How to become a morning exerciser?!?
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Some tips to help make the transition:
*Get out of bed as soon as the alarm goes off.
*Turn on the light in the bedroom or living room so your body stops producing sleeptime hormones.
*Have a cold glass of water or anything else that will wake you up.
*Find an exercise you enjoy doing. If you actually want to do the activity, then waking up early won't seem like such a chore.
*Go to bed early enough so you aren't overly tired when its time to wake up.
I get up at 3:30am M-F...I have learned the long hard way- you have to get out of bed as soon as your alarm goes off
it's sad and it sucks, but once I am out- I am good to go! I get to the gym, get home, have breakfast, in the shower by 6am, and in the car by 7:30 for my 8-5. I do it because I KNOW that I will not do it when I get off.
The plus side: you get it done in the morning! Now there is no worrying or stressing when you will get it done. I get about 3 hours of "me time"; the mornings are so relaxing and quiet. I also eat breakfast with the prettiest sunrises! I sleep better at night. I eat better throughout the day- there is no way I am jeopardizing my workout! My energy is better and plus, most of the people that are at the gym that early are as serious as I am, and this minimizes creepers, flirties, and other random weirdos at the gym :ohwell:
Good -luck to you!
Just get yourself out of your bed...the rest is easy :happy:0 -
I was a lot like you. my body did not like it, it was tight and sometimes i would get nauseous. the thing that changed for me was having a baby. now i work around his schedule and my husband works out of town so i can't wait to go when he is asleep, so i wake up when he does, feed him and out the door we go with the stroller and the two dogs. it was tough at first but now i love it. i love getting back, putting my son to bed for a nap and then i move on to either cleaning or pulling weeds, i'm already gross so i can really do a good job. then i hurry and jump in the shower before my son wakes up and we start our day! i'm happy, baby is happy, dogs are happy its a win win
now if only i can get my husband to start exercising 0 -
willpower/dedication. You've either got it or you don't. If you want to work out in the morning get your *kitten* up and do it. If not....wait and exercise at night. There is no magic workout time.0
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My #1 rule is to get to bed early - like 8:30 early, so I can get up at 4-4:30. I am asleep b4 my kids - I get them ready, read to them, tuck them into bed with their books and tell them to turn their lights off in 15 minutes. 90% of the time they do and I can get to sleep by 9.
My #2 rule is never look at the clock when I wake up at night - because if I do, I'll decide I'm tired and reset the alarm. If I wake up and the alarm hasn't gone off, I go back to sleep.
#3 - as soon as the alarm goes off, get up. Don't so much as stretch or think. Just get up.
Re: running in the am? I hate running in the am too, but sometimes I do. I'd rather swim or bike - I find both easier in the am than running. But if I have to run, I eat a caffeinated Gu (energy gel) 15 min before I go - makes a world of difference.
Good luck!
Another idea for running in the am - find a running partner that you aren't real good friends with so you can't count on them to understand if you blow them off. Find someone that you know will show up and will be po'd if you don't!0 -
Morning workouters or runners......do you eat before or just get up and go?0
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One more thing - probably most important. Make sure you go to bed hydrated. Otherwise, you wake up feeling lethargic. I make sure I drink a large glass of water at some point when I wake up during hte night. Otherwise, running is miserable the next morning.0
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Hmmm, Now I've started thinking about this! School starts tomorrow, maybe I'll get up with my senior in HS and try doing my walk early. Have to think about though...I'm kinda lazy in the morning!0
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I've always been a morning person, and it worked in my favor as a competitive rider in my teens so that probably reinforced my natural pattern. But another motivator for me is my dog. She knows the minute I wake up, even if I don't actually move, and comes right over to greet me and encourage me to get on with the pre-dawn jog, lol.0
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They (whoever they are) say it takes 21 days to form a new habit. I got up religiously in the mornings for about four weeks - a bit over the 21 days but fell back into my old ways rather quickly. I felt great when I was working out in the mornings and can't quite figure out why I can't motivate myself to continue doing it. Will love to hear all the tips and tricks, although as we know it's probably a case of mind over matter to get it done.0
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Morning workouters or runners......do you eat before or just get up and go?
I get up and go!0 -
How do you become a morning exerciser??
Honestly, you suck it up when the alarm goes off and just get out of bed. It's not easy. Many times in the past I have wanted to wake up early and exercise only to hit the snooze and go back to sleep. If you aren't a morning person, then you really have to want it to become one. What I mean is you really have to want to achieve your goals. Obviously if you are trying to become a morning exerciser it is probably because you don't have time in the rest of your day to exercise regularly. I switched my exercises to the morning to ensure I would get them in. Those first few weeks of getting up at 5am were rough. But as time went by, I really started to enjoy my mornings. Now with my new workout schedule, I am up at 3am three times a week and heading to the gym. I look forward to my workouts and I never complain about getting up early to do them.
Some tips to help make the transition:
*Get out of bed as soon as the alarm goes off.
*Turn on the light in the bedroom or living room so your body stops producing sleeptime hormones.
*Have a cold glass of water or anything else that will wake you up.
*Find an exercise you enjoy doing. If you actually want to do the activity, then waking up early won't seem like such a chore.
*Go to bed early enough so you aren't overly tired when its time to wake up.
I agree. I had to change to be a morning exerciser and I mean an EARLY morning exerciser because of my job. I had to leave for work by quarter to 6 b/c I had to drive into the city. Some people got gym memberships through work and worked out after work or at lunch however lunchtime didn't work for me because I'm a girl and I'm sorry I didn't have 2 hour lunches and after work didn't work b/c I couldn't count on getting done with work before 7 or 8pm during certain cycles.
Anyway, I started by making time for 30 minute workouts every morning; leaving enough time to get a shower and dressed, but packing my breakfast, snacks, and lunch the night before. Oh, you HAVE to get to bed early enough (I found I had to at least get 7 1/2 hours of sleep to survive) and Yes, when the alarm goes off, just get up. I even started sleeping in my workout clothes to make sure I'd get up. Too dark outside to run? Not a problem, we lived in the burbs with plenty of street lamps and paths, I wore a headlamp (which you can purchase at a sports store), and my husband came with me on his bike also equipped with lights). Actually, I have found my fastest runs were in the morning when it was cool and crisp.
Take it easy to start and pump it up as you get used to getting up. Oh it never hurts to have a pet that will get used to your schedule and will refuse to let you slip. My cat would never let me sleep in...not even on weekends. Loved him to death and really miss him since he passed away last year. My new kitten doesn't demand I get up immediately when my alarm goes off...I really have to force myself up on my own, but well...I've been doing it for years now, so I'm used to it at this point.
Good Luck! You do what you gotta do!!0 -
The biggest secret to being a morning person: Go to bed earlier.0
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So my question is....are you a morning exerciser? Are you naturally that way or did you have to become one because of your schedule? How do you do it? It is just sooo easy to hit the snooze button and say you will do it after work and then after work it is just sooo hard to get moving! I need help because I desperately want to be a morning exerciser at least 3-4 times a week so I can make sure I get my runs in! I know I just have to get up and do it but any help or motivation will be appreciated.
Wish me luck...my alarm will be set for 1 hour earlier then usual tomorrow.
Yes, I'm a morning exerciser.
No, I'm not naturally that way. In the afternoon/evening, I'm too prone to make excuses or be legitimately too tired/busy for it.
I do it by laying out my clothes & bag the night before, then set my alarm early, get up, and go. I've tried to make it just "what I do" and not a choice to be made every morning.0 -
i wake up with the birds. I like to chase them.0
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Bump for motivation!0
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Yep. I get my runs in before the heat sets in, and later in the year, I'll do them as early as possible. I like to get it out of the way and get the endorphin rush, it powers me through the rest of my active day. As for eating first, not usually. If anything, a banana and some protein when I get back :drinker:0
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in on this crew! Awesome tips/etc - Going to actually try this tomorrow rather than dealing with the gym crowds after work :grumble:0
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I JUST started working out in the morning and am currently on my fourth week of doing so. The first week is hell, but you feel SO much better knowing its done and over with and you can go about your day not having to worry about working out when you get home from work! That alone is a huge relief. They say it takes about 2 weeks for your body to adjust to waking up and getting ready for a workout, and they are right, it does get easier week to week, so just stay strong! If you want it bad enough, you'll do it, and you feel like you've accomplished so much already and you havent even gone to work yet lol, now thats a good feeling!0
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I'd like to do this too! I think it would be more likely that I'd get it done. There are only so many hours in the day. I wish I needed less sleep. 0
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Hey, I am a morning exerciser, have been for quite some time. However, when I started I was not. My delimma was always going to bed early enough to get the sleep I needed, I resolved that with Tylenol PM. I did this for two weeks and eventually I no longer needed it and now I rarely need my alarm clock to get up at 4am.
Good Luck, keep moving!!!0 -
Morning person. Set alarm at 5:30 AM. I put on a cap, I don't shave, or even brush my teeth, I don't eat breakfast, nor drink water. I get out of the house, my personal best is 3 mins. My two dogs follow me. They are awake. I walk a hilly 5 miles, used to take me 108 minutes, now I do it in 92 mins, only weather that has stopped me as an excuse? Lightening in the area. When I come back, hungry, I feed the dogs, I drink water, take a shower, then I have 300 calories max for Sunrise meal. My Meals are labeled "Sunrise", "Noon", "Sunset", and "9:00 PM if you are Under 1,200 calories."0
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I would LOVE to be a morning exerciser and have been debating this for so long.
Sometimes I set my alarm early and usually I just say nah, too tired, will be too tired for work, and I go to sleep until the latest minute possible.
I am bumping this for tips 0 -
I set my alarm an hour earlier on workout days. I workout at home (P90X) so get everything ready the night before. I'll bring whatever equipment I need into the living the night before. I'm not naturally a morning but after a few weeks it does get easier. I feel better getting done early. I'm always too tired later on in the day.0
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Right!! This has motivated me. I am the furthest from a morning person ever!!! I could easily sleep to 9am every day (later at weekends). So it's going to be my aim to change my teenage sleep patterns that I have had for more than 20 years in September! :blushing:
I wold start now but I've got a bit of hectic weekend at a rock festival to get through first :drinker: :smokin:
Thanks x0 -
I have just recently developed a successful habit of morning exercise. I had tried it oodles of times before, but it didn't last long.
I think this time I am just more committed to making this work. I know there is no other time that I can consistently get it done (I have toddlers and a full time job), so the AM is it. Like some of the others here, I have everything ready the night before, and get to bed in good time. Then when the alarm goes off I just get up, get myself dressed etc., grab a quick bite and hit the road for the gym.
It feels SO good to get it done early. I think I'm getting a little addicted to that feeling. :-)0 -
it is difficult at first, but once you've done it a few times and it's all done by 7am you realise it's a great start to the day to have it done earlier and for me it clears my head fans makes the day easier to handle... once you know that it becomes easier to do it. it did for me anyway! x0
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Having read this thread I have decided to take the plunge and set the alarm early tomorrow. I've been thinking about it for a while and with the weather not being too bad here it's the perfect opportunity! Thanks for the push guys!0
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The one way that I became a morning exerciser was when I hired a trainer. Because I wouldn't go to the gym on my own in the morning, knowing he was there meant I couldn't just skip the gym. It provided a measure of accountability.
If you don't want a trainer, just find a running buddy who will keep you honest. You don't want them running early all alone do you?0 -
bump0
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Go to bed early the previous day and set a very annoying alarm that will tick you off enough so that you can't sleep anymore and have to get up. Put it across the room and in a place where you have to turn on the light to get to it lol take a hot shower for ten minutes and blast loud workout music.0
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