will allow you to see improvement and motivate you to keep on going.
• Finally...Have Fun! If you enjoy what you are doing you are going to keep doing it. Make sure you do the sports and exercises you enjoy - not just what people tell you to do. 

Striving for physical fitness is a commitment and one we must really want for ourselves. You want your health to change then go out there and change it. It will compliment the rest of your life in ways you wont expect.

P.S. Make sure you eat healthy too!