Early Morning Workout-ers

Chelsea_LO

Oh my god. I have been trying to adjust my sleep schedule and wake up earlier to work out in the mornings since I HATE working out after work. UGH. I need to get up at 5 (at the latest) to have a good workout before I have to start getting ready for work, but I am always SO SLEEPY. I seriously am like a freaking zombie. The like two times total I have ever actually woken up early enough to get in a workout I feel like I'm going to end up hurting myself because I'm half-asleep. HALP! Those of you who get your early AM grind on (I'm talking pre-6am), HOW DO YOU DO IT? Do you take a pre-workout? Coffee? Does the habit just make it easier over time? Suggestions for my lazy self??

Thanks!

enyagoboom

Hi Chelsea,

So what I found for me was a couple things: walking my wake up and bed times backwards in 15 minute increments over the course of months (I'm a little more than three months in and have finally hit 545a for a wake up/9ish for bed, and am about to make the switch to 530 - goal is 5am). I tried initially to just start waking up at 5ish and it was all the suck.

I also worked out a routine to make my mornings go smoother - I have two dogs that are on various medications and a pain in the *kitten* cat, plus roommates cats - so the routine was essential. For me, that meant the coffee pot ready to go so it was either auto, or all I had to do was flick the switch to get a cuppa. All my morning clothes - workout, work - are ready to go so I don't have to think about it. I know what I'm eating for breakfast (and made it easy on myself by using the same thing over and over again - right now it's Chobani Flips) so again, I don't have to think about it. Prepping the night before made the morning successful and helped me wake up without feeling like I was in a fog. The routine, the pattern helps a ton.

Are you getting enough sleep before getting up in the morning? I think that where you are in your sleep cycle when you try to wake up makes a difference.

Again, this is just me and your mileage may vary. Can you get a shorter workout in to start while you're working on waking up? Stretching, yoga, ways to check in with your body before going all out?

finallyfitmommel

I'm an early riser as it is since I have 3 kids under 3...I forgot what sleeping in feels like years ago. However, I am 4 weeks into a 10 week program and signed up for the 5am class. I was waking up at like 5:30...now I'm up by 4:15 and out the door by 4:30. I'm still half asleep when I walk in the door but the warm up is what gets me going. They play some of the most upbeat music and have us jump it out. We jump for 30 seconds and then get right into jumping jacks or punching or kicking...get that blood flowing. That'll wake you up. I can't imagine going and doing an elliptical or lifting weights while I'm half asleep. Maybe try something like that? Get a good warm up in to get the blood flowing and to wake yourself up. Get some awesome loud music too. It helps lol

tjones0411

I get up at 4:30-4:45am to get to the gym by 5:15 most mornings. I find that once I get dressed, brush my teeth/wash my face and drive to the gym, I'm awake. I don't do any food or coffee before I work out. I don't know that it gets easier over time, but it does become a habit that you adapt to. Laying out my gym clothes the night before helps me too!

mazdauk

I'm not quite that early, but I generally get up about 5.45, have a cup of tea and then do a short HIIT workout (I like Davina's 7 to fit - lots of really effective 7 minute sections including a great abs section, but nice short warm-up - but I used to do 20-25 mins aerobics). Then quick shower, granola and make my packed lunch. I do go to bed quite early - too late and I'm good for nothing. And I don't work out the morning after my double class (45 mins each Zumba and clubbercise). As long as I get 7 1/2 hours sleep I'm OK, 6 or less and its no go.

jjpptt2

Honestly?

Quit being so dramatic. Get up, have a little caffeine, do something easy to get your HR up and your head clear, then do what you need to do. If you're not naturally a morning person, then there's no magic to it. You do it because you have/want to, or you don't.

FWIW, I'm in the same boat. I know there's no way I'll workout after work, so mornings are my only reliable option. Sometimes I do it, some times I don't. It's my daily choice.

akopesky

It gets easier over time. I'm up at 4:15am, get dressed etc. I'll have a spark or zip fizz (caffeine drink) to help wake up & out the door by 4:45am for 5am class. Bedtime is key for me too, 9:00pm or earlier. Consistency is key. I do this 3-4 times a week.

MarylandRose

I also prefer to get up and get it over with. M/W/F I'm up at 4:40 (or snooze til 5) for a 5:30 gym class, Saturday is up at 6:00 (snooze til 6:15) for a 7:05 class. I was getting up at 6-6:20 for work anyway (that's now my beloved "sleep in Tues/Thurs") so it was a change but not an earth-shattering one.
I found something I really wanted to go do (bodypump and spin classes) and just moved my alarm up one night so that I could go the next morning. I did not fix my sleep schedule, and I still struggle sometimes with getting to bed early enough. I can do this routine pretty well - I probably only sleep through the alarm once or twice a month, and odds are it'll be a Monday after a busy weekend. But I have found that I CAN.NOT. get up a fourth day per week at 4:40 for the gym. That has immediate 'sleep through alarm the next day(s)' consequences. So it's three very early mornings, one early-ish Saturday, and then one late night - class 7-8:45 pm on Tuesdays to get five gym visits in/week. It's been more than a year and so far, so good. For me it was a matter of deciding to do it, and then just doing it.
As far as the morning itself, the goal is to be up and out as quickly and as silently as possible. My fiance is still sleeping, after all - he didn't sign up for a 4:40 wakeup! I pack my gym bag the night before, have lunch ready to grab in the fridge, and lay out my gym clothes so that I can get up, hit the bathroom, get dressed, and leave without ever turning on a light. I have always been a "get up and leave the house within 15 minutes" person whether it's to go to the gym by 0530 or leave for work at 0645. I'm not much for coffee/energy drinks, so none of that for me. I'm also not hungry that early in the morning, and water goes down like an awful rock. So I get up, go, and start working water in during the workout, and that's about it. Shower, get to work, and eat at my desk 8-9/whenever hunger finally wakes up.

If you're still feeling tired, I would say to give the routine a chance to get established and also see if you can work in easier stuff like Enyagoboom suggested. Would it be worth it to you to take a week or two to get up and go to the gym and just do straightforward cardio to get your body used to getting up and doing work? That's part of why I love spin in general - I can let my mind wander while I'm working hard without being a danger to myself or others.

quiksylver296

I pack my gym bag, set up my work clothes, and pack my food the night before.

I roll out of bed at 3:45, brush my teeth, throw on my gym clothes and am at the gym by 4:30. I rarely use pre-workout, unless I am unusually crazy tired.

I am also in bed at night by 8:00 to make this happen.

natruallycurious

For me, the hardest part is getting out of bed. What I have found works for me is finding a program that I love and people to keep me accountable. I get up between 4-4:15am to get to the gym by 5 for a program that I really love at my gym. And when I'm not there, the coach and other people in the class aren't afraid to call me out on our Facebook group. I find that if I can get myself out of bed, then a good playlist on the way to the gym will wake me up.

Chelsea_LO

finallyfitmommel wrote: »

I'm an early riser as it is since I have 3 kids under 3...I forgot what sleeping in feels like years ago. However, I am 4 weeks into a 10 week program and signed up for the 5am class. I was waking up at like 5:30...now I'm up by 4:15 and out the door by 4:30. I'm still half asleep when I walk in the door but the warm up is what gets me going. They play some of the most upbeat music and have us jump it out. We jump for 30 seconds and then get right into jumping jacks or punching or kicking...get that blood flowing. That'll wake you up. I can't imagine going and doing an elliptical or lifting weights while I'm half asleep. Maybe try something like that? Get a good warm up in to get the blood flowing and to wake yourself up. Get some awesome loud music too. It helps lol

I think a workout like this will help a lot. I have been trying to do cardio and weights in an almost empty apartment gym all by my tired self. I haven't even thought about looking for an early morning class. I definitely vibe off of other people's energy. Thanks for the tip!

TavistockToad

Chelsea_LO wrote: »

Oh my god. I have been trying to adjust my sleep schedule and wake up earlier to work out in the mornings since I HATE working out after work. UGH. I need to get up at 5 (at the latest) to have a good workout before I have to start getting ready for work, but I am always SO SLEEPY. I seriously am like a freaking zombie. The like two times total I have ever actually woken up early enough to get in a workout I feel like I'm going to end up hurting myself because I'm half-asleep. HALP! Those of you who get your early AM grind on (I'm talking pre-6am), HOW DO YOU DO IT? Do you take a pre-workout? Coffee? Does the habit just make it easier over time? Suggestions for my lazy self??

Thanks!

go to bed early enough so that waking up at 5am isn't a big deal.

fitoverfortymom

I run in the early mornings...usually out of bed between 4:30 and 4:45. I lay everything out the night before so I get out of bed, go to the bathroom and pee, weigh myself, and put my running clothes on. I'm usually out the door a hair past 5 and back home around 5:45 or 6, depending on how long a run. I let the dog out to wee before I leave and do some stretches. I usually warm up with a slower first mile and then running at regular pace.

UrsAnnS

I wake up at 4:20 to be at my gym and on the floor to workout by 5am. I do this M-F. I do not give myself the option of not waking up at that time. View it like you would your job, even if you don't want to get up, you have to. I try to turn the light off by 9:30pm at the latest. I am typically pretty tired by 8:30-9pm so this is not too difficult to do. I am tired in the morning. I take a quick shower before I leave (yes before and I still shower after). The shower helps me wake up and I do take a preworkout I drink of my way to the gym. I've been doing this since mid-ish July. I still want to "just not get up early" more mornings than I roll out of bed but I force myself to do so and I do not regret it! Good luck!

Chelsea_LO

enyagoboom wrote: »

Hi Chelsea,

So what I found for me was a couple things: walking my wake up and bed times backwards in 15 minute increments over the course of months (I'm a little more than three months in and have finally hit 545a for a wake up/9ish for bed, and am about to make the switch to 530 - goal is 5am). I tried initially to just start waking up at 5ish and it was all the suck.

I also worked out a routine to make my mornings go smoother - I have two dogs that are on various medications and a pain in the *kitten* cat, plus roommates cats - so the routine was essential. For me, that meant the coffee pot ready to go so it was either auto, or all I had to do was flick the switch to get a cuppa. All my morning clothes - workout, work - are ready to go so I don't have to think about it. I know what I'm eating for breakfast (and made it easy on myself by using the same thing over and over again - right now it's Chobani Flips) so again, I don't have to think about it. Prepping the night before made the morning successful and helped me wake up without feeling like I was in a fog. The routine, the pattern helps a ton.

Are you getting enough sleep before getting up in the morning? I think that where you are in your sleep cycle when you try to wake up makes a difference.

Again, this is just me and your mileage may vary. Can you get a shorter workout in to start while you're working on waking up? Stretching, yoga, ways to check in with your body before going all out?

Yeah, we live at the level of our preparation. I am 100 on meal prep, but laying out the workout clothes the night before, having everything prepared, charged and ready is sooo helpful. Something I definitely need to be better about. I am inching my wake up time back like that as well. Consistently up before 6, half of the time around 5:30 at this point. Thanks

UrsAnnS

Oh and I do what some of the women on here have posted, I have my preworkout ready to go, my bag, my clothes are out and ready to go, everything is ready and I have my coffee pot set to have a cup of coffee ready for me when I get home from the gym so I can have it while I get ready for work. There really is no easy button, it's just the mindset you can't give yourself an out and discipline.

boehle

The last few weeks, my son and I get up at 445am, hit the gym at 510am for an hour.
I am tired but I remember I never want to let him down and want to start him on new and healthy habbits.

fitoverfortymom

I'll second that I go to bed between 9 and 9:30 most days so getting out of bed that early is even a remote possibility. I am grumpy if I get to bed past 10.

DX2JX2

It sucks for the first week or so but it will become routine pretty quickly. That said, there will be a tough wake up day every now and then (especially now that winter is coming for the northern hemisphere) but luckily the workout will shake loose any cobwebs once you motivate yourself to do it.

Also, going to be by 10PM at the latest will become really important to you. If for some reason going to bed early on a regular basis isn't in the cards for you, then you might want to reconsider the early workout hours. Regular sleep is more important.

enyagoboom

Chelsea_LO wrote: »

Yeah, we live at the level of our preparation.

I don't think I've ever heard this before, it's awesome and true!

Bry_Fitness70

I think doing it consistently will lead to more of a comfort zone. I get up at 430 to be at the gym at 500, and it is such a part of my routine that it is no big deal anymore. I am working out tomorrow morning and I'm already thinking about what I'm doing tomorrow and will pre-log my exercise, lay out my workout and work clothes, prepare my pre-workout and food, etc. As disturbing as it sounds, I actually look forward to it!

CoachJen71

Not a fan of it, but I get up at 4am to do my strength work. I spend an hour making breakfast and organizing for the day, work out, shower, and then head to school.

I am much better about getting steps in after school, as it directly affects what and how much I get to eat in the evenings. Sad motivation, I know, but there it is. LOL

cwolfman13

I ride in the AM during the summer to beat the heat. I usually get up around 5:30 and gear up and then go get a cup of coffee and hang out on my back patio for 15-20 minutes to wake up while I'm fiddling around with my Garmin and Strava...I'm usually on my bike by 6 AM...my weekday rides are typically 30-45 minutes so I'm back to the house by 6:45 at the latest...quick shower and out the door by 7:15 to get to work.

The first week or two of the summer season is a bit rough, but once I'm into the routine it's no biggie.

nowine4me

I go to bed ridiculously early, like 9, asleep by 9:30. Even on weekends. I don’t ever watch TV, so I’m not missing anything.

swebb1103

Yeah, bed no later than 10om, everything packed or laid out the night before, and a solid morning routine. My alarm is set for 5am but generally I wake up on my own around 4:30. You will find you will have more energy during the day after working out in the morning.

jaquibleu

It's not something I like t do, and there are morning I'm only half awake. Thankfully I only have to walk into another room in the house to exercise. I get up at 4:45 and when it's all done, I'm so proud of myself for getting out of bed. Set out clothes, shoes, etc. the night before. Get into bed at night a little ear, even if you stare at the ceiling to start with! Eventually your body's sleep schedule will adjust.

Sunnybrooke99

I don’t get up that early now, but I have in the past, and I’m still a first thing in the morning person. I always set out my entire outfit next to the bed, have my gym bag ready, and set things up for coffe first thing in the morning. If I had to, I’d put a little coffee pot right next to the bed. When I lived somewhere cold, I had an electric fireplace w a remote and I’d turn it on as soon as the alarm when off, an press sleep once.

DancingMoosie

Pick something fun that you will look forward to doing. Get into a routine. I started out doing only 20 min easy workouts, then 30 min, and just increased over time to 40min- 1 hr. I usually get up at 5:15 but will adjust if need be. I workout at home, in my underwear and a sport bra, the main thing I have to do is get my hair secured. You will get used to it.