The Benefits of Running in the Morning
If you struggle to get out of bed in the morning, lacing up your running shoes and heading right out the door might seem counterintuitive. But there are many benefits to an early morning run, including increased energy and decreased appetite throughout the day. There's also the simple satisfaction of knowing you've gotten your workout out of the way before facing the conflicting pulls on your time and attention of work, school, friends or family.
Tip
Although running is a wonderful, healthy exercise at any time of day, the potential benefits of running in the morning include better appetite control, deeper sleep, stress reduction and lower nighttime blood pressure.
Building a Healthy Habit
If you struggle to build a healthy workout habit, beginning a morning workout regimen can help you create a lifelong habit with a world of proven health benefits, from improved mood to a healthier heart and a stronger immune system.
According to a 2010 article in the European Journal of Social Psychology, it takes an average of 66 days for a habit to reach its peak "automaticity," which is basically what it sounds like — becoming a reflexive component of your daily habits. If you struggle with consistency, working out in the mornings is a great way to build that healthy habit before the conflicting demands of work, family or school have a chance to derail it.
Knowing you've started your day with such a healthy activity creates a real sense of satisfaction. And if you're trying to find time for other healthy activities — whether that's running in the morning and lifting in the afternoon or joining a sports team — getting your run in early means one less conflict with those activities.
A Jolt of Energy
The battle to get moving in the morning is very real — but if you can get yourself to head out the door for a run, you'll be rewarded with higher energy and better focus. It's important to note that you don't have to be super-fit to reap that benefit; it was independent of the subjects' levels of fitness.
Lower Blood Pressure
Exercising at any time of day can help reduce high blood pressure. But the same Vascular Health and Risk Management study that demonstrated the benefits of early morning workouts for sleep also found that early morning workouts contributed to a greater dip in nighttime diastolic blood pressure for a group of pre-hypertensive subjects, reducing the stress on their cardiovascular systems.
Running for Hunger Control
If you've ever been ravenous after a tough workout, you're not alone — it's a common reaction. The subjects who worked out in the morning also got much more physical activity in the following 24 hours than the control group that didn't exercise.
Whichever option you choose, nutrition is a critical component of any exercise program; so if you take the no-breakfast route, make sure to follow it up with a healthy lunch and dinner. If you need a place to start, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Guidelines for Americans, 2015-2020, offers a range of healthy patterns to focus on, including eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, high-quality lean meats and whole grains, while limiting your intake of sugar, sodium and saturated fats.
Tip
Although running is a wonderful, healthy exercise at any time of day, the potential benefits of running in the morning include better appetite control, deeper sleep, stress reduction and lower nighttime blood pressure.
Building a Healthy Habit
If you struggle to build a healthy workout habit, beginning a morning workout regimen can help you create a lifelong habit with a world of proven health benefits, from improved mood to a healthier heart and a stronger immune system.
According to a 2010 article in the European Journal of Social Psychology, it takes an average of 66 days for a habit to reach its peak "automaticity," which is basically what it sounds like — becoming a reflexive component of your daily habits. If you struggle with consistency, working out in the mornings is a great way to build that healthy habit before the conflicting demands of work, family or school have a chance to derail it.
Knowing you've started your day with such a healthy activity creates a real sense of satisfaction. And if you're trying to find time for other healthy activities — whether that's running in the morning and lifting in the afternoon or joining a sports team — getting your run in early means one less conflict with those activities.
A Jolt of Energy
The battle to get moving in the morning is very real — but if you can get yourself to head out the door for a run, you'll be rewarded with higher energy and better focus. It's important to note that you don't have to be super-fit to reap that benefit; it was independent of the subjects' levels of fitness.
Lower Blood Pressure
Exercising at any time of day can help reduce high blood pressure. But the same Vascular Health and Risk Management study that demonstrated the benefits of early morning workouts for sleep also found that early morning workouts contributed to a greater dip in nighttime diastolic blood pressure for a group of pre-hypertensive subjects, reducing the stress on their cardiovascular systems.
Running for Hunger Control
If you've ever been ravenous after a tough workout, you're not alone — it's a common reaction. The subjects who worked out in the morning also got much more physical activity in the following 24 hours than the control group that didn't exercise.
Whichever option you choose, nutrition is a critical component of any exercise program; so if you take the no-breakfast route, make sure to follow it up with a healthy lunch and dinner. If you need a place to start, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Guidelines for Americans, 2015-2020, offers a range of healthy patterns to focus on, including eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, high-quality lean meats and whole grains, while limiting your intake of sugar, sodium and saturated fats.