5am workouts- help!

ooBombshellBeautyoo

I am going to be joining the gym, but the only time I have to workout is very first thing in the morning before work. Please helpful thoughts, tips and advice for such an early workout!

sarachristine28

It gets easier! You just have to stick with it. I have my alarm set, and with it I've written a motivational message that I see every time I struggle to get out of bed, because believe me.. even after 4 months it's still hard some days. BUT it is worth it!
Biggest tip: get your workout clothes ready and have them bedside.

Remember this: It is easier to get up early and workout than it is to look in the mirror each day and not like what you see.

MostlyWater

I also started an early morning schedule this year. I'm in my later 40's so I anyway don't need as much sleep as a younger person. I got used to it pretty quickly...and now, on the days that I don't exercise in the early AN, I get up anyway and am productive at home !!!!!

NotThePest

I'm 1 4/5am early morning workouter :happy: . You just have to make a committement to do it. I never know when I'm getting home from work so have to workout in the morning. That is my time and nothing and no one gets in the way.

ooBombshellBeautyoo

Thank you all- wish me luck

MSeel1984

I am going to be joining the gym, but the only time I have to workout is very first thing in the morning before work. Please helpful thoughts, tips and advice for such an early workout!

Make it a routine. Put your alarm clock across the room so you HAVE to get out of bed to turn it off. The most difficult part of getting up so early is getting out of the warm bed. Once you're out of the bed it gets easier.

Have your breakfast ready...I usually grab a Nutrigrain bar or healthy muffin or a banana with peanut butter or something like that.

The first week or so is the hardest-just power through it and it gets easier, I promise! That's what I've started doing since I have things to do after I work (work 40 hours/week) and I always made excuses not to go after work...so I started going before hand...honestly, the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. Best of luck!

neverstray

I woman I work with me told me that she sleeps in her workout outfit. LOL. That way she just gets up and heads out. LOL.

ooBombshellBeautyoo

I woman I work with me told me that she sleeps in her workout outfit. LOL. That way she just gets up and heads out. LOL.

LOL that is funny

ooBombshellBeautyoo

What days do you all workout and how long? I was thinking of MWF and then a cardio kickboxing Tuesday evenings.

yoovie

Theres nothing more awesome or sexier to me thatn waking up, killing it at the gym, going home and having a quick shower and a beautiful breakfast before work.

Seriously, Im so solid for the rest of the day- you just cant touch me. Im unstoppable.

i call it a sexy breakfast.

_Wits_

I've been doing some morning workouts this week and while getting out of bed is still a 15-20 minute process, I just love knowing that when I get home after work, the rest of my time is for whatever I want....go out with friends, read, play outside...

And when I say I'm an absolutely b*tch about getting up earlier than 7, I'm not lying.

But....I open my eyes, see my vision board with my goals on it and say "Let's get this done". That way, the hubs and I can go on a date in the evening.

I fight myself the whole way....I literally tell myself to STFU and do it. Once I get to the gym...I LOVE it. Make it happen for a week or two and it will get easier.

McBully4

McBully4

I love being the first one in the gym when they open at 5 it makes the rest of the day awesome.

catelabow

I set an alarm in the next room so I have to get up to turn it off. I get my clothes and breakfast ready the night before. And then I just do it!

Cindy873

I also sleep in my workout clothes. :laugh:

Everything but the sports bra, shoes, and knee brace! Makes it easier to get moving at 5 am!

mnstrpc

I also sleep in my workout clothes. :laugh:

Everything but the sports bra, shoes, and knee brace! Makes it easier to get moving at 5 am!

Same here! LOL

I actually normally wake up between 5:15 and 5:45, so not quiiiitte 5am, but close. I work out pretty much every day unless I'm sick or just have had a horrible nights' sleep for some reason. I run 4-5x a week and strength train or do yoga on the other days. It's as much a part of my routine as brushing my teeth. And I am really NOT a morning person either. I don't like to talk to anyone else before I've had my breakfast and caffeine, but I will work out before doing those things. I think I read somewhere once that it takes about a month to make (or break) a habit. I found that to be true for me. If you can stick with morning workouts for 30 days, it gets so much easier and is just second nature. I love attacking my day knowing my workout is already done! Good luck!

butterfli7o

I prep the coffee maker the night before and make sure the coffee's ready so I can have a little to wake me up...I sleep in what I work out in..I have my shoes, socks, HRM, headphones and etc. laid out and ready for me to put on. I work out at home either on the ellipitcal or in the garage so it's a little easier than going somewhere else. It's not always easy, but I feel like crap if I miss a workout.

StarvingDiva

I had to ease into it, so I started setting my alarm earlier and earlier and working out within the hour of the alarm going off, now i'm up to getting up at 5 and working out at 6, working my way up to working out at 5:15 I'll get there.

karensoxfan

What days do you all workout and how long? I was thinking of MWF and then a cardio kickboxing Tuesday evenings.

I wok out around 5 or 5:30 am every weekday. Usually 3 days heavy full-body lifting (New Rules of Lifting for Women) for approx. 80 minutes/day, and on the other 2 days, I do a variety of 1-hour cardio workouts.

After the first few weeks, it really does become habit to just get up & do it, and like Yoovie, I feel fantastic afterwards!!

Heidi703

I do the same thing, that way when I get up and start second guessing myself, I am already dressed and figure I am halfway there! Plus you don't have to think about what you are going to wear!

ahni77

plan your workout the day before (i.e. leave DVD in player and ready to just push start). leave your workout gear ready (or sleep in it) and Get plenty of sleep the night before. This might be TMI but every morning when I pee pee after I wake up, I force myself to stay on that toilet until my self-pep talk motivates me to stay awake and workout instead of walking around like a zombie, half asleep and tempted to jump back in bed. I wake up at 4:45am three times a week

ozerion

I have been doing it for about a month now and I love it.

Why I love it:
It's my time!
I don't have to worry about finding time the rest of the day
It's my time!
not many people are there
Nothing else is pulling for my time.
I save money on coffee... I grab a cup on my way out of the gym in the morning since it is there and free.

Suggestions:
Do it 5 days a week, even if you only do Cardio or stretching.
It is easier if I get up early every day, I wish my gym would open early on the weekends too...
Get your workout gear ready (all of it even your water bottle)
I go to work from the gym, so I get my work cloths ready and pack my breakfast and lunch the night before
Eat after working out, you will sustain longer

MissLuana

I've just recently switched back to AM work outs and yes it is hard. But it's so worth it when I get off work and don't have to worry about fitting the gym in. It leaves the whole evening open for whatever, even if that whatever is just being at home.

I make sure my clothes are ready. I put my alarm/cell phone across the room and walk straight to the bathroom after turning off the alarm. While going potty, I log into MFP. A lot of my friends are on the east coast so they're all up and posting by the time I get up. By the time I've finish pottying and responding to MFP posts, I'm awake and pumped to get ready for the gym!!!

Bilbobradshaw

Like everyone else, I prep breakfast/lunch the night before, and try to help myself out by setting my workout clothes in an easily accessible place before I go to sleep. I also find it really helps if I write out a detailed itinerary right before bed

Example:
5:00 - Alarm; eat something small, drink water
5:10 - Dress
5:15 - Stretch
5:20 - Warm up jogging
5:25 - Run
5:45 - Cool down walk
5:55 - Weights // Resistance // Circuits
6:30 - Stretch
6:40 - Shower
6:50 - Eat
7:00 - Get ready for work

It helps keep you on course so that you don't start mucking around and wind up late for work/class/what have you. It also helps you mentally prepare in the morning because you know you don't have time to sleep in or mess around.