The 10 best morning workout routines for your body
If you worship your alarm's snooze button, incorporating morning workout routines into your schedule might seem unthinkable.
However, getting active is the best way to start your day; with enough determination and willpower, you'll wonder how you ever lived without your morning workout routines.
Everyone can benefit from some early morning exercise and your workouts can be as long and intense as your body will allow.
But no matter how much you exercise, make sure you follow it up with healthy meals and nutritious supplements that will keep you at the peak of your physical ability.
The benefits of a morning workout
Still not sold on the concept of morning workout routines? Once you hear about the innumerable benefits associated with early morning exercise, you'll be itching to change your lifestyle and try some exercises for yourself.
Enjoy a productive day
How many times have you put off exercise, only to forget about doing it at all? The hardest part is dragging yourself from the comfort of your bed.
Even if you only exercise for fifteen minutes, you'll feel extremely productive and ready to take on the day ahead.
If you put off exercise until after work, it will be on your mind all day and you'll probably be too drained to give the exercise session your all.
It can improve brain function
More than just physically advantageous, a good morning workout routine can also do wonders for your mental ability.
A recent study found that exercise before work can improve cognitive function and ability to concentrate.
This is particularly useful if you're trying to get that promotion at work; an early morning jog or twenty reps of squats can make you become a hard and efficient worker.
Get a better night's sleep
We've all experienced a bad night's sleep; you could be stressed at work, or worrying about a troubling family situation.
Whatever the reason, early morning exercise could be the secret to getting a full eight hours of rest.
A 2014 study found that the timing of exercise was important for our sleep patterns and those who exercised earlier experienced a deeper night's sleep.
Boost your metabolism
When it comes to permanent weight loss, the secret is to boost your metabolism so that your body can lose weight and keep it off.
Early morning exercise is considered to be one of the best way to boost your metabolism while also getting fitter.
Lose weight
If you're desperate to shed a few pounds, then morning workout routines might be the solution for you.
Studies suggest that if you exercise before breakfast your body will keep burning fat and sugar throughout the day; you won't reap the same benefits by exercising at night.
However, if you're serious about losing weight, exercise isn't the only lifestyle change you need to make; fill your diet with plenty of greens and ditch the processed foods.
Collagen supplements are easy to incorporate into your lifestyle and have been scientifically shown to boost metabolism and help with weight loss.
The best workout routines for your body
If you're hoping to become the ultimate early bird and achieve all of your fitness goals, then here are the ten best exercises to incorporate into your morning routine:
1. Yoga
If want a gentle exercise when you first wake up, then yoga is a great place to start.
There are different moves for beginners and novices alike, making it the perfect early morning exercise for everybody.
Yoga helps to gently stretch out the muscles, making it especially effective for those wanting to improve posture and flexibility.
Best of all, yoga focuses on the tranquillity of the mind as well as the strength of the body, meaning you can begin your day calmly; a 2016 study found that frequent yoga sessions can relax the mind and reduce levels of the stress hormone, cortisol.
2. Interval jogging
Throw on some running shoes and hit the pavement with this very effective cardio exercise.
A twenty-minute run is all you need to reap the benefits of jogging and it's a great exercise if you want to target muscles on your lower body.
However, if you want to make the most out of your jogging sessions, there are a few tips and tricks you should follow.
Instead of heading out and running for twenty minutes straight, studies suggest that high-intensity interval training is the most effective way to improve aerobic fitness.
If you're a beginner, start off sprinting for 1 minute and resting for 3-5; increase your running time as your fitness improves.
3. Squats
Squats are very popular at the moment, especially as you don’t need any equipment or a lot of time to do them!
By keeping your back straight and squatting down into sitting position, you are engaging your glutes and strengthening your thigh muscles.
The best thing about squats is that they can easily be incorporated into your morning routine; squat as soon as you get out of bed, or even while you're brushing your teeth.
Try and complete 25 reps, or up the intensity with hand weights.
4. Planks
If the goal is to strengthen your core, then planks are the perfect morning exercise for you.
Face down on the ground, place your hands directly in front of your shoulders and push off from the ground; if done correctly, you should feel the stretch in your stomach and not in your spine.
Aim to hold this plank position for at least 30 seconds and increase the length of time as you get better. Planks can be slotted into everyone's morning workout routines, and they have been shown to increase endurance and balance.
Athletes who planked often were also found to have a more stable core and reported fewer lower back injuries.
5. Star jumps
Not just an exercise reserved for school's P.E. class, star jumps are a great way to get your blood pumping early in the morning.
Try and perform at least thirty of these jumps when you wake up, but be careful not to wake up your family or partner as this exercise can get noisy.
Hand weights or leg weights are a good idea if you really want to develop some body tone and definition.
6. Glute bridge
This exercise targets the core, as well as the upper legs so focus on this exercise if you're hoping to sculpt these areas.
To perform a glute bridge, lie on your back with arms by your side and knees bent, then lift your hips straight off the floor.
For a real challenge, keep one leg straight as you lift your hips.
7. Mountain climbers
Want to get in that cardio but don't want to face the outdoor world?
Mountain climbers will get your legs pumping and your heart racing; they're an excellent form of cardio.
Face down with your hands parallel to your shoulders, bring your right knee in towards your right elbow and repeat on the left side.
Start to increase the speed of the exercise and you'll be a master of the mountain climber in no time.
8. Crunches
A more intense version of sit-ups, crunches really let you feel the burn in your core.
However, the pain is worth it if you want defined abs, as crunches are the easiest way to get them.
Reverse oblique crunches (twisting your body as you sit up) are a little more difficult but help to engage your side abs; try them if you're more advanced.
9. Jump rope
More than just a playground game, jumping rope is also a fantastic exercise for your body.
It's no wonder that the exercise is performed by footballers and boxers, as studies have shown it to be great for developing balance and coordination.
The key to success with this exercise is speed and you should jump with both feet together in order to build fast momentum.
10. Push ups
For bulging biceps and muscly pectorals, push ups can't be missed.
They're notoriously difficult to achieve if you lack upper body strength, but there are different variations you can try if the regular full body push up is too difficult.
Start on your knees and place your head on the floor; use your arms to lift your upper body and repeat in reps of twenty.
The best nutrition for your morning workout
Once you've mastered your early morning workout routine and found the exercises that are perfect for you, it's time to focus on other aspects of your lifestyle.
Load your diet with protein and make sure to replenish the fluids lost during your workout.
If you really want to make the most out of your workouts and look after your muscles in the process, then collagen supplements are a must. Collagen can help to alleviate the post-workout pain of aching joints; the supplement can also help with muscle repairs, meaning you can carry on with your morning workout routines without succumbing to an injury.
Absolute Collagen’s drinkable collagen supplements are an easy way to get that post-workout protein. Just simply take it straight from the sachet, and you’re good to go!
