percentage of success with early morning exercise?

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  • Cella30
    Cella30 Posts: 539 Member
    bumping this thread...I'm horrible at getting in morning workouts. These are all great tips, thank you!
  • manhn1
    manhn1 Posts: 137 Member
    Is there a reason why you want to exercise in the morning? As long as you exercise at some point in the day, who cares? I like to sleep, so I don't work out before work. I do it afterwards.

    On holidays or on the weekend, I like to exercise in the morning. But I don't wake up extra early to do so. I just wake up, and then work out. I find if I have to will myself to get out of bed, then my exercise ends up being less than 100%.
  • Pimpmonkey
    Pimpmonkey Posts: 566

    The idea of getting up at 6:30am gives me the shakes. But I'm gonnal try it and see how far I can get. If it's not for me then it's not for me.

    6:30? That's sleeping in for me, lol. My alarm rings at 5:05 M-F.

    I'm walking out the door at work at 0505 hours (on a good day...lol.)
  • finchest
    finchest Posts: 245 Member
    Sleep in your running clothes.

    i love this suggestion! so hilarious, but it's gotta be a great motivator.
  • pdworkman
    pdworkman Posts: 1,342 Member
    Find something that you like doing - playing on wii, yoga, whatever - and get up 10 minutes early to do that thing. Stick with it for a week or two. Decide that you would like to get up earlier to get a little bit more time in, and set the alarm another 5 or 10 minutes earlier. Keep adding in other activities, longer activities, etc. and moving the clock back a little at a time. No shock to your system, and you can enjoy yourself.
  • Long_and_Lean
    Long_and_Lean Posts: 175 Member
    Yeah I get up at 4:20.. to go to work...... there's no way I could get up earlier than that to go for a run and then shower.. then be off to work.... noooope.... lol

    THIS. Many of us don't have the luxury of 40 hour work weeks. I work 60-80 hours/week (and no, I don't get overtime. I'm a postdoctoral fellow doing cancer research. It's required and expected)

    So I work out in the evenings. Make it happen whenever, however you can. The time of day does not matter. It's consistency that matters.
  • DWBayless
    DWBayless Posts: 5
    Get to bed early enough so that you wake up on your own when you want to do. As long as I am in bed no later than 10PM I wake up between 0300 and 0400. I run before the heat of the day sets in, have a shower and breakfast and still get in the office by 0700.

    I can't run in the evenings. I tried it. My body just said 'no.'
  • lifeissweet89
    lifeissweet89 Posts: 47
    I am an early bird myself but it is still quite the battle to find your motivation. Sometimes I have to set 3 alarms to get up and do it. I do like the energy I get throughout the day from an early morning jog and you even burn more fat (if jogging on an empty stomach). But since it is summer, I also enjoy jogging in the evening between 7pm and 8pm because you don't have to worry about it warming up and there is less hustle and bustle on the streets and it feels so much more calmer outside (you also get to watch the sunset).

    Try jogging in the evening and see how you like it. Exercising is beneficial no matter what time of day :)
  • LisaWilson2012
    LisaWilson2012 Posts: 118 Member
    I keep thinking about doing this and I just can't bring myself to get up early. So I'm thinking about it again. Thinking I could try to jog outside for 15 min in the morning.

    Anyone have any secrets on how the hell you motivate yourself to get up early?


    Just be careful with exercising before you've eaten. First thing in the morning your body won't have any sugar which is the easiest thing it can burn. The exercise should consist of low intensity walking or cycling. Anything that will raise your heart rate above 65% of your MHR will start eating into your muscle and not the fat that is available.
  • mjnov
    mjnov Posts: 31 Member
    I saw on Pinterest someone posted a picture of their iPhone alarm, set for early morning, that said "If Forrest Gump can run for over 3 years, you can get your *kitten* up for a 30 minute run this morning"
  • RabidCarrot
    RabidCarrot Posts: 50 Member
    I'm a morning person and my work shift begins at 6. Since I have a long commute, I wake at 3:30 to fit in 20 minutes on the treadmill and a 20 minute workout video.

    At first it seemed crazy to get up so early... without exercise time I could sleep until 4:20! But I realized that it was much easier to be motivated to work out in the morning instead of the evening. I'm just too beat after work. I almost never skip a workout. In fact, the only time in the last 28 days that I didn't exercise was the day I couldn't figure out where I had put my sneakers.

    Good news. I found them in time for my workout the next day. LOL!

    Try getting up an hour early for a week and see if it works for you. Even if you have to tumble into bed a little earlier at night it will be satisfying if it helps you reach your goals.

    I do this as well, single mom long commute and full day of work. So im up at 3:30 to fit in an hour of exercise before work. everyone thinks im nuts but i dont care its what i have to do to fit it in and I feel better/look better for it.
  • ladyS31
    ladyS31 Posts: 12 Member
    3 days a week I work out in the morning. My alarm goes off at 3:45am, I get up at 4:15am and start working out at 4:30am til .5:30
  • diver71_au
    diver71_au Posts: 424 Member
    Helllllllllll NO !!!


    I am NOT a morning person at all .... all my staff know to avoid me until at least 10:30 (and a couple of cups of tea). If I tried to exercise before work I would kill someone (probably myself).

    Besides I like the post work head clearing. I am someone who always found it hard to switch off. Now running or gym is my switch.
  • emg9
    emg9 Posts: 112
    if i didn't get up early to excersize i wouldn't be able to do what i do! as the day goes on i get slightly more tired and intense cardio/weights become really hard to do. i would definitely advise anyone to try early morning excersize. you feel much better during the day too :)
  • MelisRunning
    MelisRunning Posts: 819 Member
    It is the only time of the day when it is under 95-100 degrees! As it is, when I start my morning run (usually around 6:00) it is 75 out. I know this will change when winter arrives! I like running in the winter (mid 40's).

    I am an early bird and am up between 3:30-4:00. Our running group meets at 6:00, so unless I want to play catch up, I have to be there! Good motivation to be up and ready to go.
  • NormalSaneFLGuy
    NormalSaneFLGuy Posts: 1,344 Member
    117% success, 32% of the time.
  • kbgwhitty
    kbgwhitty Posts: 6
    I am a morning person for sure. I naturally wake up between 4*5 every morning without an alarm. Of course, by 8-9 pm I am toast .... lol. So, working out in the am is what works for me. Usually I have my coffee and a bite to eat, stretch out, and then get going. I like the suggestions brought forth by previous posters. I know for myself that if I don't work out in the morning, the chances of me working out at all are very slim. It gives me energy for the rest of my day. Not to mention, clearing the cobwebs and FREE seratonin for my brain.!!! Good luck!
  • Amy911Gray
    Amy911Gray Posts: 685 Member
    Up at 4, exercise until 4:45; pack lunch; exercise from 5:15 to 6:00; ready for work and go...

    I've been doing this for about 10 months now, and when something happens i.e. alarm clock doesn't ring, I really miss it. Once you make a habit, it's becomes what you do.

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