Morning exercise boosts your metabolism for the rest of the day, and abolishes any chance that you might flake out on your workout if you waited until later in the day. But what if you’re just too tired in the a.m. to get in a good, quality workout?

Don’t give up on sunrise exercise just because you’ve had trouble beating morning fatigue in the past. Follow these guidelines and your body will be more than prepared for that morning jolt of energizing exercise:

• The first step: Get to bed on time. Guarantee yourself a full eight hours of restful sleep before you have to wake up, and you won’t feel so dog-tired when your alarm clock goes off.

• The second step: Train yourself to get up right when the alarm clock goes off – no snooze buttons allowed! Snoozers are for losers, just remember that.

• The final step: Give yourself at least 30 minutes of “me” time each morning. Have your cup of coffee or tea, watch the morning news or sit outside to watch the sunrise. This will stimulate your mind and bring your senses into full awareness, and wipe away any lingering grogginess.

Now that you’re fully awake, slap on those workout clothes and hit the gym – you’re ready to burn some calories.