Early birds and morning workouts...need advice!

Cordy_in_CT

After a while you'll adjust to it. When you get to that point, you won't feel right if you don't get your morning burn in!

Yes!!! Agreed!!!! I have been doing it for about 4 months now, and when I miss a day, I don't feel as good, and I feel a little "off" all day. It has gotten easier, and just part of my routine now. My husband gets up for work at that time (4:40 a.m.:yawn: ) so I feel like if he can do it, so can I. Also - when you work out early like that, you get it out of the way. It's done for the day -and only 1 shower!!!!
I give myself "pep talks" too, saying that it's MY time!! That hour or so in the morning that is just for ME!! Nobody else. It's a little gift I give to myself daily, that nobody can take away! You can do it!!! :flowerforyou:

SavCal71

It gets easier. don't think that MWF or something would be easier. Doing it EVERY WEEKDAY at the same time makes it easier. Lay your clothes/gear out the night before. Get a good night's sleep.

jagh09

Can your fiance start dinner for you? You can work out while he's getting dinner ready, then eat as soon as you get home.

Kee315

I feel the morning workouts are best, it is hard to get up some times, but I have all my clothes/gear set out the night before so when i wake up all I have to do is get dress and not look for this or that, which gives me no excuse to get up and get moving. Is it possible for you to workout during your lunch break? Good luck, it may be hard starting, but you will feel good after your done!

joburridge

Hi

The only time i get to exercise is when the gym opens at 6am so i am usually up and going at 5.15am ... never thought that would happen...
If you do decide to do it the best piece of advise i can give you is to get all your gear ready the night before... make sure you can literally role out of bed and into to your trainers and into the gym..

It is hard at that time of the morning it will not be easy... but have a bottle of water in hand a healthy snack to get your sugar levels going... ( i have half of a banana or half a special k bar)

I also sit on my *kitten* all day and i try to get away from it during lunch and going for a walk for 45 mins which then leaves me time to eat some lunch... as long as you get up and move and keep moving you will loose weight
xx

Jo

tashjs21

can your fiancee not make the dinners as well>? maybe alternate days so you have a chance to get some exercise in.

why dont u start on 30day shred as thats only 20 mins and its a great workout so you can surely find 20 mins to cram it in, i always find i sleep much better after a good workout and a hot shower.

Its all about changing your mind frame and if you really are determined then you will find the time. im sure looking after an infant is a great workout on its own!! x

We would be eating Mac and Cheese or Ramen every night. :laugh:

I love the man and he does the majority of the housework and laundry but cooking is not a skill he has. Finding 20 minutes isn't too hard but working out at home is next to impossible. If the baby is awake, she wants to climb all over mommy (Pilates makes mommy look like a jungle gym I guess)

tashjs21

Have everything ready to go the night before, get straight into your gym gear when you wake up, and your body will be out the door before your brain has had time to go "You're doing what now????"

:laugh: Love this! I am a chronic snooze button hitter, so I need to "trick" my brain.


Thanks for the tips everyone. I've lost a lot of weight with MFP before and was a faithful workout routine person...until the baby. That little munchkin got me under her spell and I didn't want to leave her side the first year and felt guilty for working out.

I told the fiance the other day, I don't regret being fat for her first year because I was there for every minute (aside from work). However, now she is becoming more independent and would rather play on her own, I won't feel so guilty for getting some me time in. I just need to switch routines from right after work to first thing in the morning.

Just one more thing to conquer! :drinker:

tashjs21

Two reasons I decided to work out in the morning.
1. It doesn't take any extra time away from my family. I have a 2 year-old and a 4 year-old who I love dearly. Since I work full-time I only get about 3 hours with them in the evening and I'm not willing to sacrifice that for anything (even something as worthy as setting a good example for them and living longer).
2. When I get up at 5:30 to work out, I'm less likely later in the day to make bad food choices. I'm all, "I did NOT get up at bloody 5:30 this morning for nothing," whereas if I'm planning to work out in the evening, I might say, "Weeeellllll, I can have ONE cookie since I'm gonna work out tonight.

Now in the morning when the damn alarm goes off I think, "If I don't get up and workout I'm only cheating myself." And that usually does it. A little cold water on my face and a tooth-brushing gets me going. Then I'm fired-up for the rest of the day from the work out.

I was never a morning person, either, but you know... there's a LOT of beauty to witness by yourself in the morning.

I hope this helps.

Thank you!! I love this! And completely agree with the reasons for not working out in the evening. I only get 3 hours of "family time" too, 1 of which is spent cooking dinner and chatting from the kitchen. :grumble:

The making better food choices is great motivation!! Thanks! :flowerforyou:

cammers74

I've been doing early morning work outs for the past couple of months, and although it was a struggle at first, my body is kind of used to it now and I actually prefer it. Im normally lacking motivation and energy at the end of the day, and the morning work outs are definitely boosting my energy levels!

Give it a try and see how you go!

emmalene1984

when i lost lots of weight a few years ago, i was working 9-5 but leaving for work at 7.30 and getting home at 7.30 4days a week due to commutes, the other working day i stayed at a friends house who lived nearer my work :-) i found that i had to have a light dinner as soon as i got home and then wait an hour and then workout and then shower and wind down after that before hitting the sack at 11pm, would be asleep before midnight and i have never found it easy to fall asleep. as long as you dont eat again after that workout, save for maybe a low cal hot chocolate (options or cadburys highlights were my go to) as i also am not a morning person, i recommend this method over the rising early, as that would literally kill my motivation. sorry. good luck, whatever you choose to do. :-)

Louiselesley

I think it's definitely a habit you need to push yourself into.

I am an early bird by nature but it's because I love the morning air and the way everything is so quiet.


A good tip is that you put your alarm somewhere where you need to physically get up and move to put it out. Once your up - it's definitely easier to stay up rather than turning your alarm of straight away and debating getting up!

scs143

I have been getting up at 5:45 and my husband at 4:45 since March 1. We both just do it. He rides his bike for about 10 miles and then when he gets home, I get out for a 2-3 mile walk. Now that we have been doing it for so long, it's easy and I really miss it when I miss a day.

And lately since we have so much more energy, we have been walking at night together with the kids (I have 1 year old twins and a 6 yo) in addition to our morning workout. We go after dinner and it's less strenuous, but it's nice.

kapeluza

I have more energy in the morning than after a long *kitten* day at the office.

I wake up at 4:50am and I'm at the gym by 5:15-5:20. I workout until 6:30, shower and get to work.

Sometimes I am VERY tired but I get out of bed anyways. Just need to stay motivated!

Hodar

I know it's really hard to believe, this news would probably kill my mother; but I'm up at 4:30am and wake up on the treadmill. And, surprisingly, I found a few things. Like, waking up during the warm up period, and then sweating before my morning shower, not only makes me more alert and mentally set in the morning, I find that I actually get things done in about half the normal time. I wind up with almost 15 minutes to spare before I have to leave, instead of the slow routine and leaving on time, I have 15 minutes to burn.

I'm wide awake at work, I get more done and am in a much better mood. I feel better and have a better attitude. I'm not as hungry as I normally am.

Like you, working out in the evening "amps" me up, too. I get wired and it takes at least 3 hours before I can settle down enough to sleep. So it's a morning treadmill, and maybe a leisurely walk, or mow the lawn in the evening.

Madrow

I'm not a morning person either and I'm excited to try these tips

svanhoecke

I work from 9-6 everyday and when I get home I eat a light dinner, and do whatever I need to do first. Then, and sometimes it isn't until 9pm, I work out. I work out, go to sleep, and wake up early just to shower and eat. Working out late isn't too bad, actually! I have lost 15 pounds this way...so it can't be too bad. Good luck!

VickiMitkins

Put the alarm across the room or in the bathroom. You have to get up to turn it off. It's helped me. I don't do a heavy workout in am. Just 45-60 dog walk (plan to add jogging soon), but it certainly gets me going in the morning. And it has gotten easier. Knowing the dog needs her exercize also motivates me to get up and do it. I still do my heavy work out after work. I just can't seem to push myself as hard in the morning. This way though, I only have to do the gym a couple nights a week. Maybe you can do something like this. That way you don't have to get up quite so early and he can do dinner two nights a week.

megz4987

I need this post. hahhaa I squeeze my workouts in while my daughters napping but most of the time, her naps are crappy 20-30minutes. I always say I'm going to go for a long walk that day but it's SO FUMING hot out lately that I don't get it done.

tashjs21

I need this post. hahhaa I squeeze my workouts in while my daughters napping but most of the time, her naps are crappy 20-30minutes. I always say I'm going to go for a long walk that day but it's SO FUMING hot out lately that I don't get it done.

Weird, I responded to this earlier and it disappeared. :huh:

I completely understand the heat! One of my derailments has been the 100+ days we have been having. I can not stand to go get all hot and sweaty then walk out into that heat.

A morning workout would solve that problem. What time does your daughter wake up? Is there a way you can work out before she wakes up?

scoops728

Honestly, you just have to do it! It's tough at first but it does get easier. I have a 9 month old at home and get up at 3:45 3-4 times a week. It is a killer, but if I went to the gym after work I would barely have anytime with him.

Get your workout out clothes ready the night before so all you have to do is get up, get dressed and go. And make sure your workout is something that you enjoy. If you don't enjoy it, it will just make it that much harder to get up. Once you start seeing results, you will always have the motivation to workout in the morning.

Good Luck!