Exercising At Night Has Benefits!

Hi there! HAPPY April Fool's Day :D
How are you?! How was your week?! Are you ready for the weekend?! I am!! I keep forgetting it's April Fool's Day and I've been getting fooled all day...lol! Well...almost all day :D It's also Fridayyyyy, so don't forget to check out the SMOOTHIE recipe at the bottom!!

I LUV to exercise first thing in the morning...it's my favorite way to start the day! Early morning exercisers also tend to get most of the glory, from sunrise selfies to gold stars from impressed friends!! BUT if working out first thing doesn't fit with your schedule, consider this post permission to hit the snooze button in the morning :D The latest research proves your body is primed for an amazing workout at night! In fact, night time sweat sessions have so much upside that even early risers (like myself), might consider including them in their weekly lineup of workouts!!
I found the following in SELF magazine and want to share it with you. Here's 3 benefits to working it at night :)

- YOU WORK OUT HARDER!
Research has shown we can go up to 20% longer in the evenings and at a higher intensity. Performance peaks 11 hours after waking for late risers, per a new study from England's University of Birmingham. (Even early birds fare better later: They did best aerobically about 6 hours after waking.)

- YOU TONE UP FASTER!
Muscle function and strength peak in the P.M., according to research, and fluctuating hormones may make late day workouts more effective. High levels of cortisol in the A.M. can prevent muscle growth, but increased testosterone in the evening boosts it, says Heather Webb, a kinesiologist at Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi.

- YOU SLEEP MORE DEEPLY!
Late workouts disrupt sleep, right? Nope :D When hitting the sack 90 minutes post-exercise, people who'd gone harder got more deep, restorative sleep, found Swiss researchers. Also, in a study in Sleep Medicine, only 2% of vigorous exercisers said workouts interrupted their zzz's; 30% slept better after a good sweat. If there were any question about the strength of night time workouts, it's been put to rest ;)

KEEP READING...the SMOOTHIE below has classic favorites, strawberries and banana, with a touch of tang from the tropics, which create this FITastic staple blend!

STRAWBLEND CLASSIC SMOOTHIE

2 handfuls of strawberries
1 banana
1/4 pineapple
8 tablespoons of pineapple juice

- This recipe makes 2 portions.
- For a more refreshing smoothie, blend some ice with the other ingredients.
- This smoothie is GREAT for energy; GOOD for immunity AND skin :D

Nutrients: Beta-carotene, biotin, folic acid, vitamins B1, B3, B6, and C; calcium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, sulphur.

If you have ANY comments about this post...BRING IT ON :D
Have an AWESOME weekend!
SEE YOU right back here on Monday!!