Thursday, June 6, 2013

Start Off Right

Weight Loss: Day 3

For most people, working out every day seems time consuming. Sure, working out only takes about an hour of your day, but that hour can be nearly impossible to fit into our daily schedules. Some people solve this problem by working out early in the mornings. Starting your day off with exercise can kick start your metabolism, leave you feeling more energized, and it can help get your workout done without interfering with your schedule. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when working out early in the morning.

Normally, you hear people telling you that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Breakfast is also said to kick start your metabolism and get your day moving. Still, a lot of people assume that it is okay to exercise on an empty stomach and eat breakfast when they are done with their workout. While it’s probably best not to run on a full stomach of cereal and milk, it is still important to get some sort of fuel in your system before working out. Scientists claim that exercising on an empty stomach will cause your body to use fat reserves as your only energy. This may sound like a good thing, but in reality, once your body starts using these reserves as fuel, you will lose energy quickly and may be forced to end your workout too soon. In addition, your body may think that it is under stress and may slow down your metabolism to prevent itself from losing more energy. Sports trainers and scientists agree that eating a small, pre-workout snack up to half an hour before you exercise will help keep you energized.

Once you get your workout in, it is a good idea to eat your normal breakfast. Eating breakfast after your workout can actually aid in muscle recovery. This is even more effective when you eat a good amount of protein with your breakfast. It is also important to keep in mind that most breakfast foods are sugary and loaded with calories. Do your best to eat a healthy, well-balanced breakfast that won’t completely ruin your workout. I personally prefer making omelets with spinach, onions, and a little bit of cheese. This way I get some protein, and a good serving of vegetables.

Rise and Shine,

Danielle ♥

All of the above information can be found in Runner's World Magazine.

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