Early Birds - what inspires your morning workouts?

I'm with those who know that if it doesn't get done early, it doesn't usually get done. And the feeling of regret at the end of the day for not having worked out finally outweighed the difficultly of getting up early and getting it done!

My alarm goes off at 4:45 and I am working out by 5am, done by 6. Get my kid off to school, and on with my day, knowing my workout is complete! :drinker:

My daughter rows so I am up at 5am most mornings, making lunches and then off to the lake. You will then find me power walking around the lake by 5.30. Beautiful now, not so great in the winter.

My work days are pretty abnormal compared to the 9am to 5pm Monday - Friday type gig. I work shifts, 5am to 5pm Thursday - Wednesday and then I'm off a week and then I do it all again a week later...working out on my week off is pretty normal, wake up whenever I feel like it, usually around 9am 9:30ish...and workout, no big deal. Well on the days I work I have to get up anywhere between 2am-2:30ish....sucks yes but once I'm up and I workout I feel good knowing that all I have to do is go home, eat dinner and maybe do some laundry and then go to bed around 8pm-8:30ish. I've run on little sleep all my life, I guess it's easier for me, when I tend to sleep a lot I get really tired. It's strange. But yeah, motivation is knowing that I don't have to worry about doing it later after work...that gets my butt up out of bed.

I get up at 3:30AM, Im at the gym around 3:40 or 3:45AM. At first I was embarrased to go in the evening and have everyone pointing at the fat guy that could only do 10 minutes on the eliptical...but as I lost weight, I tried it in the afternoon, and I hated the crowds, So i went back to 330AM to have more machines to pick from, and frankly, on the days I lift weights, I feel more "awake' at work. I have to go that early because I have a long commute and have to leave my house at 6AM. On weekends Im probably in the gym around 6 or 7am

If I don't do my rowing BEFORE the toddler wakes up, I will be rowing with a 35 pound weight hanging off my back, asking me all manner of questions for 50 minutes...

In the early morning before the world wakes up, I do.

At 4 am, my alarm goes off, playing BEAST by Nico Vega... "We're all free in the land of America, we ain't goin down like this!! Cmon people!" and as Im answering math problems to turn it off, there is a message scrolling across the top - "Are you a liar or do you want this? You can have it. Go take it."

I have my clothes laid out from the night before, or I've slept in them. I take my time going over my homework again - checking all my gym notes and making sure I didnt schedule something stupid today by accident - like incline dumbbell bench AND Barbell bench or something like that. Sometimes I shower before I go just to get the weekend off me first. I have an hour to get in the right mindset, spend time with my body, with my thoughts in the peaceful quiet. I can brainstorm all my creativity, I can set up what Im going to eat at work, I can waste time on MFP - just getting into the right frame of mind before I leave for the gym around 5-515 or 530-545 if I'm lucky enough to workout with my lifting buddy.

My point is - Im not inspired to do my morning workouts - it's something I very much need for my mental health. It's my lifestyle. It's THE lifestyle I worked for years to get comfortable in. It's gotten to the point where NOT going causes problems, not the other way around. Even if I wake up at 7:30 and have to leave for work in an hour - i STILL go.

Its a ritual. It's sacred to me. Things that are vital to me get special treatment.

Ive just jumped on this early morning workout bandwagon. At first I thought there is no way. but really. its only an extra hour. Once my alarm goes off at 5:30, im kind of awake anyways, and id probably just toss and turn the next hour. So I make myself get up and go to bootcamp. come home, shower, walk to work and DONE! I can do whatever I want the rest of the day, and not have to worry if I will get my workout in, and mentally motivating myself ALL day.

I also find I make better food choices too! and my energy level keeps me going all day.

@LT_Starbuck

There is a message scrolling across the top - "Are you a liar or do you want this? You can have it. Go take it."

Its a ritual. It's sacred to me. Things that are vital to me get special treatment.

This really spoke to me...I'm stealing this alarm btw.

Good.

I get up @ 5am and go downstairs for a dvd or XboxKinect. It is easier for me to workout in the morning b/c if I wait until evening, I end up not getting it done(aka sitting down on the couch). It is also before the kids get up, so I can actually focus on the workout and not going up and down the stairs which breaks up the flow.

I don't workout every morning but when I plan to I just do it knowing that you never know what the day may bring and I may not want to after work. I would much rather get it done and I always feel better when I do.