5am workout, how do you do it??

ninakale

I am trying to switch from a post work work-out to pre work, but have such a hard time getting out of bed. How were you able to make it stick? When I have been able to do, my energy level is half that of after work. Any suggestions would be appreciated! :yawn:

raystark

I wake up every morning between 3:30 and 4am without an alarm. Have done so for about 25 years now. Started doing 5am workout a few months ago. It is great to be doing something fun and beneficial with my time before work rather than just sitting in my recliner surfing the net.

ninakale

@raystark, Lucky for you! My husband is the same way and is leaving the house for the gym every day at 4:30 am.

meerkat70

Set your alarm (obviously). Make sure you go to bed a little earlier. Lay out your kit before you go to bed. When the alarm goes, don't hit snooze, just get straight up. Loo. Dress. Quick drink. And out the door. Don't stop to check mail, read stuff, or in any other way dilly dally. Just tell yourself you mean business, and act as if you do. You'll be fine.

ilovedeadlifts

I've always been an afternoon lifter.

But I would imagine a quick shower and caffeine would get me going.

PeachyPlum

You get used to it. I'll be honest, it takes me two different alarm clocks plus a sunrise simulator to wake my butt up, but I have my workout gear all set out so I just blast motivating music and crawl my butt out of bed.
It took me about two weeks to start getting used to the schedule change, and I'm in bed by 8:30 most nights so I can be asleep by 9!

SofaKingRad

My alarm wakes me up, but then I work out sleepy as hell. About 10 minutes in I start to feel fully awake though. The hardest part is getting out of bed to do it.

KCharron20

Hang in there! My hubby and I get up at 3:30 and hit the gym by 4:30am. We have been for 1-1/2 years. Once you've been doing it a while it will become second nature and you'll miss it if you don't get up and go. We both feel we feel better have more energy all day long.

IronmanPanda

First you need to get to bed early, after that you just get used to waking up early. My usual schedule is up by 3:30, out the door by 4 AM.

fakeplastictree

I don't.

AmyB69

I can totally relate. My workouts now are right after work at 3:30pm for about 1 1/2 hours. Every once in awhile I get up at 4 and do it before work. It's hard to though, I have a hard time going to bed before 11. I think I'm going to try harder though. I do know that I still tend to come home and do at least 30 minutes after work, (even after doing the 4am workout) it's habit for me.

nmg8

I agree with going to bed earlier until you get used to it - and when the alarm goes off, just GET UP before you can convince yourself not to!!

Justjoshin

In the words of Arnold "Learn to Sleep Faster"

In seriousness.. you just need to want it.

Sp1nGoddess

If you want it you'll do it, if you don't you'll make excuses. I get up absurdly early on Saturdays, 4:45am. I go to bed early, set my phone alarm next to the bed and another across the room. I get up immediately, turn off the second alarm, turn on all the lights and start moving!

If you can do it for a few weeks you'll reset your internal clock and it will be a habit.

Bronx_Montgomery

I LOVE WORKING OUT IN THE MORNING. You just have to want it. YOu need that drive. I was never a morning person and now I love getting up at 430 to be at the gym by 5am. It sets your day off on the right track.

PitBullMom_Liz

I already have to be up at 4:45am to get ready for work - I can't imagine getting up earlier! But when I didn't have to be at work so early, I would sleep in my workout clothes so I could roll out of bed, put shoes on and go. It helped, especially on cold mornings. :-)

mfpcopine

I think I'd have to go to sleep in my workout clothes. I remember reading an article about a young tennis player, I think it was Jennifer Capriati, and she did that.

ruckstande

I learned of a couple apps for smartphones. One called sleep cycler for iOS and Android Cycle for Android. Both apps work in similar ways for people who typically sleep alone. Just tell the app what time you want to go to bed(they remind you) and what time you want to wake up. Plug the phone in and lay it on the bed next to you. It will monitor your sleep sounds and movements and will adjust the alarm depending on how restless of a nights sleep you had. It worked great for me so far trying to get up at 5.

rockinright

I wake up every morning between 3:30 and 4am without an alarm. Have done so for about 25 years now. Started doing 5am workout a few months ago. It is great to be doing something fun and beneficial with my time before work rather than just sitting in my recliner surfing the net.

What do you do, go to bed at 8pm?

pammbroo

I found a quote that said, "I exercise in the morning before my brain knows what I'm doing." That's what I do...I get up, get dressed and out the door to the gym I go. Don't give myself any time to think about it, am fine once I get there and ALWAYS glad I went.

A decent bedtime helps and you just have to commit to it. Eventually you will find how good you feel on days you work out in the AM vs. the days you don't. Its nice to get it done early so you can enjoy the rest of your day without wondering when you are going to fit in a workout.

Good luck!

rockinright

You get used to it. I'll be honest, it takes me two different alarm clocks plus a sunrise simulator to wake my butt up, but I have my workout gear all set out so I just blast motivating music and crawl my butt out of bed.
It took me about two weeks to start getting used to the schedule change, and I'm in bed by 8:30 most nights so I can be asleep by 9!

We have a little three year old alarm clock who wakes us up by 5:45 even if the alarm breaks...