Developing a Healthy Morning Routine

I was never much of an exerciser once I started going to high school. I was usually the girl who “forgot” her gym wear at home so I could get out of doing any exercise. It wasn’t that I disliked working out, I just never wanted to get “sweaty” for the day ahead full of classes. I guess not much has changed for me since high school.

I still don’t like working out in the morning and prefer exercise in the evening.  There are many conflicting theories on which is best for maximum calorie burn, but I think it’s most important to workout when you know you’ll be up for it.  If you don’t like morning exercising, don’t sweat it. Just exercise in the evenings instead.  As much as I prefer evening workouts, I’ve started my own little working routines in the morning to get off to a great start for the day ahead.

Not only is it important to exercise in the morning to kick-start your metabolism, but there are other things you can do to ensure you have set the stage for a healthy day. Here are some of my absolute essential tips to developing a healthy morning routine to make sure I stay on track throughout the day.

1. Start the day off with a large glass of water with freshly squeezed lemon.  This makes sure your body will stay hydrated throughout the day and the lemon has many antioxidants.
2. Exercise for between 15-20 minutes if I am able to commit to a longer workout in the evening.  If not, I will do a 5-10 minute exercise routine followed by a 5 minute stretch.  This routine may vary from doing a series of jumping jacks and running on the spot moves, followed by some strength-training exercises like squats or lunges.
3. Wake up with at least an hour to spare before you need to leave the house. If you wake up last minute, you will forgo any extra time  you have to exercise or relax and get prepared before the busy day ahead.
4. Get at least 7 hours of sleep a night.  Having a great morning also depends on what time you hit the hay. If you aren’t getting enough sleep at night, you won’t have the energy to exercise in the morning.
5. Eat a healthy and filling balanced breakfast.  Don’t just have a coffee and a doughnut for breakfast before you rush off to work.  Make time to sit down to a wholegrain bowl of cereal or oatmeal or even a couple slices of wholewheat toast with all-natural peanut butter. Skip the sugary breakfast cereals and make sure you are getting at least 4-5 grams of fiber at breakfast time to stay full until lunch.

By following these five steps, you will develop a healthy morning routine to supercharge you for the rest of the day and make sure you are in great shape for facing temptation and cravings in addition to burning a lot of calories to continue maintaining your weight or helping lose weight along the way.