Trying to be a Morning-Exerciser

CiaoMama

I have a plan (beginning tomorrow morning) to exercise *before* work (about 6am) instead of after. My problem is that I have a hard enough time getting out of bed just to get to work, let alone any earlier. In my half-asleep state I almost always hit the snooze (usually without any memory of doing so!)

SO

Are you a morning person? Is it easy for you to pop out of bed in the a.m.? Can you share any tips on how to do so?

Have you had success transitioning from night owl to early bird? What helped you make the change?

Thanks!

BigT555

best advice i can give is lose the snooze button, it only makes you want to procrastinate getting out of bed more and more. if you have to, put your alarm clock far enough from your bed that you are forced to get out to shut it off

jemhh

I set out my clothes the night before. I use my laptop to write notes about my workout so I try to set that up the night before in my workout space as well. You'll want to get up 15-20 minutes before your workout is going to start, just to give you time to go to the bathroom, dress, stand there thinking "am I really going to do this?", drink some water, etc. I won't lie. It's hard the first several days but it does get easier. I am a morning person and it took me about a week to be able to hear the alarm at 5:15 and think "let's go!" instead of "can't I sleep a bit longer?" If you aren't a morning person it'll take a bit longer but being able to finish your workout early and then go on with your day knowing you've already achieved something gives you a little boost.

shadowofender

I am not a morning person at all. For example, I work at 830am...which means I leave my house at 8am...therefore I wake up at about 750am. No lie.
For a while I thought I had to wake up early to get a work out in first or I couldn't also have a social life. I was "so busy"...and then I realized, forcing myself to wake up was making me miserable. I stopped doing that. I work out either on my lunch hour (I'm lucky in where I work) or after work. I don't do much socially on weeknights but that's ok, my health is more important. I feel much better, more alert, etc. after I gave up trying to make myself a morning person.

WalkingAlong

Tell yourself tomorrow you just have to do it once, as a test. Then do it. Then afterward, take note of how good it feels to have it done and out of the way and how your whole day is better after starting it off that way. Then weigh that feeling against how hard it was to not snooze.

Not that I've ever had success with it long-term but when I do, I think it does improve my day. And morning exercisers are (on average) more consistent because they get it done before life can get in the way or before we find ways to procrastinate it.

Leadfoot_Lewis

Never been a morning workout person. The only way it works for me is to get up, eat, wait an hour, then workout, which is kind of defeating the purpose.

Try it and see how it works. The suggestion to get clothes out the night before to be ready to go in the AM is a good one.

akaiookami

I am not a morning person by nature, but for several months now I have been getting up at 5:30am m-f to workout for 90 minutes. I prepare EVERYTHING in advance the night before. Truly EVERYTHING: I set out my weights/yoga mats, have my clothes sitting out, water ready, and even my clothes and food for after the shower. I get out of bed, stumble downstairs, get dressed, and start the workout. If I don't have everything ready, I tend to think I won't have enough time or that its too much work (silly I know) and I will pass on it. The first week was rough, the second wasn't bad, and now its pretty easy to roll out of bed and start the workout.

micheleb15

I am not a morning person at 5am, probably around 8am, but not 5, and it's not easy to get out of bed. It's just routine. I'm still half asleep and grumpy riding the elevator to walk to the gym, but when I start my warm-up and music, I'm good to go. It's not something I love, but my job is unpredictable and I can't guarantee an evening workout. If it's a priority, you will make it work.

My shoes, clothes, headsets and water are all ready on the kitchen counter, so I just brush my teeth and go. There's no time to talk yourself out of it. Don't hit snooze, just get up.

ameliad87

I am SOOO not a morning person. But I've been waking up early to work out the past 3 weeks, and it's so nice. Tips:

1. Definitely set clothes, water, food up the night before. Those extra few minutes at night will save you in the morning. I don't know about you, but when I first wake up, I move really slow, so everything takes a lot longer as my brain wakes up. So what takes 2 minutes to gather everything at night turns into 10 in the morning if I don't plan ahead.

2. Eat SOMETHING before you start working out. I just have a Quest bar and some water, but for me (this isn't true for everyone), I have horrible workouts when I don't eat something. And if I keep having horrible workouts, why would I keep getting up early to workout?

3. I got this app for my phone called Sleep Cycle. It costs about $3 I think, but it wakes you up at the best time in your sleep cycle. So I have mine set to wake me up sometimes between 5:20 and 5:40 AM. Waking up at the lightest part of my sleep, plus waking up to a soothing alarm, makes is SO much easier for me to wake up. I actually woke up this morning (kind of) to turn in my sleep, and right then is when my alarm went off. I wake up so much happier now. It's so silly, but for people that sleep super deep, having to pull yourself out of your sleep to a super annoying alarm at your deepest part of the sleep cycle = horrible. This app made it so I didn't have to.

Sam_I_Am77

You need to get to bed at a reasonable hour, so that might mean missing the Late Show or anything else one might stay-up late for. If it's important enough to you, you'll get out of bed; if it's not then you won't. There's no excuses for not getting out of bed, other than it just shows how much one is or is not committed to what they want to accomplish. It may sound mean, but it is really that simple.

kimberly_l_adams

I am definately a morning person. I have tried working out after work and I can never committ to it, once the work day is over I just want to go home, spend time with my family and relax. I recently switched back to the am this past month and it has been working out great for me. I wake up 4:45 ( grant it I'm dragging) hit the gym for a good 45 mins (after 5 minutes or before I am in my zone and fully awake) then gohome to do a routine at home for about 30 minutes take my shower and I am good to go. I eat and drink after my workout. If I eat before I will make an excuse not to go and my tummy hurts. I'm refreshed for the rest of the day. Now when I get up in the morning its like second nature!

ThatMouse

I've been working out before work for the past 2 months. I'm up and out of bed at 6AM and in the gym by 7:15, then done at at work for 8:30.

For me, the difference has been sleeping as close to 10PM as I can and packing my bag and lunch the night before. I don't have to worry about finding an outfit to wear to work or finding my sports bra - it's all right at the foot of my bed and ready to go. I also pre-fill my water bottle and get everything else ready.

Now, I find it hard to NOT wake up and get in the gym. I've had to talk myself out of it a few times last week when I pulled really late nights and had to sleep in to get all the rest I needed. Then I hit the gym at lunch.

For me, I know that if I don't go before work or at lunch, I'm going to be "too tired" to work out after work. Or I'll have to sacrifice scarce time with my boyfriend or my other activities if I don't get it done before work. I don't want to do that, so I have to work out in the morning.

Plus - think about it. At 8AM, before you even walk into work, you'll have accomplished a great workout and set yourself up for a fantastic day. Is it really worth staying up late and being groggy all day to sacrifice that?

acampbe2umd

I have 3 kids and a husband who also works out before work, so I have to go at 4. Like others, I plan the night before what I'm going to do and have my gym things ready. I totally drag some mornings, but others I wake up before my alarm. It will take a few weeks to get used to it, but I promise you will get used to it. Now if it's not the first thing that I do in the morning, I never get around to it later in the day. Too much going on after work with the kids and their sports and daycare pick ups and the occasional social life. I'm one of those that can't eat before my workout though. Also, I'm fortunate enough to live 1/2 mile from the gym, so I don't need to deal with packing my work clothes and items for the shower. I come home post workout and then I get ready for work. If you have this flexibility, it will be much easier.

__Bad_Leroy

Would agree with most of what's above and would add that my trick is sleeping with a nightlihgt. I takes a little getting used to but I find it makes it much easier to get up if the room is not completely dark when the alarm goes off.

willrun4bagels

Do you workout at home or at the gym? If at the gym - do you know anyone else that goes there? I workout at 5am 3x a week with one of my MFP friends. We don't workout together and aren't near eachother once we get to the gym, but it helps to have someone to text you at 4:45am to make sure your butt is out of bed

The first week was rough, now I look forward to my early morning workouts. The gym is empty.

thavoice

I have a plan (beginning tomorrow morning) to exercise *before* work (about 6am) instead of after. My problem is that I have a hard enough time getting out of bed just to get to work, let alone any earlier. In my half-asleep state I almost always hit the snooze (usually without any memory of doing so!)

SO

Are you a morning person? Is it easy for you to pop out of bed in the a.m.? Can you share any tips on how to do so?

Have you had success transitioning from night owl to early bird? What helped you make the change?

Thanks!

First couple times are the hardest. There really is no trick to it other than just getting up when the alarm goes off. Some say go to bet earlier but that is hard to do once you already have your schedule.

After you do it for awhile though you do turn in a bit earlier and your body adjusts.

LOVE AM workouts....you get it done and over with and you feel like you got something accomplished.

AND>>.>>>>>it sets you up for a double workout if you do one in the PM as well!

AllOutof_Bubblegum

NOT a morning person. I could sleep til 11am easy, every day if life let me.

I cheat, by slugging down some Red Bull, Rock Star, 5 Hr Energy, or a preworkout mix or pill, then hitting snooze. By the time the snooze alarm goes off, the caffeine has kicked in and I'm ready to kill a 5am workout. :drinker:

sfbaumgarten

I'm definitely not a morning person, but I know I'm less likely to exercise after work. I just force myself to get up and get it done. It's gotten easier with time, but I don't think I'll ever enjoy getting up hours before I'm being paid to be awake and productive.

canary_girl

I generally view myself as a night owl, but I LOVE to workout first thing in the morning. I get up at 4, get to gym by 4:45. I do a quick run, a 5:15 cycle class, and weights (mon, wed, & fri), and back home by 6:45. I can shower and get a few things done before my girls even wake up. I love that I am done with my workout before most people are even waking. It makes me feel powerful.

rsclause

I have gotten use to it. I love to be out there by myself and watch the city start to wake up. Up at 4:30 and run or run to the gym on gym days. If it doesn't happen in the morning it just ain't gonna happen that day.

contingencyplan

If you do well working out in the evening, why switch? You found something that works. Stick with it.

shireeniebeanie

Ugh--I have the same problem.
Step 1 is to sleep in my workout clothes.
I'm still working on step 2: no more snooze and no checking MFP for distractions!

mccindy72

I have a plan (beginning tomorrow morning) to exercise *before* work (about 6am) instead of after. My problem is that I have a hard enough time getting out of bed just to get to work, let alone any earlier. In my half-asleep state I almost always hit the snooze (usually without any memory of doing so!)

SO

Are you a morning person? Is it easy for you to pop out of bed in the a.m.? Can you share any tips on how to do so?

Have you had success transitioning from night owl to early bird? What helped you make the change?

Thanks!

Morning is my favorite time to work out. Getting up and doing it, it's done and you have the rest of the day knowing it's done! I get up a bit earlier and do it. Every person has their preference but I get up, eat breakfast and then workout. That way I've gotten up and woken up a bit to get going.

maz504

I am all for doing whatever works for you, but if you find that morning workouts aren't your thing... I think that's ok. I am NOT a morning person at all, and I have forced myself to get up and workout before work before, and a few things happen: 1) I don't feel like I give my workout my all because I'm still sleepy; 2) It does energize me for a little while, but it seems like I always crash mid-day when I work out in the morning, and I mean CRASH hard; and 3) I always feel hungrier when I work out in the morning.

Like I said, a lot of people do it and love it, but if it turns out that it's not working out for you, don't beat yourself up. If you want it bad enough, you can work in time to exercise in the rest of your day! At least that's what worked for me.

ETA: Just to clarify, working out before work for me means being at the gym at 5 a.m. If your schedule is different and you can push it later to like 6:30 or 7, that might be easier to work with, especially when the days are long like they are now and the sun is at least starting to come up around that time.

xtasa25

I actually just got a new job that has me work shifts such as 9-6, 10-7, 11-8. So I'm usually too tired from standing all day to go to the gym afterwards. I've started getting up early and going to the gym. I thought it would be impossible since I'm really not a morning person, but honestly I just pushed through, got up, drove to the gym with my eyes barely open, and did it. Once you're at the gym you're good to go. Just stick with it and don't allow yourself to sleep past your alarm.

I try to wake up around 6 or 7 so I have solid time to spend at the gym. I head home, shower, and get ready for work. It honestly does make you feel a lot better during the day.

I think the main thing you have to strive for is motivation. If you're motivated, you'll get up. It's going to suck, you're gonna want to sleep in, but you can do it.

ddkphotos

get everything organized the night before - lay out what you'll wear - what you need to bring.
get to bed earlier! I know it takes a while to get used to - but trust me - if you are exercising on 4 hours of sleep it will suck more!
eat a little something before you go - and don't forget your water.
let us know how it goes!

craftergin

When I was younger, I used to LOVE to work out after work. Get all that tension out of the body. But once I got into my mid-40's, I just couldn't do it anymore. I was exhausted after work. Since I am a natural morning person (love those sunrises!), I tried doing my workout before getting ready for work. OMG! What a difference! I am filled with pep the rest of the day! I get up at 5, brush my teeth, throw on my exercise togs and do a 40 minute workout. Then I get ready and walk the mile to work.
I think - try different times of the day to see if you like it better. But don't try to fight your natural tendencies.

SRDB00

I know that I am not going to work out after work.. Tried convincing myself that I would and failed miserably at it.. I lay in the and debate about getting up in the morning then reality kicks in. This is a must for me so I just do it. I commited to four days in the gym, I lay my workout clothes out the night before and put my keys, ipod, and water bottle in one place so I don't make excuses.

ChrisUK70

I go to gym before work, I rock up at 6:30 when the gym opens.

The only tip I have is 'just go' does not mater how tired you feel, when I am half awake and tired and that is most mornings I push myself to go.

Once there I wake up and feel a hell of a lot better afterwards awake and full of energy.

Goof luck!

ElliottTN

I'm not a morning person but try to do as many mornings as possible. To better my chances of it happening I set my alarm clock across the room so I have to physically get up and walk to it. It still sucks once I turn it off but second step is to wash my face and brush my teeth. This usually wakes me up just enough to have the will to wake up the rest of the way and go. I hate/love working out in the morning. I hate getting up to go do it but morning workouts get those endorphines flowing early and I end up in a better mood and overall more productive when I can make it happen.

_lyndseybrooke_

I used to refuse to get up early to work out, but now I'm up at 5AM Monday-Friday without fail to get my workout in. I wouldn't say I'm a "morning person." At first, the motivation was that I would not have to do it after work, which I consider a huge pain in my butt. That was enough for awhile and, when I started to get lazy, I just took on the Nike mentality - "Just do it." I didn't think about it or ponder getting in a few minutes of sleep. When that alarm goes off, my butt is off that bed and into the bathroom to change into my workout clothes and throw my hair up. I lift at home, so I don't have to trek to the gym or anything, which is preferable for me. Now it's a habit, and something I look forward to. I usually wake up before the alarm goes off these days. Working out in the morning gets my day off right and it's such a relief to do it early and not worry about doing it at 8PM after dinner. When I get home, I want to cook, eat, and relax with my husband and dog, or maybe take a little evening walk, and then hit the sack by 9.

People I know think I'm absolutely nuts for getting up at 5 to work out, though.