5 am workout people

skill133

Keep in mind to listen to your body. Waking is neurologically and physiologically a very stressful task on the body. So for some that early AM work out wakes the body up, for others it's more detrimental than anything. If you naturally have heart problems, then any physician would not recommended that added stress. Also, if waking up early impacts your natural sleep cycle, then in fact it is more bad than good in the long run.

With all the personal blogs out there, I try to base my research on published journals for validity and reliability. Attached are a couple for reference. If you need a translation into lay term for anything let me know!

Again it comes down to personal preference. good luck!

http://jap.physiology.org/content/91/1/91
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/nur.4770080310/abstract
http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/19461550

whoa didn't even thing about any of that! thanks.

smelanie504

Sleep in your workout clothes!

AmyRhubarb

I have a 4:45 alarm, and I'm in my living room working out by 5:00. It's habit now - rough start, but as others suggested, laying out clothes the night before, workout set up or planned (gym bag ready if you go to the gym) and you just go. The hardest part is just putting the gear on and getting started - once I'm working, tiredness falls away and I feel great.

Earlier bedtimes will follow as you adjust to the earlier wake up time. I also love the feeling of accomplishment for having it done early, and it's way better than the feeling of regret at the end of the day if I didn't get it done.

sarahcakez

I'm up by 4:30 to wake up, hydrate and brush my teeth so I can make it to the gym by 5:30 (this leaves time to mix & drink pre-workout, or whatever). I can't stress how much having a workout buddy (even someone you don't like) helps! Having that extra accountability pushes you to get up even if you don't want to- because some days, you sure won't. If you don't have one, it is just making it a routine that is the hardest. After the first week, Monday is difficult but by Tuesday, you'll be looking forward to it! I love the way it jump starts my day! The gym is less crowded, and I get to think about all the things I can do when I am off work, knowing I put in the time and energy earlier.. I find that working out in the evening releases too much happy hormones so I get my second wind & just lie in bed waiting to be tired! It's tough at first, but I prefer it now!
I've got to be honest about working out at home, though- I just won't. That's something I've got to work on but going somewhere (outside for a run, even) is what works for me.

donnylou

I usually do a 5am workout 1-2 times a week, doing lunch workouts on other days.

-I love the semi-empty gym in the morning – the people that are there are serious and courteous, which is nice, as there are no half-assers up at 5am working out.
-I get everything set up the night before, so I just get up, dressed, and walk out the door without thinking about it.
-I also drink more water the night before and throughout the night (if I wake up).
-I eat a small breakfast of oatmeal and a protein bar so my stomach isn't growling!
-I have found that my days are generally more pleasant after I've had a morning workout, despite the little bit of sleep deprivation.

thanks great tips!! I'll try drinking more water at night and definitely have to set out some workout clothes. I'm going try eating after at least at this point as my workouts aren't too serious right now.

THIS ^^^
I prep everything the night before too and literally just load my lunch into my bag, slip on my clothes and out I go. I have a cup of coffee and a banana before working out and then hard boiled eggs or pb on toast after for breakfast.
So easy when it's all ready and you don't have to think too hard If you don't give yourself too much time to think, you'll be out the door and working out before you can talk yourself out of it!

Good Luck!

bonjolie1971

I've forced myself to go at 5:00am. It's really the only time I have to go. The gym isn't crowded, and it's generally a more mellow bunch of people. I find that it does wake me up, and gives me energy for my day. The hard part is just getting up AND getting out the door.

ery0007

I wake up between 0500-0530 in order to exercise before work. I find that if I get everything ready the night before (lunch, gym bag, work clothes) everything goes (relatively) smooth. I am awake and energized afterwards, it beats a latte every time.

skippygirlsmom

I get up at 5:00 to run. The biggest thing for me is having everything ready and in one place, shoes, socks, clothes, watch, iPod, knee brace and flashing light armband all next to each other. This way I'm not fiddling around looking for things. I give myself one snooze and then get up, brush my teeth and out the door before my body realizes it's moving.

funfang

I usually wake up around 4~5am, my gym doesn't open until 5:30am or I would love to be there at 5am. I have been doing this for 3 month and I love it! The gym is less crowded and I can focus better. When I get off the gym, I feel refreshed and ready for my day! It will be hard the first few days/weeks, but once you get it into a habit, it's easy :-) Good luck!

lynn1982

I'm up every morning Mon-Fri at 5am. It took me about 6 months for it to become habit. Now after a year of it, I don't even think about it anymore. Just do it!

skill133

I have sent some FR out to some of you but gotta get working, and if anyone else would like to add me send a FR. I would love to have some friends on here that are early risers to help motivate me and each other. I love all the suggestions, so keep them coming. I have to give huge shout out to those of you that get to the gym that early. That's amazing! I dont' think I could manage to geet out of my house and drive somewhere that early if I just struggle to go down the stairs and workout! I do like the idea of getting outside for a run or jog though and could see doing that.

ggeise14

Up at 5:15 and get my workout in at the start of my day too! I workout at home so either a dvd in the downstairs or walk/jog outside depending on which day it is. Added benefit is in the cooler months my body is warmed up from the workout and I don't need to turn the shower water temp high. I also take a thyroid pill when I wake up while getting my coffee set up to turn on before I hit the shower. By the time my workout and shower is done an hour+ is gone and I am ready for coffee!

BeginningNoStop

On the days I finally work out I get up at 430 am and i'm at the gym by 5. I do better when I go early. I hate going in the evenings because I don't make it in the evening. When I go in the morning I have no excuses.

drich1989

Wow you guys are awesome! You all are inspiring me. Getting up before I "have" to has seemed impossible but I'm giving it a shot tomorrow. I often plan evening workouts only to get home and not have the energy. I'm excited to get this going, thanks to you all!

amcook4

I'm not a morning person, and I've somehow managed to become accustomed to early morning workouts. The first few times were pure hell, my head was thinking "It is 5 AM, why in the hell is your alarm going off you crazy woman!"

What I've found works best for me is to have everything ready the night before, workout clothes laid out, water bottle in the fridge, work/professional clothes ready, etc. It also helped that I schedule my personal trainer sessions for early mornings, because if I'm paying $1/hr you bet your tush that I will be on time for it! (I'm a thrifty person) I think the worst part about getting into this habit was making myself go to bed earlier. Probably not the best idea, but I took over the counter sleep aid for a week or so in order to actually get to sleep hours before I'm used too. Having a full night sleep makes waking up easier, so I was going to bed at 9, when I was used to going at 11.

After a couple of weeks it gets a lot better, then eventually it becomes habit. Even with that said, I'm still not a morning person, I just make myself be one for the sake of my sanity since I never seemed to have time for anything when working out after work.

ttknowles01

I get it in at 5 AM on weekdays and 6 AM on the weekends. It's just easier for me. I tried working out in the evening and almost died lol. You get used to it :-)

AquaticQuests

I've never been a morning person, but this year picked up the habit of getting up at 4:45 to be at the gym/pool by 5:15 ish!
Due to the distance to where I go and traffic jams, it was the only realistic time, and it works perfectly!
I get my exercise in, log it, and have the rest of the day ahead of me to deal with all the other stuff, and allowance on the calorie side of things too!
What's not to love?

tracie999

04.50 up, drive into DC and in the gym at work for 06.00. Its great having a gym at work as not far to crawl to my desk. i'm then mad enogh to go again at 15.30.

mank32

I miss springing out of bed at 5:00, before the alarm, fully rested and looking forward to my morning run, starting the day with exercise, and feeling amazing all day for it. :sad: I was in the habit for a while and got out of it. it's hard to establish that kind of routine during the cold, dark months in the frozen north. :grumble:

JoRocka

once a week I get up early to lift at this point- or I try- I normally will go Wed afternoon/evening- but it cuts into BF time- so I've been doing my best to get my workouts in Wed morning- it sucks- esp since it's only once a week- and Mon/Tues are my SUPER late nights.

BUT- having a real reason to get up is helpful. Even more helpful is laying out EVERYTHING- bag is packed- food is prepped coffee is ready to go- it makes it so easy to just get up- put the shoes on and stumble out the door. If you have to think about anything- odds are you'll be back in bed " not bothering with it"

amessam8

Alarm goes off at 4:15am and I am usually out the door by 4:50am. In the gym by 5am for 45-50min workout. The best thing to do is to mentally prepare yourself and accept the fact that you're going to get up that early. Then, make sure you layout everything the night before. I go straight to work from the gym, so I have to make sure that clothes are ironed, lunch is prepared and gym clothes are lined up the night before.

Bottom line: preparation is the key.

Aine8046

I am not a morning person at all. I was lucky to have a flexible schedule most of my life and was waking up between 8 and 9am. About a year ago I changed my job and now have to wake up at 6:30. It was terrible for the first month or two, but I got used to it.

Recently I was thinking about moving my runs to early morning, but always doubted I could do it. Reading you guys I feel terrified ????, but at the sametime I think one can get used to everything. Hmm, something to think about....

nineteentwenty

5:15 reporting in! I get up at 5:15 so I can get to the gym at 6. My gym is only like 5 minutes away, but I move SLOW in the morning, so I make sure and get up early enough so that I can still be a slug. It also helps me to pack EVERYTHING the night before. My gym stuff, my shower stuff, my office clothing, and my lunch. Done. So that all I need to do is pull on a sports bra and shoes before heading out to the car.

GorillaNJ

Once you get into the groove of it, things get easier. BUT when you get out of that groove it is really hard to start back up!

I had been doing 4:45 runs or lifting sessions for a couple of months, but I had my schedule change up a bit and I did not need to get those early workouts in. Now my schedule is getting back to normal and I am finding myself hitting the snooze too much. Need to get back into the swing of things.

Also... getting to bed early makes a world of difference

bookworm_847

I started out just making myself do it, but now it's pretty much part of my daily routine. When I get ready to go to sleep, having everything ready and knowing what I'm doing the following morning really helps.

MostlyWater

I get up at 5. I wish I could get up earlier on some mornings !!!!

medlaura

I'm new to this waking up early to workout thing. I wake up at 5:30 a.m. to get ready and leave the house at 5:50 a.m. I am usually excited to get up early to run so i have no problem getting up.

Some tips i have would be: Find a workout buddy that is as determined as you to want to workout and motivate each other. Sleep with all your workout clothes ready so the next day all you do is get up and put everything on (or sleep with your workout clothes on).

But there are those days where i feel so lazy and cozy and think to myself "egh the workout can wait for tomorrow". lol:drinker:

TravelinChiGal

I'm up at 4:15/4:30 in order for my brain to wake up enough to tell my body to move. I usually start my workouts around 5am! The first few workouts were tough getting into the routine, but I gotta tell ya… Feel fantastic the rest of the day and make better choices when I do workout first! I have my morning accountability MFP friends that keep me in check, too!

lolabluola

4AM workout! Alarm is set for 3:50Am I could do 5AM but i like sitting around for a bit before i have to go to work So many less excuses to make early in the morning!

jrline

I felt great back when I was doing that back the beginning of the year. Unfortunately when school got out for summer I got lazy since I didn't have to get the kids ready.