Morning Workout Tips

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Is your weekend off to a good start?

Most of my days start with a workout.  I have posted about my 20 minute at-home workout moves.  

It was really important for me a few months ago to streamline what I was doing for my workouts between cardio, yoga, lifting, core work, abs, and more.  And make it all fit into a nice, neat, and time-efficient package.

20 minutes of cardio (run or walk outdoors, I don’t do machines) + 20 minutes for everything else (yoga, lifting, core, etc) = 40 minutes.  That’s all the time I have.

And here’s all the gear I have:  a pair of 12’s, a medicine ball, an exercise ball, and a yoga mat.  That’s all I use.

 
pair of 12 pound dumbbells

 

 

 12 pound Medicine Ball 

 

Exercise Ball

 

 Yoga Mat

And after a sweat-session, here I am.

Averie in mirror
And yes, it’s hot enough here to wear shorts and a sports bra.  75F and sunny in January.  It’s even a bit unseasonal for here, but I’ll take it!
 
 

I enjoyed a few No-Bake Vegan Maple Flaxseed Cookies as a snack yesterday.  Nothing like getting some good flax in your life:  Healthy fat?  Check.  Fiber?  Check.  Taste?  Check.  Easy and Fast? Check. 

No-Bake Vegan Maple Flaxseed Cookies
Syrup & Raisin Garish, optional
No-Bake Vegan Maple Flaxseed Cookies
And if you make a double-batch, they wrap up really well for snacks on-the-go
No-Bake Vegan Maple Flaxseed Cookies

And I also made a fresh batch of Green Tea & Honey Ginger Tofu 

Green Tea & Honey Ginger Tofu 
Green Tea & Honey Ginger Tofu 

From my last post, it was fun to hear if you like to make plans on the weekends, or if you like to just wing it.  

And for the photography buffs, I am glad you enjoyed my camera lens review and thanks for filling me in on lenses you love.

Dessert:
Vegan Coconut Banana Cookie Bites
You can make these in the oven or dehydrator.

Vegan Coconut Banana Cookie Bites
Vegan Coconut Banana Cookie Bites
They are soft in the middle and just slightly crunchy on the outside.  Sweet and coconutty, but not overpowering.  
Vegan Coconut Banana Cookie Bites
Vegan Coconut Banana Cookie Bites
 

And I have more Banana Recipes for Using Up Ripe Bananas, here.

Questions
1. Best thing you’ve ate or done so far this weekend?
The power walk I plan to do with Scott and Skylar that I’ve been looking forward to and enjoying the sunshine!


2. Do you prefer to workout in the morning, afternoon, evening, or does it vary for you?
I have found based on my schedule that if I don’t workout in the morning, the day gets away from me and it doesn’t happen.  Something always comes up that’s more “pressing” than working out.

So as much as I really would prefer to work out at about 5pm,  that’s not a reality for me based on the flow of work and family life, so I do it in the mornings.

3. Any tips for working out in the morning (especially if you’re not a morning person) that you want to share?  Or vice versa for evenings?

My tips for working out in the morning even if that’s not when you’re feeling at your peak are:
1. You will feel better all day knowing you did it and it’s done!

2. Just give it a try and start and if you are hating it after 10 minutes or not into it, you can always quit.  Most of the time your endorphins will kick in and you won’t want to bail but the option is there.

3. Have everything lined up and ready to go the night before, i.e. clothes, shoes, sports bra, ipod, whatever you work out with, have it layed out and lined up.

4. Do not do something that you know will suck you in.  For me, this is email.  If I sit down to check email, tons of things pop up that I feel compelled to reply to or handle, time gets away from me, and I fritter away my workout window. 

5. Know how to fuel yourself properly.  Know if you should eat, not eat, drink water or not, drink coffee or an energy drink or not.  Figure out what works for you.

6. Realize that you may not get the best workout of your life in at 6am or whatever “first thing in the morning” means for you because really who would?  But something is better than nothing and cut yourself some slack if morning workouts aren’t always “amazing”. 

7. Be consistent!  You’re never going to overcome the hump of re-training your body for morning workouts if you are inconsistent. 

What are your tips?

P.S. Other related posts that may interest you
Abs – How to Get Them & Tough Love
Lift Heavy: Strength Training Myths & Facts
My Gym Workouts Tab for workout ideas

See you later and enjoy your weekend!

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Comments

  1. Thnk you very much. A tip I will give to you, the readers is … – Keep yourself motivated – , think at how you will look after 1 month of morning work-out, think about how healthy and full of life you will feel and really be, you got to work-out your body, especially for the PC entrepreneurs and people that use the PC very often, mens sana in corpore sana, don’t forget ! Healthy mind in healthy body.

  2. Good motivational tips and I wished more Americans adopted them all. While I workout less, I find that proper portion control, drinking more water and staying away from alcohol and smoking has contributed to my many years of no doctor visits for illnesses. Truth be told, the images and recipe for the snacks captured my imagination. Will prepare some this weekend.

  3. Thanks for the excellent tips, Averie. Not being a morning person I tend to put off my workouts off, and can totally relate to tip #4.

    I always feel so much better after working out and that is what motivates me, along with wanting to be able to indulge a little in the foods I like.

  4. I love your workout tips too, working-out in the morning is something very healthy, a great way to start your day. I work-out in the morning too, it’s kind of hard getting used to effort in the morning, but the results are very good. Also, the food I saw in this article, looks yummy, great! delicious food. A tip I will give to you, the readers is … – Keep yourself motivated – , think at how you will look after 1 month of morning work-out, think about how healthy and full of life you will feel and really be, you got to work-out your body, especially for the PC entrepreneurs and people that use the PC very often, mens sana in corpore sana, don’t forget ! Healthy mind in healthy body, I’m sure you want the both, so do something, start morning workout! Have a great day, Maria.

  5. I love your tips for working out in the morning! I can’t do it often at all as I am a solo mum but I went to the pools this morning for a few lengths and I have felt great all day for it!!!