Growing up, it was pretty standard that sports and activities took place after school… so in college, most of us went to the gym around 5pm – when class was out for the day. Remember how packed that place would get? Filled with sweaty football players who could be using their own private gym but chose to use the public one instead to check out the eye candy – and girls in sports bras lifting 3 pound weights while talking on the phone only there for the social event that the gym was in college?
Well, things are different now. We’re not living in a place surrounded by friends, acquaintances, fake friends, and a couple thousand familiar faces. We’re working… and our hours can vary from day to day. We can’t just say we’re going to hit up the gym after work every day. I mean what if we have to stay late? And then by the time we get home we’re too hungry to starve any longer… so we eat dinner… and we cannot go to the gym after we eat dinner… Unless we wait a few hours… But the gym closes at like 10. Talk about dilemma.
I think I have solved the problem to this “dilemma,” though. Go to the gym BEFORE WORK. Yes, it is possible. And no, it’s not that bad.
I love sleep. And it is by no means easy for me to get myself out of bed in the morning. But I definitely think going to the gym in the morning is one of the best things you can do. If you have to be at work at 9, wake up at 6:30… go for a run… do some crunches… maybe even lift some weights… And after you do this you will feel energized, your metabolism will sky rocket, and you won’t have to worry about going to the gym after work. Oh, you have to stay late? Who cares! You would just be going home to do nothing anyway.
The past few days, I have gone to the gym before work. Granted, my schedule changes every day… and if I had to be in at 5am or 6am, I would prob go after work or not at all (Remember: You don’t have to work out 7 days a week). BUT – I went before having to be in at 9 and it was fine. I also am working an 11-7 schedule some days and I don’t even care because if I was going to the gym after work ended at 5 – I would get home from the gym at 730/8… SO I’m actually home earlier. Crazy how that works!
Other than this fantastic addition of free time in your post-work life, you will also (like I said before) boost your metabolism. Eat more during the day. Whatever. You can still lose weight. Working out in the AM is key to weight loss.
Find yourself falling asleep at your desk on the daily? You won’t if you work out in the morning. At first, it’s hard to get used to… but once your body adjusts you will be a big (or small because you, like, work out) ball of energy ready to take on whatever the day brings. And you won’t be leaving as soon as the clock turns 5 because you have nothing better to do at home except read this blog and watch E! News.
I am all for working out in the AM. What do YOU prefer?