GETTING UP EARLY

lauryn86
lauryn86 Posts: 86 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I am not a morning person but I SO wish I could wake up early...what is your morning rituals? How do you get up early and what time? DO you have any tips for me? I work M-Sat and have to be there at 9am...I have about a 30 minute commute.
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Replies

  • amyniceneasy
    amyniceneasy Posts: 143 Member
    Oh how I WISH I didnt have to be at work until 9am!
    I have to be at work at 7.
  • tamsinh96
    tamsinh96 Posts: 5 Member
    A week or so ago i downloaded the "sleep cycle" app which monitors how deep your sleep is and wakes you up gently when it's at it's lightest. It's really helped me so far! I would definitely recommend it if you have a smart phone :)
  • dcr5452WECHANGED
    dcr5452WECHANGED Posts: 121 Member
    I try to get up at 5am in order to hit the gym at 5:30. This is not an easy thing to accomplish but I can usually make it to the gym by 6-6:10am which is still early enough for me to get a good work out in and be in work by 8:30. Lately, around here (Boston) it has been getting light outside by around 5:50am which makes it easier than it would be in the dead of winter. Try going to bed before 10pm. It seems to make it a little easier.
  • DawnieB1977
    DawnieB1977 Posts: 4,248 Member
    I'm usually at work about 8:20 and would be there earlier but my kids' nursery doesn't open until 8, so then I get stuck in the awful traffic, turning a less than 10 minute drive into at least 20mins. I'm a teacher so I like to be at work and organised for the day ahead.

    I get up at 6, and my kids can wake up anytime between 5:30 and 7:30.
  • TahoeSki
    TahoeSki Posts: 69 Member
    I believe our bodies like structure and a schedule so... get into the habit of going to bed earlier and you'll be able to get up without your body and mind putting up a fight. I head to bed around 9PM and aim to sleep from 9:30 - 5:30. I hit snooze once of twice and then get up and go for about a 2 mile run.

    You have an advantage that you don't have to be at work until 9AM. Lucky you! :)
  • MaeRenee94
    MaeRenee94 Posts: 175
    Oh how I WISH I didnt have to be at work until 9am!
    I have to be at work at 7.

    Hahah same here!
  • JLPaige
    JLPaige Posts: 194
    Once you learn the secret, please share. I barely wake up in time for work as it is, lol.
  • JIsh09
    JIsh09 Posts: 158
    I am def not a morning person myself, but having 2 smaller kids who go to School I have no chose but to get up. I wake up at 6 AM to prepare them for School. A cup of coffee usually helps me to get my day started.
  • KatLifter
    KatLifter Posts: 1,314 Member
    I got an accountability partner - a friend who was already a morning exerciser I had to call when I got up. I also chose a gym halfway between home and work. I have to take public transportation in the city, so having to pass by it helps motivate me to actually go.
    Shake Awake App. You have to shake your phone/ipad for a certain amount of time before it will turn off. Place it across the room so you have to get up and move to get it to turn off :smile:
  • lcvaughn520
    lcvaughn520 Posts: 219 Member
    It's hard! When I first started doing morning workouts:

    1. I had all my stuff ready to go and easy to find (the last thing you need is an excuse to crawl back in bed)
    2. When I felt like hitting "snooze" or resetting my alarm, I would say, literally out loud "I have never regretted a workout. I will regret it if I don't go to the gym this morning."
    3. I didn't try to do it every single day. I would plan to work out two mornings a week, so then when I was dragging myself out of bed in the dark I could think, "tomorrow when I sleep until 7 it's going to feel amazing!!"

    At first, you'll feel like you're forcing it, but gradually, it will feel easier and easier to get out of bed and work out! Give it time.
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    Up at 4:40 a.m., on the elliptical for 45 minutes. In the shower at 5:30, kiddo on the bus at 6:50, head to work.

    In bed by 8:30 or 9:00 most nights to make that happen.
  • BRYG420
    BRYG420 Posts: 4
    I love the "Sleep Cycle" app. It actually works believe it or not. I haven't used it in a while, but when I did use it I would always wake up feeling fully rested and had energy. Speaking of which, I'm going to download it right now! I suggest others use it too :) Especially if you're like me in the morning.
  • Jayne19099
    Jayne19099 Posts: 149 Member
    I found this article, and while I have not yet spent the time practicing, it does make a lot of sense:

    http://sleepforall.com/get-up-when-your-alarm-goes-off.htm

    Let me know if you do it and it works!
  • Amandatorie
    Amandatorie Posts: 93 Member
    I recently joined a morning "bootcamp" class that meets Monday-Thursday at 6am. Today was day 2 of getting up at 5:40am for me, and then home a little after 7, and ready to leave the house at about 8, which gives me plenty of time to get to work by 8:30/9am (My commute's only about 20 minutes on a good day, but can take almost an hour on the bad days).

    Honestly, I just wasn't working out in the evenings. This is really the only other choice. Having an actual commitment to be there is definitely helping me!
  • bannedword
    bannedword Posts: 299 Member
    I leave the house at 7 to take the small person to school and to go to work. I get up at 5 to go run because it's the only time I can be sure I'll have time to do it.

    I don't know how you make yourself do it, beyond that you just do it.
  • ash8184
    ash8184 Posts: 701 Member
    I know how you feel.

    Set a routine and before you know it, you'll be waking up early on your day off from work (which is great for lots of reasons, but for me, no one is at the gym early on Sunday morning!). It'll take a few weeks of misery, but once you get used to it, it'll be great.

    If I don't exercise in the morning, it doesn't happen!
  • LeenaRuns
    LeenaRuns Posts: 1,309 Member
    I leave the house at 7 am and have to get myself and a toddler ready (husband leaves for work before toddler gets up). I wake up at 3:40 and work out. There's no such thing as findign time, you ahve to make time. If you want it badly enough, you'll just do it.
  • residentjc
    residentjc Posts: 15 Member
    I am not a morning person ether but its the only time i have to workout. I get up at 5am and right away have my coffee, some toast with Almond Butter and my pre-workout supplements. I'm sensitive to stimulants so once i take them I can't go back to bed. (check with you doctor before taking any stimulants) I start my workouts at 6-6:15am. It's hard but if you just keep at it, eventually it gets easier. Like "tamsinh96", i also downloaded the Sleep Cycle app. Its a great alarm to wake up to, give it a try. Also, just a suggestion, don't hit the snooze button. When it rings pop up, get moving and get your coffee or morning drink of choice (tea, etc.). Hitting the Snooze only makes it harder to get up.
  • KenosFeoh
    KenosFeoh Posts: 1,837 Member
    I just do it. I don't know that there's any secret to it other than sitting up and putting my feet on the floor. That's the main thing - get your feet on the floor.

    It happens around 4:45 AM at my house.
  • dontgobacktosleep
    dontgobacktosleep Posts: 144 Member
    Oh how I WISH I didnt have to be at work until 9am!
    I have to be at work at 7.

    I have a coffee maker with a programmer, so I set it to make the pot an hour before I get up... quite literally; wake up and smell the coffee :D
  • Mustang_Susie
    Mustang_Susie Posts: 7,045 Member
    I work second shift and am a night owl, so I hear ya!:yawn:

    I get up by 6:00 or 6:30 to take my daughter to school and then I go work out.

    I don't think about it or give myself time to argue with myself. I just get up and start my day.

    Once I've been up and moving for a bit, I feel better.

    And I always feel better that I went and worked out rather than stayed in bed.
  • dluce2569
    dluce2569 Posts: 23 Member
    I go to sleep by 8:30 pm and I am up at 3:30-4am., when my alarm goes off...I jump right out of bed. First thing is coffee...while I put my meals together for the day. If any are cooked meals, I usually have already prepared them in advance. I do dishes, shower, and cooked breakfast for my Husband; he works graveyard and gets home around 4;30am. In the winter I start work at 6am, in the Spring at 7am and in the summer 6:30 - 7:00am. My start time is pretty flexible. I usally workout out in the evenings after dinner, that's when my Husbands leaves for work. I am totally a morning person, even on my days off...I'm up no later than 8am. Usually I get hungry, since I normally eat breakfast at 6am. Sometimes, on my days off...Have a glass of milk and go back to bed, so I can get extra sleep.
  • digressions
    digressions Posts: 19 Member
    I am the Queen of getting up early! I get up between 4:30 and 5 on workdays, have to be at work no later than 6:15. I am often there by 6.

    That being said, I do hate the first 10 minutes or so after the alarm goes off, but once that's over, you're good to go. There's no real trick to getting up before the crack of dawn - like many other unpleasant-yet-necessary things in life, you just force yourself to do it!

    Oh, and *always* go to bed early (even when you don't feel like it) or you will be kicking yourself in the morning! Been there...

    Good luck!
  • Adc7225
    Adc7225 Posts: 1,318 Member
    I get up at 5:15, get to the gym by 6:00, workout for at least an hour and then go home to get ready for work . . . I start work at 9:30 and my commute is about 30 minutes which includes a 1 mile walk.

    I was already a morning person because I would come in early to do my homework, so it was not so bad for me when I started working out. The things that really helped me were:
    Being organized
    Going to bed by 8:30
    No late night snacking (after 8:00)

    It takes time for your body to adjust, for me morning works better because I am more focused on what I want/need to do as opposed the evenings. Start slow, commit to 2 days a week and work from there.
  • cutchro
    cutchro Posts: 396 Member
    After a few weeks it becomes habit.

    I pack my gym bag and lunch the night before when I get home before sitting down (if I sit down it is all over)

    My alarm goes of at 5:15am

    I make my bed. comb my hair brush my teeth. wash my face. get workout clothes on. Eat oatmeal and have a cup of coffee.

    I have a 10 minute commute to work arrive at the gym about 6:10 (gym is at my place of employment). work out until 7:20am. at my desk by 8am.

    I use to have an hour commute my alarm then would go off at 4:30 and I would be out the door by 5am.

    It was tough the first few weeks but then became habit. I find morning workouts are better for me since I do not get to use the I am tired, had a long hard day, am hungry etc that happens after work.
  • dluce2569
    dluce2569 Posts: 23 Member
    I go to sleep by 8:30 pm and I am up at 3:30-4am., when my alarm goes off...I jump right out of bed. First thing is coffee...while I put my meals together for the day. If any are cooked meals, I usually have already prepared them in advance. I do dishes, shower, and cooked breakfast for my Husband; he works graveyard and gets home around 4;30am. In the winter I start work at 6am, in the Spring at 7am and in the summer 6:30 - 7:00am. My start time is pretty flexible. I usally workout out in the evenings after dinner, that's when my Husband leaves for work. I am totally a morning person, even on my days off...I'm up no later than 8am. Usually I get hungry, since I normally eat breakfast at 6am. Sometimes, on my days off...Have a glass of milk and go back to bed, so I can get extra sleep.
    My commute is 30 minutes.
  • 08kat
    08kat Posts: 51
    I am NOT a morning person, but have made the commitment to workout each morning. I make sure that I am "unplugged" by 9pm, no computer, tv or electronics of any kind. I normally read for about 30 minutes before bed and sleep quite well. When I first started this schedule, I was taking melatonin to help regulate my sleep cycle, but after approximately a week, I am up and ready to hit the gym at 5am. Hope this helps. GOOD LUCK!!:bigsmile:
  • SmartAlec03211988
    SmartAlec03211988 Posts: 1,896 Member
    I wake up at 6:00 and immediately go exercise before anything else. The longer I procrastinate the less likely I am to actually do it.
  • 212ackley
    212ackley Posts: 431 Member
    It is so hard to get up early and find the motivation, but once you get in the habit (and it takes a couple of weeks) you miss it when you don't do it! I get up at about 5;30 am - watch some news and have my coffee...then either go for a walk or so some other form of exercises (wii fit, weights...whatever I feel like) until 6:45-7:00...get the kids up for school and I shower....we are out the door at 7:35 so I can drop them off at school and be to work by 8 am. 4 days a week I also go to Zumba from 5:30 - 6:30 and on M & W I stay after for Pilates from 6:30 to 7:30....

    I am happy to have a husband that helps a lot around the house and supports my weight loss efforts. May will be a slow down for me since he will be going back to work and I will have to cook dinner, but it will work out!
  • jonjmorgan
    jonjmorgan Posts: 1 Member
    I work out at night because I like it, but if i had to commit to other things in the evening, I would change my pattern. I used to work out in the mornings. One of the best tips I can give is have your gym clothes ready to go the night before..I have a friend who sleeps in his gym clothes, yeah that is weird, but whatever works!..

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