Snapshots
As soon as you decide to add morning exercises to your daily routine, the first question that arises in your mind is, what's the best time for a morning workout? Many experts recommend exercising between 6 am and 10 am as the best time for an early morning workout. But there is no hard and fast rule to choose the timings. The most correct time for a morning workout varies from one person to another depending on their habits, schedules and personal fitness level. So, your best time for morning exercises is when your body feels comfortable and which goes well with your own schedule.
What to eat before the morning workout?
Fueling your morning with a good breakfast is vital to maximizing the benefits of your workout. It's always a good idea to have a light breakfast before launching into your morning exercises, these include fruits, smoothies, yoghurt or whole grain toast with nut butter. Remember that everyone's body is unique, so the food which goes well with one's body may not suit others. You may need to do some experimenting to find out your perfect pre-workout meal. Plus, also keep in mind that you must not take heavy foods such as fried foods or dairy products which could go wrong with exercises causing stomach discomfort or nausea.
Looking to plan your morning workout routine, here is a list of some doable and effective morning exercises to follow –
1. Walking
Start your weight loss journey with a morning walk, it's the best exercise to add to your early morning workout. No matter whether you walk slow or fast, you'll surely burn some calories contributing to weight loss. The best thing is that you can manage it at your own pace, the speed and timing are totally up to you, feel free to manage them according to your own fitness level. If you are a beginner, start with a walk for 15 or 20 mins or if you consider yourself more fit, the timing can be increased to 45 mins or 1 hr. Besides helping you lose weight, a morning walk has some therapeutic qualities, reducing your stress level while boosting the body's natural mood elevators. Plus, it can work wonders to improve your heart health too.
2. Skipping rope
If you are looking for a quick and effective calorie burn, skipping rope is among the most recommended morning exercises for you. As you are required to lift your whole body against gravity, it takes more effort consequently burning more calories which eventually makes you lose weight. This comes among the best morning exercises for anyone looking for a high-intensity workout or a full-body exercise as it involves your legs, core, arms and shoulders. What's more? It's a bone-strengthening powerhouse! improving your bone density plus it's an amazing option if you are seeking some morning exercises to improve coordination and balance.
3. Yoga
The benefits of practising yoga at least thrice a week are wide and varied. Whether you are seeking morning stretches or morning exercises to lose weight, Yoga can work wonders for your body in the long term. It works so efficiently to lose weight, not only by burning calories but it also aids digestion by increasing metabolic rate. Plus, yoga also helps to combat weight gain due to stress by regulating hormones like cortisol. Also, if you are suffering from chronic pains like arthritis, back pain or headache, yoga may help alleviate these problems without any side effects, make sure to consult your doctor before incorporating any yoga pose or exercise into your morning workout routine.
4. Cycling
The more you cycle the more calories you burn. Cycling is one of the best morning exercises to add to your morning workout. Besides burning calories during workouts, cycling also promotes muscle building which lets you burn calories all day more efficiently. Cycling is mind-blowingly good, want to know why? The key difficulty is, that people easily get bored after practising a certain group of exercises but this is less likely to be the case with outdoor cycling. As you can change routes, intensity and frequency, this could let you feel less bored, plus it can also boost your mood with a good dose of Vitamin D. But, if you live in an area with poor roads, heavy traffic or safety concerns, indoor cycling would be best for you.
5. Circuit Training
Circuit training can be the best thing to add to your morning exercise, whether you are looking for easy exercises to make you healthier or to be in shape. It's the ultimate workout for people with hectic schedules, making you burn maximum calories with minimal time. Circuit training is basically a group of exercises which generally include one upper-body, one lower-body, one core exercise, and a high-intensity cardio interval.
Undoubtedly, circuit training is a productive exercise but in the long term, so sufficient motivation is crucial to be regular to the training. Have a look at the given example of circuit training–
- Pushups for 30 seconds
- Walking lunges for 30 seconds
- Bicycle crunches for 60 seconds
- Jump squats for 60 seconds
- Rest for 60 seconds
Repeat this circuit for about 20 to 25 mins. Keep in mind that listening to your body is a must, you can take a break or modify exercises according to your personal fitness.