Anyone who has tried and succeeded in losing weight will tell you that it's more than a temporary diet or a year-long gym membership. It's a complete lifestyle change. It's a change in how you think about food, exercise, and yourself. It's a change in how you go through the day. It's a change in what comforts you and what stresses you out. I'm finding that there's even another layer to the lifestyle change that I didn't anticipate until a few short weeks ago.
I've always been a night owl. I love staying up late at night watching movies, talking to other night owls online, having some me-time. There are several reasons why being a night-owl probably isn't the healthiest option for me. 1.) One of my favorite things to do at night when I'm by myself is eat. Usually, I like eating lots of junk food and or carbs. I don't think I have to explain why this is a bad thing! 2.) By getting up earlier in the morning, I can take some time to start my day in prayer and in the scriptures. Spend some quality time with the Lord and let that be the foundation of my day. 3.) For years I've struggled with winter depression, and I think part of the reason for that is because I am such a night person. Less hours in the daylight = more and more intense depressive thinking.
Especailly with the new job I've recently started, being a night person isn't very condusive to my social life, or my efforts in getting fit. I have free access to the gym here at work, but it closes at 6pm, and I don't usually get off until 6:15. I don't really want to work out during my lunch hour, even though I have done that before, so it works best for me to work out in the morning, before work.
Now, besides getting my butt out of bed in the morning, staying up late presents several other challenges. I have kind of a weird morning routine. I usually have to go to the bathroom several times because one of my favorite things to do at night when I'm alone is eat. By going to bed earlier, before I get hungry and wanting to eat again and again and again, my routine can become more predicatable and quicker.
I also have noticed a pattern in my eating habits, I usually start off really well, then I wait to long between meals, and by the end of the day, I'm starving and want something fast, and something now. Usually that means the McDonalds or the Hardee's on my way home from work. Hopefully by getting up earlier, I can start off eating a good breakfast, and have some healthy snacks I can munch on throughout the day so I'm not starving by the time I leave work and start my long commute home.
Another reason is that my society isn't exactly friendly to night people! Most jobs start early, no matter what time you go to bed! By going to bed earlier, I'll have more energy in the day, won't be tempted to munch to much and won't rely on heavily caffinated drinks to get me through the day. Also on days I don't work all day, I can maybe go for a workout in the afternoon instead of take a nap.
As if changing my lifestyle to add in a regular exercise routine, and change the foods I eat isn't hard enough, now I have to be okay with getting up early as well! It's ironic that I'm writinga about the benefits of being a morning person at 12:50 in the morning as I'm in my bed winding down from the day! All these changes seem a bit too much... it's unending, but whatever it takes.
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