Thursday, August 12, 2010

Research on Fat Loss: Exercise in the Morning

Fitness RX Magazine, in my opinion, is the BEST fitness magazine on the market.  I've read the others and they don't compare when it comes to the research.  Fitness RX has lots of short articles that are based on the research of exercise scientists from different countries and colleges.  A typical article will say something like, "Researchers from the University of ________________ found. . ."  These aren't just opinions from workout junkies.  Instead, they're derived from solid research that you can rely on.

One recent article discusses a research study about the relation of fasting to fat loss.  Researchers found that exercising after 12 to 14 hours of fasting promoted fat loss.  Study participants did this 3 to 5 times per week for 12 weeks and lost an average of 16 pounds.  The reason this works is because carbohydrates are less available for use as energy during exercise (after fasting) and this causes the body to use more fat as energy.

So, how do we make this article apply to you?  Easy!  What time do you typically eat dinner?  Whatever your answer, eat dinner at 6pm.  Then, wake up at 5am and exercise first thing in the morning.  You'll start your workout at 6am and that will be a 12-hour fast since your last meal.  Study participants did this 3 to 5 days per week and lost 16 pounds in 12 weeks.  If I told you that in 3 months, you could be 16 pounds lighter, wouldn't you make some sacrifices to reach that goal?

When you eat, eat healthy.  Workout first thing in the morning.  This might be a serious lifestyle change for you, but isn't it worth it?  Don't eat breakfast until after you workout.  Then, eat healthy.  The other benefit to an early morning working is increased energy throughout the day and a higher metabolic rate for that day than if you didn't workout in the morning.

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