The Tribune

By Ethan Quant

Despite what many people think, I was never really a "morning person". I had always been someone who struggled to get out of bed during the week and never really got around to life until early in the afternoon on the weekend.

I loved my bed and it was unheard of for me to leave it before the sun came up. Even when I started my health, wellness and fitness journey, I used to train in the evening - at least I should say, I tried to. Albeit a tough adjustment to make, I would do well for a couple of days - maybe even a week. But then, before I knew it, life would happen, as they say. I would have to stay late at work, have some event that I had to go to in the evening, or some business at home to take care of. Almost anything that came up was enough for me to throw my fit goals on the back burner.

It wasn't until I really started looking at changing my lifestyle as a precursor to changing my body that I entertained the idea of early morning training. I accepted the fact if I wanted to change my body and my life it meant other changes would have to follow suit. Sure enough, I ended up altering what things I did and how I did them. Subsequently, I started my process of reconditioning myself to become one of those "crazy people" who wake up early in the morning to exercise. Go figure!

The first thing I did was to stop saying that I wasn't a "morning person". The truth is that if I wanted to see a change I had to become one - which was a challenge at first, as I'm sure you could imagine. However, once I stopped saying I wasn't a "morning person", it became a lot easier. I was introducing the new behaviour of waking up early and it eventually ended up becoming an essential part of the process of transforming my body and my life.

I am not saying the morning is the only time to train, or that it's even the best. Realistically, you have to find out what works best for you. Perhaps you can try selecting a time you think you will be most consistent with your training. At the end of the day, consistency will be key to your success.

With that said, these are some of the ways I benefited from early morning training.

It gave me more time to fit regular exercise into my day. Waking up earlier to train gave me an extra hour or two in my day simply because I got up two hours before I would regularly get up. Theoretically, more time means you can get more done - not just in health, wellness and fitness, but also in life.

Mental Clarity - I found I was able to focus more once I got to the other tasks I had scheduled that day. Having a clear mind really made me more efficient in everything else that I did.

Better Mood - Training in the morning automatically put me in a better mood. I guess it's because I felt I already accomplished something important. Moreover, studies also indicate early morning training releases endorphins in the brain, which lead to positive feelings after a workout.

Cooler Temperature - This may sound silly, but I find the heat unbearable! So, jogging or even going to the gym was a more pleasant experience simply because it was cooler. The sun would not have risen and the world hadn't started with its craziness. There is a cool calming peace and stillness early in the morning that I enjoy.

There you have it! That's why I became a morning person!

Certainly, if you plan to incorporate early morning workouts into your lifestyle, you will have to come up with a blueprint you can commit to. But of course, if you would like a guide to assist you with this, I would be happy to be of service!

Again, if you need help navigating any aspect of your health, wellness and fitness journey, feel free to reach out to me directly. Always remember, at the end of the day, you have the power to be successful in health, in fitness and in life!