Waking up EARLY to workout?

Go to bed much earlier is the only way; you need your rest

I used to think I wasn't a morning person. Then I started going to bed earlier. Now I get up at 5am and leave for work at 7am.

Daylight helps me wake up. I read it's a much better way to wake yourself up. In summer it's fine to leave the curtains open, but in winter you can use a special light alarm - try googling Natural Light Alarm Clock.

I know it's tricky to wind down and feel like you have enough time in the evenings, but sometimes you have to. I have to leave for work at 7 and I often don't get home til late, then stay up late just to feel like I've had some time to myself, which makes me really tired byt he end of the week. At first it does feel like you're cheating yourself but I found that if you go to bed early just one night per week (say mid week) it really makes a massive difference in your energy levels and you can still have downtime on the other nights.

I get up at 4:30 and workout before my 12 hour shift. I find it's easier to do if I get to bet earlier (and I've worked out, so I'm tired) and make it a habit. It's hard the first few days, but if I push through, I find it easier.

Maybe you aren't meant to exercise in the morning. Is it hard for you to exercise later in the day? If it isn't hard to fit exercise in during the day, then stick with what is working.
If you really want to try and make it work in the morning. Try just doing 15 minutes earlier at first until you get accustomed to it. Then maybe in a month try 15 more minutes.
I get up at 5:30 every morning during the week, and get exercise in. Now, I don't feel right when I don't exercise in the morning.

A couple of points might be worth considering...I found the only time I could make exercise "fit" into my schedule was to hit the gym before I start work at 8AM. Otherwise, other priorities (son's homework help, laundry, mowing the lawn, an extra hour on that *hot* work project, ect) overtook my committment to myself. I also found that by starting my day with a good workout, I was able to wind down earlier so I could still get a minimum of 7 hours of GOOD sleep because I'd developed beneficial hormonal rythms. For me, I found I really need to stop fighting the idea that my health is as important (maybe more so, but I'm not at that point yet) as my relationship with my wife or my responsibilities to my 14 year old, or my responsibility at my firm or anything else. I'm worth my committment to me. I'm a long way from my ulimate goals, but I've got a plan, I've got committment and I've got support from my fitness pal friends.

Not every person can be up at 4:30AM...some people's rythms are different. I have heard that exercise right before bed inhibits sleep, but maybe that's the only time some folks can do. I'm not sure if I'm offering anything helpful, other than my opinion - but this is what works for me.

One fo my favoriite post-it notes to myself (stole it from a friend on the web) "I'm not promising it will be easy, I'm promising it will be worth it!"

Best wishes to you for all the success you deserve!

I went to bed early because I also require an obsene amount of sleep. I woke up yesterday at 5:30 in order to get my workout in before I had to get my daughter off to school. Yes I was tired at first but after I started moving I felt better. I also ate a little something first so I wasnt moving and grooving on an empty stomach. I felt like I had so much more energy than I usually do, to get through my day.

Wear your workout clothes to be. All you have to do is get up and put on your shoes and you are ready to go. Other than that getting to bed earlier and prepping your day before you go to bed are very helpful. I am up between 4 and 4:30 a to feed the dog so that she can digest before we head our running at 5am... Now MY bladder is so well trained I always wake up at that time 7 days a week.

I agree with several of these posts. Had one heck of a time getting moving in the AM; however, I made it a habit of setting the alarm for 0430 every day & weighing myself (thus making it a habit to empty my bladder) at this time as well. It took a few wks (roughly 3), but since, no matter what time I turn in at night (rarely before 2300) I wake up (with or without alarm) nlt 0530.

Everything comes in time. Don't put too much stress into it, just keep it consistent...iow, keep it up 7 days/wk, not just on work days. Granted you will have a day or two when you really want to sleep in, but stick with the routine you desire to keep for the most part. After you weigh, wash up, eat, workout or drink your coffee, if you want to lay back down for a spell--go for it!

I just gave up. lol. I prefer working out at night. Working out before bed makes me sleep better, too.