Can't get out of bed to exercise?

Therealobi1

ArmyofAdrian wrote: »

It's probably because cardio sucks.

Too be honest I think all exercise sucks but I love the results so just get on with it

StealthHealth

dave_in_ni wrote: »

StealthHealth wrote: »

OP what is your goal?

I seemed to remember that you were looking into bulking (coming off a large deficit) have you implemented a calorie surplus?

No I haven't, decided to give it another month as I'm not happy with my weight, I thought some cardio might help shift it.

If I'm honest I hate cardio which is probably why the motivation isn't there, its something I feel I probably should do rather than something I want to do, I look forward to doing my weights in the evening, I could never say that about cardio I just do not enjoy it.

In my experience, eating at a deficit (especially a big deficit over a long period of time) makes it much, much harder to get up in the morning. Your body just wants to minimize calorific expenditure and a simple way of doing that is to keep you in bed! Add to this the fact that you don't like cardio and the prospect of getting up early to hit the treadmill is even less appealing.

I could say "man up, get the job done" but in this instance it just doesn't feel to me like the best approach. You have some residual fat that you want gone but I don't think that cardio is going to be the best way forward for you. In your position I would reduce the stress by some or all of the points below:

• Reducing the deficit down to 250 cals below TDEE (I think you were on 1500 cals in the past? I don't know your stats but i'm guessing that that is a considerable deficit)
• Ensuring that you are getting adequate sleep
• Ensuring that you are getting the majority of your calories from good quality foods with adequate protein and fat and indulging in some treat foods (withing calorific target) occasionally
• Maintain your strength work and consider a couple of sessions of HIIT work (5mins warm up, 10 mins or so HIIT 3 mins cool down) per week.
• Considering a couple of weeks at maintenance before attacking the last few lbs.

Packerjohn

dave_in_ni wrote: »

This is something I have never been able to do in many years of trying. I do weight training in the evening no problem but thought cardio in the morning would also be helpful, problem is I can't get out of bed.

9 times out of 10 I wake before the alarm goes off so its not that I am asleep its a motivation issue. Last night I laid all my clothes and shoes out beside the bed, woke this morning and said "Na *kitten* it" and lay there in bed checking social media on my phone. In the past I have sat alarm clocks at the other side of the room, even down stairs but I get up, turn them off and go back to bed,

I'm just not motivated to do anything in the mornings, I don't even like to speak until I am awake at least an hour, perhaps I'm just not a morning person. Am I a lost cause?

You're a grown *kitten* man, it's not that you can't get out of bed, you won't. But then on the other you don't need more sleep as you wake on your own and have the ability to lay in bed and look at social media.

It's all about priorities. You are awake already. What is a bigger priority in your life, getting in shape or watching cat videos?

Maybe compromise for a bit and look at social media as you take a walk. Get in the habit of moving in the morning and maybe you'll be able to dump the cat videos and up the intensity.

eddiesmith1

It's tough to get going but i just made my morning cardio also my commute to work. I struggle with it every morning until I'm actually in motion. the benefit is I'm energized at work in a way I never was previously (I cycle 16km uphill and am getting faster daily - but i also have the benefit of a shower at work). I have to agree with 2015Jason above there is nothing like being out early and enjoying the early sun as part of it. I could never get myself into a Gym in the morning (or afternoon for that matter I'm not a gym person

Soundwave79

Yea the only time I do morning workouts is the weekend and they are more like mid morning. I struggle with motivation too that early in the day. Usually have to take a strong dose of preworkout just to get moving. During the week my workouts come as soon as I get home from work. That way I don't have time to sit and settle down. 5-6 is my dedicated time every day no matter what's on my schedule for that day. I have no idea how people can workout so hard in the mornings. Haven't done early morning workouts since I got out of the Army 10+ years ago.

MostlyWater

You need a workout that you love, and you need to get used to getting up early. I didn't try until I was well into my 40's. Younger people need more sleep.

Packerjohn

Soundwave79 wrote: »

Yea the only time I do morning workouts is the weekend and they are more like mid morning. I struggle with motivation too that early in the day. Usually have to take a strong dose of preworkout just to get moving. During the week my workouts come as soon as I get home from work. That way I don't have time to sit and settle down. 5-6 is my dedicated time every day no matter what's on my schedule for that day. I have no idea how people can workout so hard in the mornings. Haven't done early morning workouts since I got out of the Army 10+ years ago.

If you can't workout at other times due to work/family commitments you make the early mornings work. Except for some job schedules and/or very young kids nobody wants you for anything at 5 AM. If you want to workout thats when you do it.