Swedish Trainer to the Stars Magnus Lygdback On How He Kicks Off His Morning

On any given day Magnus Lygdback could be working out with a Hollywood actor, a Grammy-winning musician, or a pro athlete. Or all three. The space between is spent creating content for his YouTube channel, working on new programs for his fitness app subscribers, and most importantly, quality time with his family.

“The days are never the same, but they are always busy,” says Lygdback, who lives in Los Angeles. Because of that, the morning has become a sacred time for the renowned Swedish trainer. Below, in his own words, he shares rituals that help him start his day off right.

5:25 a.m. | Grounding Energy

“I am a huge coffee nerd, and I enjoy the ritual of making my own. I was recently introduced to Son of a Barista, and when I feel like a hot coffee I use their machine to make an Americano. I also cold brew, which I make myself by letting coffee grounds and water sit in my fridge for at least 24 hours. Whether it is hot or cold, I drink my coffee black. When my cup has been poured, I will walk out to my terrace.”

5:30 a.m. | Setting the Tone

Out on the terrace, I sit down and take mental stock of the day for about 30 minutes. I use my laptop to read the news, but make sure not to read any emails or text messages. I like to know what is going on in the world, before approaching my own personal demands. I will begin to check my inbox once I am about halfway done with my first coffee. If there is something urgent, then I will respond, otherwise I leave it until the rest of my morning routine is done.

6 a.m. | Pack Time

Following the terrace time, I get the dogs together and take them for a walk. We have three rescue dogs: Elba, Billie, and our newest Enzo, an English Bulldog mix. I was really excited to add another member to my ever-expanding pack. I have a little loop that I do with them in the neighborhood. I give myself at least 20 minutes for this walk, because it brings me a lot of happiness.

I believe that dogs have an ability to bring an element of calm to your life, no matter what state of mind you are starting in. They pull your attention away from those self-destructive thoughts that have a habit of lingering in the mind too long. Not to mention the to-do list of your day. They force you to be present. They help you not take life too seriously. They are quite simply amazing. I love our little pack.

6:20 a.m. | Fuel Up

Being a nutritionist, knowing what I am putting into my body is very important to me. I know exactly what I need to be my best, and that goes for my kids as well. That is why I like to make my family breakfast in the morning as often as possible. Depending on our schedules it could be just for my one-year old, or it could be for the entire household.

I try to mix it up as much as possible, because you don’t want the kids to get bored. But I usually make a large omelet for everyone, switching between different elements like goat cheese, spinach, and sun-dried tomato paste. I also like to make oatmeal with chia seeds for the kids to enjoy, because it is good for them and tastes great.

There is something therapeutic about making your own food. I enjoy that time in the kitchen, with my family. It is quality time to connect before everyone’s day starts.

Magnus’ Morning Mindset

I believe it is important to remember that every single one of us is waking up in a different place mentally. I haven’t met one person who wakes up with a pristine and regular mindset every day. And that is okay. Take a moment to understand where you are personally, be okay with it, and then lean into the things that bring you towards balance.