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Anonymous
Copyright 2003, Fitness Renaissance, LLC http://www.fitren.com 268 5. When you do cardio in the morning, your metabolism stays elevated for a period of time after the workout is over. If you do cardio in the evening, you burn calories during the session, but you fail to take advantage of the "afterburn" effect because your metabolic rate drops dramatically as soon as you go to sleep.
6. Morning cardio gives you a feeling of accomplishment and makes you feel great all day by releasing mood-enhancing endorphins.
7. Morning cardio "energizes" you and "wakes you up."
8. Morning cardio may help regulate your appetite for the rest of the day.
9. Your bodys circadian rhythm adjusts to your morning routine, making it easier to wake up at the same time every day.
10. Youll be less likely to "blow off" your workout when its out of the way early (like when youre exhausted after work or when friends ask you to join them at the pub for happy hour).
11. You can always "make time" for exercise by setting your alarm earlier in the morning.
A common concern about doing cardio in the fasted state, especially if its done with high intensity, is the possibility of losing muscle. After an overnight fast, glycogen, blood glucose and insulin are all low. This is an optimum environment for burning fat. Unfortunately, it may also be an optimum environment for burning muscle because carbohydrate fuel sources are low and levels of the catabolic stress hormone cortisol are high. It sounds like morning cardio might be a double-edged sword, but there are ways to avert muscle loss.
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