How to get up early to exercise
Eagles8080
Posts: 200 Member
I want to wake up at 5 am and hit treadmill for walk but I just never feel motivated. What are the benefits of getting up early to exercise. How can I get motivated
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That's why I exercise after work.4
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I get up at 4:15 am just to shower. I just had to tell myself, I'm doing this. You need this. Just think of how great your day will start off when your workout is already done!3
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its discipline not happiness that gets me to the gym first thing in am for my morning power walk/work out. the benefit - its done and I don't ever have to think about it throughout my day.3
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I get up at 2:30 am. I set 3 alarms.8
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You don't rely on motivation to get up on time to go to work. It's just part of your schedule. Make this your schedule. Set your alarm, have clothes ready to go, have your day planned around doing it early. Make it as hard as possible to come up with a reasonable excuse.
But if you don't actually want to or you genuinely can't see yourself making it a habit then don't bother? There's no benefit to exercising early compared to any other time.13 -
I wake up at 5am so I can lift and do cardio before work. It took some time getting used to the early am sessions. Go to bed early, and have a consistent bed time. I go to bed no later than 9:30. I’ve been going in the morning for about 6 years now. I don’t have the energy or motivation after work.6
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I wake up at 5am so I can lift and do cardio before work. It took some time getting used to the early am sessions. Go to bed early, and have a consistent bed time. I go to bed no later than 9:30. I’ve been going in the morning for about 6 years now. I don’t have the energy or motivation after work.
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Why do you want to do this at 5am? Isn’t that your motivation?4
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firstly, you don't have to do it in the morning if you have another time that you can commit to consistently
secondly, commitment and habit. i would often where my running clothes to bed so all i had to do was put on my shoes. my dogs also got in the habit. sometimes, i would literally roll out of bed. literally.
once i got the hang of it though, it wasn't bad. just part of my daily routine2 -
What other have said: Don't count on "inspiration" or "motivation" on things you just make "gotta do".
However, it doesn't hurt to remind yourself WHY you're making this change. (I like a Post-It on the bathroom mirror). Write it down and refer to it daily.
For instance:
*When I get my workout started at 5, I'm more likely to achieve my goal of....
*The early Zumba class is the one with the fun people in it.
*Doing my workout at 5 means more time doing X in afternoon.
And don't forget to reward yourself. No reason you can't get a "good job" for something you HAVE TO do.
But also, it's OK to consider contingency plans if the 5 am workout doesn't work out in my book. It's about getting the job done whatever works for you. Some people work out at 11 pm and that's not for me either. (Well maybe a relaxing yoga workout...)
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There are no benefits if you hate it. I don't mind getting up early and I tried 6 am swimming but I was always so hungry (I wasn't going to get up at 4:30 so I could eat), I hated it, whereas I look forward to my afternoon swim. The truth is, most people are at their lowest energy first thing in the morning and there is no special benefit from a physiological point of view. I'd rather go to work early, exercise some other time and actually enjoy it.4
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I always think that some people are at their best in the morning, and some late in the day. I have always been a morning person. I'm at my best early and can get a million things done. In the evening I'm dragging my tail. My husband is just the opposite--of course. So, know yourself and work in your exercise when you're at your most active. Exercise has to fit into your lifestyle if you want to keep it up longterm.1
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Eagles8080 wrote: »I want to wake up at 5 am and hit treadmill for walk (But there is your motivation. YOU WANT TO DO IT) but I just never feel motivated. (Then I guess you don't really want to do it) What are the benefits of getting up early to exercise. (You get your exercise out of the way for the rest of the day)How can I get motivated (Why do you have to get "motivated" to do something you want to do?)
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For about the past three years, I've consistently gotten up every weekday morning at 5am to get in my workout before work. I run 3 miles on the treadmill three days a week and the other two I strength train.
At first it was really hard, but I treated it like a doctor's appointment -- it's not something I could just blow off or skip. I set an alarm with no snooze option and I scheduled every workout on my calendar. The first week was hard, but now my body just normally gets up at 5am.
And I find on those rare occasions I do skip my 5am workout, I have less energy, I don't make the best food choices, and I just feel ...blah. For me, it helped me take off 60 pounds and keep it off. I also like that it gives me some "me time" before I have to go to work and just do normal life stuff. And I personally feel it gets my metabolism going, which helped me lose weight and keep it off.
If you really want to start working out at 5am, I urge you to do it and stick with it for at least two weeks before you decide if it's not for you or not. That's how long it took me to create the habit, and once formed, it's just part of my everyday routine now.3 -
get up?
well, I do hit the snooze button 3 or 4 times
..... then I train in the afternoon or evening.6 -
Loaded question. It completely depends on your situation what motivates you or not to get up early. Some mornings I simply need more sleep. Some mornings I'm rearing to go early. I try to get up a little before 5:30 and go running in my neighborhood before my hubby and babies wake. My motivation is not only to keep my same size jeans but it is the only time of day that is "me" time. I get to run, clear my head, and push myself forward in ways that I don't do any other time of day.
I don't think waking up early is any different than working out after work. You either do it or you don't. No one can motivate you but you. You've just got to hone in on the one reason it is beneficial to you and go with it.
It personally makes me feel good to know it is done and I can continue with my day as planned and my calories are already burned and still burning.1 -
I change my workout times around based on whatever happens to be going on in my life and also based on the gym's group exercise schedule.
When I'm doing morning workouts I find it helps to go to sleep in clothes that are appropriate to exercise in and I also put my phone/alarm in a spot that requires me getting up out of bed to turn off the alarm. For me, getting up out of bed is half the battle. I'm also finding morning workouts a little easier right now since DH's work schedule changed so that he gets up early too. Not seeing someone else sleeping and cozy makes it easier for me to get up. I do find I am in a better mood and get more done on days that I workout early.
That said, if working out in the afternoon or late at night is convenient for you and more likely that you'll do it, then that's fine too.1 -
I always ask myself if any behavior is sustainable. For me, I refuse to get up early EVERY day to work out. I will however get up extra early SOME days. I know that my Tuesdays and Thursdays are days that life will interfere with after work exercise. So on those days I get up at 5:00 AM and go run in the dark. I can live with two days a week because fitness is important to me. I have rest days on Monday and Friday, so I only need to exercise after work on Wednesdays. I can do that... Weekends I exercise whenever it fits into my day.1
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Wake up, drink some coffee, work out, and then it's done! Yay! You'll feel soooo good once it's done. And think how good you'll feel each day, starting out with a feeling of accomplishment. You'll love yourself for it, even though every now and then it may feel like crap while doing it--but it gets better and you'll feel better, more stronger and amazing!1
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sometimes, i would literally roll out of bed. literally.
once i got the hang of it though, it wasn't bad. just part of my daily routine
LOL I'm glad I'm not the only one that has had to do this
Motivation is a fickle thing therefore I don't rely on it. Its my persistence and determination that gets me going. Plus I look at it as me time, to work on achieving a better version of myself 
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I'm able to get out of bed in the morning because I know the other options are either exercising after work (which I don't like, because I prefer to spend that time with my husband) or not exercising at all. I won't accept either of those two options, so getting up isn't a problem.
Once you connect with *why* you want to get up early to exercise, it should be easier to do so. That you're asking what the benefits are shows that you don't really know *why* you want to get up early to exercise so spend some time thinking about your personal motivation.
Once that's done, remove the obstacles. Make sure you get to bed early enough to make a 5 AM wake-up time sustainable. If it helps, lay out everything you need the night before.3 -
My workout time varies through the week depending on my work/play/etc schedule. I find it much easier if it's built into the routine - i.e., the gym is literally on my way when I'm walking to class or work, so it gets put before or after. On other days, I fit it in where it makes the most sense.
The point being that, for me, I try to remove as many obstacles as possible and just make it a normal part of the day. I would find it hard to wake up early simply to exercise unless it was the best fit for that day.0 -
I get up early to do a workout video and it helps me wake up and feel ready for the day. I plan after work exercise as well, but things happen during the day that can derail plans. I do it for fitness, strength, stress release, weight management. Setting a routine really helps. My weekday alarm is 5:15-5:25 and bedtime is lights out at 9:15(this is a new goal I just set a month ago and it's working!!!) Once you set the routine it becomes a part of your day, just like a shower and coffee.0
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Do you need to workout in the morning? Like is that the only time it fits your schedule?
I’m not a 5AM kind of a girl. I workout after work.2 -
Do you have music to listen to or a tv to watch while walking on the treadmill?0
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Is the treadmill at home or at the gym? Why are you comsidering this as an option - that would be your motivation right there.
I’ve started doing leg days at 6:30 am. This means my alarm goes off at 5:30 - i pack my lunch the night before, wear my gym clothes TO the gym so I don’t have to change wen I get there. I am not a morning person. I don’t do this every day.
The benefit? The gym is nearly empty at that time. I don’t have to elbow my way to the squat rack. The latter point alone makes the early day worth it. Empty gym means I can get through my workout quicker - I don’t have to wait for anyone else who might be using the weights and/or machines I want.
Figure out your reason. Is it worth it?0 -
I've been at this for more than 30 years (starting in my 20s) and I know my abilities and preferences pretty well. To step back, we want to maximize the efficiency of our DAY, in every way: Making it enjoyable and fruitful. Setting our own goals and metrics and being happy with the result.
The movie "Groundhog Day" makes the point that you get a large number of do-overs in life: if you failed yesterday, try again today. If you think that exercising at 5:30AM would improve your life ever-so-much, then try it-- even once-- to see if this is true. If you hate it, never do it again.
So, how do you try it: You pick a day-- why not a weekend?-- to be your first day. You visualize the night before. You lay out exactly what you are going to wear, what you will eat or drink, everything. You give yourself a pep-talk in front of the mirror. Most importantly, you imagine yourself getting up in the morning, going through your routine, and getting started without any diversions. No snoozing the alarm, staring at your phone, nothing.
Then, on the chosen morning, you do it. If it is a weekend, you can come back home and take a nap, if you want. Doesn't matter, you still did it!5 -
Eagles8080 wrote: »I want to wake up at 5 am and hit treadmill for walk but I just never feel motivated. What are the benefits of getting up early to exercise. How can I get motivated
• The memory of the over-packed hell that is the gym in the after-work time slot is my motivation. (I wouldn't weight train in the morning otherwise).
• Make sure absolutely everything is ready to go the night before (gym clothes laid out, work clothes in bag, breakfast & lunch ready to grab, etc)1 -
Eagles8080 wrote: »I want to wake up at 5 am and hit treadmill for walk but I just never feel motivated. What are the benefits of getting up early to exercise. How can I get motivated
There aren't any inherent benefits other than it's out of the way for the day. The only time I do early morning workouts is in the summer...I usually have 2 road rides during the week and it's too hot when I get home from work. I do my Saturday and Sunday rides mid mornings usually. I'm currently doing the weight room on my lunch break a couple days per week.
The best time to workout is when you'll actually do it.0 -
If you were to list everything that you do in a given weekday, from exercise to work to school to household chores to parenting tasks or whatever other responsibilities you have, how much of that entails being motivated? In my life, pretty much none of it. We recognize that something is important to us, make it a priority, and then find a way to do in as often as necessary.
Exercise is seen to require motivation because it is discretionary (unlike parenting and working) - you can stop exercising today and there are really no consequences to those around you, and self-accountability is usually the least influential variety of accountability. So I would take that feeling of motivation that you have on the onset to exercise and find a way to make it a habit as quickly as humanly possible. Invest in a gym membership, gear, fitness trackers, buy a bike, join a running club, sign up for a race, sign up for fitness classes, etc., anything that can compel you to do it ("I just bought this treadmill/ bike / joined this gym for a lot of money, I need to use it!" "I have this 5k in April, I better get moving!", etc.)7
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