Talk me into morning workout

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wwk10
wwk10 Posts: 244 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Best of intentions every evening.
But kids, homework, baths, cooking dinner, dirty dishes, the drain of the work day ---- it just doesnt happen.

Motivate me to work out in the morning before work and taking kids to school.

I want to hear from the morning workout people who are not naturally morning people.
Thanks in advance.
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Replies

  • ClaireInTurkey
    ClaireInTurkey Posts: 1 Member
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    I am not a morning person and generally when I get home after work, make dinner, eat and get sat down then I am really bad at getting motivated to workout.....however I find that if I make the effort just to do half an hour in the morning - wii free step helps cos I don't need any brain to do it and it does start the day off well.....benefits are 1. Its done for the day and any extra that I choose to do in the evening is a bonus :) 2. Gives me great energy for the day ahead - def makes me feel in a better mood :D 3. Starts my metabolism off in the right direction first thing in the morning....

    Hope that helps :)
  • areay22
    areay22 Posts: 150 Member
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    I have an almost 4 month old and I get up at pump at 5:30 and workout after every morning and run during lunch. You can do this. I have a ton more engery on the days I do this rather than the days I skip
  • jdavison91
    jdavison91 Posts: 50
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    ^^ Absolutely feel the same way. The other nice thing about working out in the morning is less stress the rest of the day, not worrying about when you are going to get your workout in. I actually have a bit of withdrawal on the mornings I don't work out (scheduled rest days)
  • worldgirl28
    worldgirl28 Posts: 68
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    I was anti-morning. I was the person for whom the numbers 5 - 8 were only found in the PM half of the day. But one night I came home so tired, I passed out around 8 pm and woke up around 4:00 a.m. feeling totally rested and ready to go. I decided to pop into the gym because it was either that or watch infomercials for three hours. The AM workout is tough and certainly not for everyone but once you establish a pattern, you start to crave it. I'm doing the 30 Day Shred right now and because of my roommate, I can't do it in the a.m. or I'd wake her up but I love hitting the elliptical around 5:30 a.m. for 30 - 45 minutes and just using that time to be alone and workout all my stress before the day begins. I had to adjust my sleep schedule (bedtime cannot be 11:30 p.m. if you're waking up at 5:15) but I really enjoy it.
  • Articeluvsmemphis
    Articeluvsmemphis Posts: 1,987 Member
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    my journey has varied. i've gone from night exercising to mid day, to morning. I can say that I absolutely thrive off morning exercise, and miss it when I don't do it. although if I know I am going to a night class then that's not so bad or like zumba in the mid day. I started going to sleep early and stopped wasting time being up doing nothing, and I get up and do a dvd or go to the gym and then go to work/school. it really makes me feel energized for the day and I don't have to worry about doing it later. makes my eating choices better because who wants to ruin a great session by eating junk food on top of that (although sometimes I mess up in that area as well) I will say, I don't like fasted exercising I prefer eating something before I do anything
  • meglynne1987
    meglynne1987 Posts: 382 Member
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    I am NOT a morning person either and i have a child i know he can't happen for me at night. I have about an hour free to myself in the morning. I have a hard time getting motivated as well. BUT I have notice the days that i go back to sleep i feel horrible and sleepy all day but if i get up and eat a good breakfast and do a small work out i have more energy throughout the day and a better attitude. I a looking for motivation as well and when i do i look into my closet and some clothing i have from a couple years back (my skinny clothing) and that motivates me ....... your motivation ha to come from whithin you. I know this is a constant struggle for me but once you can get one exercise in the others should come easier.
  • LibbyHill123
    LibbyHill123 Posts: 1
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    Just start by putting on your workout clothes, then your shoes, just don't think about working out. Just start with one thing, putting on your exercise shoes and putting in your work out DVD. I'm not the best at working out daily, but this is what I do to get it started and then once you're started, it's no worries!
  • alyssaanagram
    alyssaanagram Posts: 73
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    I never thought I could work out in the mornings but the last two months I have been getting up between 5:30 -6am to head to the gym. I feel great! I eat a hard boiled egg and drink some water before I go and work out for a solid hour to hour and a half (both cardio and strength).

    It wakes me up in the morning, I get it out of the way, and feel refreshed all day. I don't have to feel stressed late in the day if I just want to go home and watch tv after a long work day. It definitely works much better for me. I suggest at least trying it because I was unsure in the beginning.
  • darconnor
    darconnor Posts: 49
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    **Bump**
    I so need this push, too!
  • Bearface115
    Bearface115 Posts: 574 Member
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    think about how good it feels to be exercised and feeling enegerized before the family is even moving around. You'll be able to keep up with the kids and be able to cook healthy throughout the day feeling like you kicked your *kitten* and its DONE and OVER WITH!
  • marquesajen
    marquesajen Posts: 641
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    In the summer when I have a day off I get up early and ride my bike all over my area. When I get back I shower, then start my day as normal. I feel REALLY good for the rest of the day, lots of energy and perk!
  • rugbygirlca
    rugbygirlca Posts: 85
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    By the time I get home at 5, feed the kids, shuttle them to activities some nights, put them to bed, do the dishes, make lunches, etc etc, it is 9:00 at night and I have lost all motivation to work out. While I think that I work out a bit more effectively after work from 5-6pm, I can only do that once or twice a week. So, I get my lazy butt out of bed by 5:15 - work out for 30-60 minutes depending on the day, and then get the kids up and start our day.

    As a side benefit - working out hard makes me feel thinner (if only for a few hours). It's nice to have that 'thinner' feeling during the day, rather than when I am sleeping.
  • hope516
    hope516 Posts: 1,133 Member
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    I couldn't work out in the morning, if you paid me!!! But here is to hoping you find what works for you :drinker:
  • poojag85
    poojag85 Posts: 1 Member
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    I am definitely NOT a morning person, and I used to try to go after work after commuting for about 3 hours everyday. It was hell. i used to find myself making excuses for why i 'can't' go to the gym that day. I always used to say 'if only i had the energy to wake up in the morning...'...well you know what. one day i got fed up with it, and told myself, that nothing is more important than my own body. if i want to make a difference, i have to do it the right way that works for me. so one day i decided that i will wake up early enough before work to go to the gym for 45 mins and go to work from there. so i finally did it - and can i tell you that even after just the first day, it felt AMAZING. yeah to actually get up that early is hard, but trust me, that's the only hard thing that you will have to overcome that day. once you're up, nothing can stop you. i feel amazing coming to work knowing that i ALREADY went to the gym. i don't have it luring over me like it used to because i already know i did it and i'm done for the day. i can now go home after work and rest, NOT feeling bad or guilty that i didn't go to the gym. And yes i definitely feel more energy throughout the whole day.I've been doing it for the past 2 weeks so far and i've been cursing myself for why i didn't have the willpower to do it earlier. i hope to continue this routine until i reach my ideal weight.

    give it a try for a week, and then tell me how you feel! =)
  • pa_jorg
    pa_jorg Posts: 4,404 Member
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    I can get into a morning workout groove for a few weeks but I have a hard time sticking to it longer than that. Really interested in some of the answers on this thread.

    There is an early bird workout group on MFP, but it always seems to fizzle. Everyone involved has the same intentions but only seems to be able to keep it up in spurts too. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/1146-early-bird-club
  • avonchik
    avonchik Posts: 106
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    I am definately not a morning person. I take time right after the kids get on the bus to read my Bible then i stick a tape in and exercise before i do anything because i know i wont do it later in the day. I had to MAKE myself do this but now it is a routine unless i have an appointment. Whenever you have a little time to yourself when no one is around is the best time .(even if there are dishes in the sink..lol) Hope this helps . YOU CAN DO IT!! Rooting for you! Add me as a friend .:bigsmile: :flowerforyou:
  • 1HappyRosie
    1HappyRosie Posts: 80 Member
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    I am absolutely not a morning person. That being said, for the past 40+ days I have slowly looked forward to getting up. It took pushing myself for about the first two weeks and then it started getting easier and I noticed I really have more energy all day. Not easy for me. I would always be the last person out of bed. What I do is sleep in clothes to workout in. At first I was only walking 30 min on treadmill and that was all I could do. Now I walk 10 min, do workout one of 30 day shred and then walk another 20 min. Eat, take shower and the day just feels better after that. Good luck, and don't give up.
  • paigele
    paigele Posts: 123 Member
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    Try sleeping in your sports bra and workout shorts. I have done that , and waken up not having to take the step of putting cold clothes on my toasty warm body fresh out of bed.

    (I am a morning person most days but sometimes resent that alarm clock.)
  • Nharley
    Nharley Posts: 201
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    It's the only way my lazy butt gets a workout in each day. It has to be planned. I get up at 5:30, do an 1 1/2 hours of school work until #1 son needs to be dropped off at school, get dressed in workout clothes before going, and as soon as I get back I head out the door for an hour+ of a walk/run with the dog. I am working with a group on here that has a goal of 10,000 steps a day which is = to 5 miles. This morning I did 13,000+ steps and ran for about 15 minutes. To me that is like getting in a C25K workout and my 10,000 steps combined! I'm quite the happy camper this morning...:smile:
  • Michelle_Nicole
    Michelle_Nicole Posts: 95 Member
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    I am not a morning person at all!!! but when I can force myself to get up and do my workout before work I feel awesome all day long, then if I have time for another workout after work it counts as extra since I did one already! Plus then you are prepared for anything that goes wrong, if you plan your workout for 6pm and you get home and realize you have to be somewhere or have a lot to do you miss your workout. Getting up early and doing it eliminates that!

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