In the early morning hours, a sweat-inducing workout may sound unappealing. Your first thought is probably to hit the snooze button, pull the covers over your head and just forget about your exercise plans. I know the reasoning.  You might be thinking, It’s too early. I’ll hit the gym later. But don’t let such thoughts talk you into putting off something that’s so good for you!

A morning workout is better than 15 more minutes of shut-eye. Your metabolism slows down at night when you’re sleeping, and it more than likely continues to be sluggish come morning. Your metabolism will speed up as the day wears on, but a morning workout – whether aerobic or strength training – will jump-start your metabolism.

Get that boost early in the day, and you’ll be maximizing the number of hours your metabolism runs on high. Eating a healthful breakfast is also critical, so don’t forget to make time for whole grains, protein and fruit.  I promise you’ll feel so good afterward that you won’t miss those extra few minutes of sleep.