Ace your morning

‘It’s all in the preparation’

You probably recognise Carly Rowena from her super-inspiring blog, but as a personal trainer as well, Carly has to wake early to meet clients. The first to admit she isn’t a natural morning person, Carly has some great tips on how to make getting up early as painless as possible.

She says preparation is key to a stress-free morning. Starting work at 5.30am, she makes sure everything is ready the night before. Try to pick tomorrow’s outfit, plan your workout and get food ready before bedtime, and hit the sack as early as possible to make sure you are refreshed for the early start.

Food-wise, Carly’s a fan of getting a morning protein hit. She recommends a protein pancake made from an egg, oats and unsweetened almond milk, mixed with a scoop of whey powder and topped with fruits for flavour. For a more indulgent protein hit, check out our recipe for peanut butter and choc-chip protein pancakes.

For a breakfast on the go, Carly recommends a smoothie made with spirulina – a protein-packing superfood that boosts the immune system and can even help to prevent certain cancers. She suggests it for before a morning workout, or if you can’t stomach anything that early just pack it in your gym kit to replenish tired muscles afterwards.