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Spring forward, fall back.  How many times have you repeated that to yourself so you can remember which way to adjust your clock?  On the first Sunday in November, Daylight Saving Time comes to an end.  For most of us, this means losing precious hours of daylight as the dreaded 'it's dark before dinner' routine begins.

Change Your Clock

Many people complain about not being able to keep up with their exercise routine after the time changes.  It's harder to get motivated to go to the gym after work when it's dark outside.  So why don't you decide to exercise in the morning for a few months this winter?

Let me start by saying this:  I have never been a morning person. Therefore, I never wanted to exercise in the morning (unless it was still technically the morning, but really much closer to noon).  But a few years ago I thought I would try an early-morning routine because I found that I was skipping far too many early evening workouts.

And guess what? I loved it!

Early to Bed, Early to Rise

When our clocks change, it gets dark so early that it feels much later than it really is.  This is not a complicated problem (unless you work a night or late shift).  Simply go to bed earlier so you can wake up and have plenty of time to exercise. 

Look on the Sunny Side

There are lots of great reasons to exercise in the morning:

• You're more likely to stick with your program. If you exercise in the evening, you're more likely to run into obstacles: you work late, you're too tired, there was too much traffic, and so forth. Get it out of the way first thing, and you'll have no excuses!

• You'll boost your metabolism. After sleeping all night, you need to get your metabolism going. Turn on an exercise DVD and go hard for 30 minutes. Your metabolism will skyrocket immediately and will stay elevated for a while even after you're finished.

• It's better than an espresso. Exercise will wake you up, period. If you jump on an exercise bike, you will be finished before you know it and ready to face the day.

• You'll sleep better. If you don't sleep well, exercise in the morning may help you tremendously. Various studies have shown that people who exercise in the morning tend to sleep much better at night. If you exercise too close to your bedtime, your body may be too revved up to get restful sleep.

• You'll boost your confidence. If you start your day making your body strong and fit, you will have more confidence. You'll stand taller, and you'll be proud of yourself. You'll probably also make better food choices since you've made the extra effort into getting your workout done in the morning.

So when it's time to 'fall back' this year, take this as a great opportunity to change up your exercise routine.  It may require a few adjustments, but I'll bet you love it as much as your body and mind will!

Wake Up and Smile,
Molly