How do you get up early to workout...

Melissaol

Im wanting to change my time to workout.,, But getting up at 5am is really hard. How can I get this a routine...

chrissaucier

I started workingout before work this past fall. At first it was hard to get going while the rest of the house was still snoozing, but I found that it gave me more energy and I don't need that cup of coffee to get going anymore.Also found that at this time of day there's no excuses to delay my workout since there's no one else up to ask mom to help and mom can't start doing chores because it will wake everyone else up.

czechsmate

I started working out in the am about 6 wks ago, I meet a friend at the gym for 6 so I am generally up at 5 or 5:15...I think it really helps to have a partner so you can hold each other accountable. What really motivates me is the fact that it is over and done with for the day so I can just relax after work! I usually pack my bag, make my lunch and get my clothes ready the night before so I just have to get up and go in the morning.

prettypooks

I'm a morning exerciser, and I love it. I just started waking up a little earlier each day. Even if I only had time to do a few pushups, situps, etc., it helped get me in to the habit. Now, I get up at 5am 4-5 days a week to get in a run or some pre-work yoga.

I also do the same thing as czechsmate. My running gear is always ready the night before, I always have my lunch and everything packed for the day so the only thing I need to worry about is getting up and exercising. As an extra little trick, I also put my running shoes / gear on the chair next to my bed at eye level. That way, when I wake up, it's staring at me. If I try and roll over and fall asleep, I know it's still looking at me. Sounds a little strange, but it seriously works!

CiciPorcayo

For me I would love to work out in the mornings more then anything. However, I work 9am-5:30pm and it is still dark when I wake up at 6:30am-7am and then dark when I get home otherwise for me... I would be jogging for an hour atleast.

MercedesV

Very helpful. I just joined a rec center and they have a 5:40-7am kickboxing class. I woke up at 5:20 but didn't get out of bed. HA! Might have been eaiser if I had had more things ready.

diaryoffatdad

i had a baby.......he is awesome at getting me up at rediculous hours, 5 am is easy now.....

jenniferhiggins

when the alarm goes off for my husband to go to work, i get off. i got right to the gym after he leaves the house. i actually walk out to the garage with him.

rowerrunnercmt

Start with baby steps!
Last year I started running a mile before school (which only required getting up about 20 minutes earlier than usual), then gradually increased the distance. I've been running the 6-8 mile range for a few months now
I've found that my entire day is different when I exercise in the morning. You won't regret switching to morning workouts--you'll feel much more vibrant and alive the entire day!

Kris10can

I have been getting up every morning at 6:15 and hop on the stationary bike in my PJs which helps to wake me up and feel energized for the morning.... I would much rather sleep in of course but it does do a body good.

Another trick I learned that works for me is to have my boyfriend turn on the bedroom light when he wakes up at 6am just to help me to wake up!

Shredded2011

I gave up in the end and go in the day or night.

bens_momma

As an extra little trick, I also put my running shoes / gear on the chair next to my bed at eye level. That way, when I wake up, it's staring at me. If I try and roll over and fall asleep, I know it's still looking at me. Sounds a little strange, but it seriously works!

Oh my gosh, this is hilarious! I love it!

Stacyanne324

I am a SAHM to three kids ages 1-5. Getting up early (as hard as it is some mornings) lets me get in a decent workout before they are up and needing my attention and it lets me have some down time alone after I'm done. I usually get up between 5-5:30 and workout anywhere from 30-60 minutes depending on the day. Once I finish I curl up on the sofa with a cup of tea or coffee and watch one of the junk shows I'm addicted to but don't wan the kids watching (Glee, Teen Mom 2, etc).

It helps that on weekdays my hubby is up between 4:30 and 5am to either go to the gym or go into work early but even on the weekends when he doesn't always get up I manage to drag myself out of bed to do it. I'd miss my morning time if I didn't.

And I like having it out of the way. Although 99% of the time I work out again in the afternoon when my son naps I like knowing that if something comes up (sick kid, too much cleaning to do, life gets in the way) I have at least gotten one decent workout it. And on the weekends it's the only one I do.

Just commit to doing it and drag yourself out of bed for the first week or so and after that I found it became routine and something I enjoyed enough to make it worth it.

OLFATUG

i had a baby.......he is awesome at getting me up at rediculous hours, 5 am is easy now.....

Pretty much this exactly.

directorj

Slowly adapt to it. Depending on the time that you wake up, set your alarm 15 minutes earlier. Once you get used to that lower it again

Stacyanne324

I've found that my entire day is different when I exercise in the morning. You won't regret switching to morning workouts--you'll feel much more vibrant and alive the entire day!

This is SO true! A month ago if you had told me that getting less sleep would result in more energy all day I would have called you crazy. But, a morning workout definitely puts a pep in my step all day and leaves me feeling great.

marycmeadows

the easiest thing.... just start doing it. that's it. just do it. make yourself get up every morning. but don't look at it like a negative. if you view it as a negative as having to get up early to work out it'll just be that much harder to do...... it's a good thing - a positive. My boyfriend gets up at 545, but I work from home and don't have to start work until 8am, so I could sleep right up until 745. However, I almost always get up at 6am - and hit the gym here in the neighborhood now that it's cold (before that I was getting up and taking the dog for a nice long walk).... you'll feel good and it'll give you energy for the day.

lilly2709

I have little ones so it's not so hard any more

Beastette

i had a baby.......he is awesome at getting me up at rediculous hours, 5 am is easy now.....

This, exactly. Everyone wonders how I can be so consistent. No one is more pesky than a toddler wanting a ride in the jogging stroller. Rest days are not an option.

They are older, but now it's a habit.

fasttrack27

Need a partner - keeps you accountable. Get everything ready the night before. I get up at 4:30, at the gym when they open at 5. Run 2 miles on treadmill then do a class (various) from 5:30-6:30. Shower and home by 7 to get son on bus. If my friend came at 5 and I stood her up, it would be 'game over'. That keeps me going!

melsinct

1. Set the alarm for the desired wake up time
2. Just get up and go

You need to find your inner motivation that pushes you to do it. No words from anyone on MFP will change the fact that you are responsible every day for exercising or not exercising. We are all tired, have busy lives, need sleep, etc. We all have excuses.

iriedeb

I exercise in the morning (planet fitness), unless I am going to zumba in the evening. I get up early enough so I can have a few cups of coffee, and putter while I wake up. I find that it's easier than trying to get to the gym at lunch or at the end of the day, and I have less time to make excuses not to go (hungry, tired....)and it's quieter at the gym, which I prefer. I feel better equipped to take on the day after I've exercised, and it's one less thing I have to think about!
deb

jenniet04

I'll admit, it's very difficult to begin with, but you just have to commit and drag yourself out of bed. After about the first week, it gets much easier. I put my kids to bed at 8:30 and I'm generally in bed by 9:00. It sucks going to bed that early, but it's what I have to do so that I can get up at 5 am. I really don't have time the rest of the day, so I know if I'm going to get my exercise in, it has to be in the morning.

sbcass

I have always been a morning person so getting up is easy for me. I also have commitments in the morning that force me to get up. I work out with a trainer three days a week at 6AM and do a group deep water aerobics class at 6:30 the other two days. On the weekends, I do not get up as early but I do have my workout completed by 11am both days.

PoochPottery

I am a teacher and throughout the day I get so tired so it is hard to exercise at night! I just started to set my alarm 30 min earlier (4:30 am) and got up! Knowing that the alarm is going off for me to workout is a mental thing too! I am lucky to have a treadmill and bike trainer in a spare bedroom which makes it easy! I used to actually get up and go to a 24 hour gym up the street from me. I find working out in the morning gives me more energy for my day!

Start off by doing it two days a week and then go from there! The first step is just doing it!

KCharron20

I am not a morning person but my husband started a new job and had to be to work early. We had just joined the gym so I decided I was going to get up with him and go. Once he began working later, he started going with me and it's just stuck. We get up at 3:30 every morning get dressed, have breakfast and leave for the gym at 4:30. We've have been doing it for a year. Now if I miss my morning workout I feel like I'm not functioning on all cylinders!

IndianCat3

well, im no a.m workout person, but when i did try it, wat worked for me was layin my clothes, shoes and towel out the nite before in the bathroom (didnt want to wake up my hunny bun with lights on) and also i would set my alarm in da bathroom too. That way, i had to get up and walk all the way to da bathroom to cut alarm off..by this time, i see my clothes all laid out and ready to wear

i also agree wit a previous comment, start off with twi days a week and then up it the next week

crux

I can get up and exercise early if it's needed, but I don't enjoy it, and for me, an extra hour of sleep aids recovery far more than anything else I could possibly do! Therefore I tend to choose lunchtime & evening workouts, except when I an only squeeze in a workout early.

How I get out of bed is by preparing everything the night before so there are no easy excuses to stay in bed.

jwhit31

No snooze button just get up when the alarm goes of before you have a chance to think about it. At least that is what I do. I run at 0530 for 30 minutes. The first 10 -15 minutes blows because I haven't warmed up yet but after that I'm completely into it and it seems like the 30 minutes went by too quickly.

diaryoffatdad

when i needed it, i used to put the alarm clock on the other side of the room so i had to get out of bed to turn it off, furthermore if you can sleep through the music it turns on make sure you have one that will play the most annoying beeping you can find or tune the radio to some really loud and terrible music station.

Pochart

it takes 30 repetitions to create a habit.... don't think of it, just do it! and prepare everything the night before...