How do you motivate yourself for early AM workouts?

DesignGuy

Some great ideas here. The only thing that helps me when I need to do a morning workout is knowing if I don't the whole day is likely blown. I used to be a guru at putting off my workout until "an hour or so from now."

Also, I visualize how I will feel when my workout is done and how I'll have the rest of the day not thinking about my workout.

knk1553

I've tried working out in the morning (5:30/6am) about 4 different times, 3 of those 4 times I about killed/seriously injured myself (no lie). The worst part for me is dragging myself out of bed, but once I do, I'm fine, besides the lack of coordination that I see to have pre-shower and pre-coffee. I currently work out immediately after work (go on my way home so I have no excuses) and it works well. However, I am trying to get back in to running, so I"m looking at adding that in 3 mornings a week since its so dang hot here to do it any other time but that early or super late. I'm definitely going to look these over, because I am not a morning person. The other option I"m considering is swimming in the mornings, I did it in high school and I think I could do it because the water woke me up, and it kind of just came naturally to me to do.

Wysteriajo

A timer on the coffee pot and all the workout clothes laid out. My alarm goes off the same time that the coffee starts, so I'm still "snoozing" when the beep of the coffee maker tells me there's hot java goodness waiting, if I'll only creep down to it. After a half cup or so I might as well put on the cute workout stuff (easier to put on if it's fun to wear) and go out.

smilingselena

im in the stuck too i work 12 hour shifts and since im awak at 10pm after my shift i hit the gym for an hour before bed, but i cannot get up to hit the gym in the morning, could be the whole working 12hours thing... any ideas

zophiel67

1. I put the alarm clock across the room so I have to physically get out of bed to shut it off (this doesn't always keep me from jumping back in though haha)

2. I wear my workout clothes to bed, so all I have to do is literally wake up and put my sneakers on!

I do the same with the alarm, but my plan for clothes is a little different. I get dressed immediately so by the time I realize what I'm doing, I already have one running shoe on. And then I think, "Well, might as well put the other one on and get this over with..."

But then afterwards I feel GREAT! :bigsmile:

UnleashingLovely

It takes less than a month to start a habit.... That's my motivation. Knowing eventually it will be as normal as brushing my teeth.

imanole

I get up at 4am M-F and get to the gym no later than 415-430...workout and home by 6, get ready for work at 8!

It was super hard at first, but now when my alarm goes off I just get my butt out of bed! Once I am out I am good!

How to get out? I know that I will not go after work, I also know I can eat more with my workout! I feel alive and energized throughout the day as well!

Good Luck! It gets easier every day!

DITTO

Cwyman1

I try to prepare as much as possible the night before. I usually run 3-5 days a week in the AM because it's too damn hot out after work this time of year. I save my strength training to afternoons. I will put my workout gear right next to the bed so I can get dressed right away and not have to go searching for something in the morning. I then will brush my teeth and wash my face with some cold water (helps wake me up). From there I will hit the pavement and log some miles. Bed to pavement is usually only 10 minutes. I usually will give myself about 10-15 minutes after my run to cool down before getting into the shower, so I'm not a hot sweaty mess when I get out. This is when I'll drink some water/gatorade to re-hydrate.

I feel GREAT the mornings I'm able to get out of bed and workout. After about a week or two your body will adjust to getting up and it will be easier. Just keep trying!

newcs

I put my alarm out of reach so I have to get out of bed for it.
I have my clothes set out and ready to go.
I signed up for earndit.com and linked up a foursquare account...if I want my points, I gotta haul myself outta bed
I wake up at the same time every morning so that my body gets used to automatically waking up at that time.
I think about how I'll feel if I skip...I know I'll feel guilty the rest of the day and I know better than to think I'll work out after work
I joined a group on MFP and we have daily check ins. Not checking in now seems worse than getting my butt in gear

lmeasterling

I don't...never been a morning person, never will be! lol. I try to do a light 15-20 minute workout (a short walk, a quick jog or Zumba)in the morning just to get the blood pumping & then save any heavier working out for when I get home from the office.

erin023

I have the same problem. I'd love to work out in the morning instead of at night once my daughter goes to bed.

NNAhuja

I tell myself since I won't have time to do it after work I might as well do it in the AM so I don't gain weight.
Yes I have to reason with myself. Also making sure I get to sleep as early as possible helps.

CarlyRobbinsGilbert

I make sure I have my clothes ready, and I get up about 15-20 minutes before I want to workout. I know that just sounds like extra torture, but it gives me time to wake up, have a cup of tea, wash my face, etc. I still have morning workout problems but these two things have helped alot!

bwcrouch

I think it starts by getting to bed at a decent hour the night before.

dbevisjr

At 5:30PM when I get home from work the outside temp is 90 degrees. At 5:30AM an hour before I normally awake the outside temp is around 75 degrees. I prefer to run 4 or 5 miles when it's 75 than when it's 90. So the temp makes the decision for me. I do sometimes run in the afternoon, especially if there is a light rain. Or I ride my bicycle in the afternoon.

lmarshel

I've been doing morning workouts for some time now, and my two main motivators are the feeling I have going to work in the AM (like I am just buzzing with energy!) and seeing my net calories go negative! LOL That might not be the healthiest motivation in the world, but I love knowing that all those extra cals are there waiting for me.

I get up just after 4AM most weekdays (3:45 if I need to be in the office early), so I can finish my cardio and be at work by 7:30. I have everything ready to go the night before, clothes by the bed and my filled water bottle in the fridge. I also prep the coffee the night before so I can just flip it on when I get back en route to the shower. I think being organized helps tremendously.

Good luck to all you potential early risers!! :flowerforyou:

MinMin97

I never seem in the mood to exercise at night, but struggle to wake up at 5am to get it done for 30 min before work. Any ideas to get myself out of that bed an moving? I just feel like maybe I need to do it in the morning - the whole "do it in the morning or it won't get done" mentality.

Exactly what I feel. So question for you....what time do you go to bed?
Plan to train yourself to an early bedtime.
Also get your clothes ready on the floor with shoes.

If you don't go to bed early enough, you just won't want to get up early

I usually workout at about 4:30-5am at the gym.
I love it 'cause I get to have a morning...including a breakfast that's right for me.
Otherwise, I would feel I am taking too much time from my family.

Tat2dDom624

I keep telling myself on a daily basis that this will benefit be (health-wise) in the long run. Also, that if I don't focus on losing weight now, that I'll never do it, and be miserable.

PJ64

I prefer mornings, because I never know what my day holds or if I will have the energy to do it after a long day, plus theres a whole day for me to come up with an excuse :-P

I'm a mroning person, so I like getting up early. Which means I go to bed early also. BUT if you're not a morning person, here's some tricks.

1. Move the alarm clock to a dresser or table across the room from your bed, so you have to get up to turn it off.

2. put your workout gear next to the alam clock so it's ready to go

3 if you have a dog , walk it before you work out so you get your blood going, if no dog just go for little walk to get your blood going
4 drink a glass of water before you start. You've been alseep for 6-8 hours so you're dehydrated and you'd be surprised how that little act will help

I know once my workouts done I feel great and get an energy surge from it!

Yellabutterfly05

I haven't had any AM workouts, but I'm going to start August off right!

Healthy_Melva

I get up at 4am, I set my alarm on my phone with an uber annoying ringtone and place it far away from my bed so I have to get up to turn it off... Well then all it takes it some willpower, workout clothes on and start working out before your brain catches up and tells you to crawl back to bed lol. Its so hard though. :laugh:

I use that annoying ringtone "Old Phone" when I know that I have to get up no matter what. The first thing I do is stagger into the bathroom and brush my teeth and wash my face. That wakes me up too much to enjoy going back to bed.

I lay my clothes out the night before, so there's no excuse about putting them on. I also lay out a towel and the top to my water bottle by the front door, so that I remember to get it out of the 'fridge.

I know it's too hot in the evenings to walk, so I head out the door glad for the relative coolness.

I like knowing that I've got it in before planning my food for the day. Without exercise, I feel like I'm on a starvation diet. I have to have those extra calories. So, I tell myself that I have to get up and exercise or I won't get to eat!

I'm trying to get to bed earlier. The more I get up early in the morning, the easier it is to go to bed earlier and earlier in the evening. I also limit my caffeine after dinner, so that it's easier to go to sleep and I don't wake up to go to the bathroom as much.

trophywife24

I just do it. I have plenty of mornings (this morning haha) that I yawned my way through it but if I actually go to bed at a decent time and get 8 hours, it's done... and it's SO nice to not have to think about it for the rest of the day. The first week or two were the worst, now it's just a habit.

amiers11

I work out at 5am. At first it was very hard to wake up, and in those first couple of weeks I missed workouts. Well before I knew it, I was up before my alarm and not missing workouts. My day gets started off right when I work out first thing, and I feel very guilty when I miss a day. I think once you get into a routine you will find waking up for the gym becomes easier.

abc2003family

I just started exercising on a regular basis at 5am. For me, it is not a matter of motivation and wanting to, it is just doing it. I also get as much ready the night before as I can. I have found that right now for me, it is more important that I do it than to feel that I'm getting the best work out possible. Last time I started with 30DS and didn't stick with it beyond four days. This time I've been excerising with the Leslie Sansone walking videos and ...dont' laugh... Sweatin to the Oldies :laugh: and I find it much easier to keep my morning routine this way. Once I get into the habit I'll start to challenge myself again. Stick with it, you'll find something that works for you.

nelsoji

Once my alarm goes off, it's basically useless to go back to bed because I am already awake, and by the time I actually fall back to sleep, it's time for me to go ahead and get up.

That is what I figure also. Setting the alarm the night before is easy, once it goes off as long as you have to wake up SOME to turn it off, its not worth sleeping until your "normal" wakeup time because by time you get back to sleep you only have 45 minutes or so and gave up an hour plus of working out. Once you do the math it just makes sense to get up - then when you start seeing results and feel more confident in your clothes after a workout - it makes it even easier!!

anothermop

I just don't hit the snooze and I go straight to the bathroom and brush my teeth. Once that's done, I cannot go back to sleep. Plus I tell myself it's better to get it done and out of the way so I don't have it hanging over my head all day.

kristengraham

I used to be an early morning workout girl. I don't know what happened. I just can't seem to fall asleep before 12 anymore.... I can lay down at 10... but that's it -- I just lay there. How do ya'll go to sleep so early, to feel rested?

sweetheart03622

I get up at 3:30 to workout. First and foremost, you will get used to it. If you do it every day after the first week it's not nearly as difficult. For me, I know that 1. I feel better when I work out and 2. I skip twice as many workouts that're scheduled after work. I get up, workout, shower, have breakfast, and typically have a half an hour left over. I use that time to do random little tasks around the house - dusting, a load of laundry, etc - so that when I get home, all I have to do is unwind.

Healthy_Melva

1. I put the alarm clock across the room so I have to physically get out of bed to shut it off (this doesn't always keep me from jumping back in though haha)

2. I wear my workout clothes to bed, so all I have to do is literally wake up and put my sneakers on!

LOL I haven't thought about wearing my clothes to bed. What a great idea

FJMilner

I suffer with insomnia anyway so am usually awake at 4am even though my alarm isn't due to go off until 6.30. I figure I might as well get up and get it done then my evening will be free when I finish work. It's tough some days when you just wanna stay under the duvet but as long as I get up as soon as I wake up, im good to go, hope all these comments help motivate you x