Making myself get up early to exercise

Gah, this is me as well. I have a hard time getting to the gym by the time I get out of work. My brain feels tired and has done everything it an to talk me out of it. If I could convince myself to wake up in the AM and do this, I would get it done before I had a chance to whine to myself about it. I just have the worst time getting up.

It never gets easy, but it does get easier after a week or so. your body will adjust to the schedule. i'm up at 3am doing my workout, and that's early lol. move your alarm so you have to get up to turn it off, and set out your workout clothes the night before next to you so when you get up, put your clothes on and go! good luck!!

My senior year of high school, I had a two week period where I had to work out in the morning. I'd wake up get it done and I'd feel great. Just keep yourself hydrated and be sure to eat right. Oatmeal and fruit are good for the morning. The thing is, you just have to get up and go, once you start moving, it's over before you know it! Another thing is, morning workouts mean you get it out of the way and you're getting your metabolism going at the start of the day. Some scientists/doctors recommend morning instead of working out a night, but honestly, times usually aren't much of a difference if a person has the same diet and routine as you, but at a different time of the day... ANYWAYS, the point is, once you get up and go, you'll be able to keep going. It's just the fact that you have to wake up and push yourself.

I used to be the same way (and I'll admit the snooze buttons still gets smacked repeatedly some days) but I've learned that it's getting out of bed that's the worst part. If I can get my feet on the floor and my butt up and moving, once I start my workout my energy levels skyrocket. Never thought I was a morning person.

I was always an afternoon/night exerciser, but decided I wanted to switch to before work for various reasons. I now get up at 4am to workout, but in the beginning it was very hard (and still occasionally can be).

I will share what worked for me.

1.) Having everything set out and ready to go. No thinking required. My workout clothes and things are all laid out, my work clothes are all set, my lunch all packed, etc.

2.) Put your alarm out of reach. This way, you actually have to get up to shut it off.

2.) No shower the night before. I hate being dirty (it drives me nuts) and I cannot show up to work looking greasy. Thus, I have to get up early to shower anyway, so I mine as well get up that extra 30-60 minutes to workout and then shower. (This is really what convinced me some days when I wanted to roll over.)

I hope you find what works for you!

You don't have to workout in the AM if that really isn't working for you - there is nothing wrong with doing PM workouts. I have never been a morning person until now. I am so protective of my sleep and refuse to wake-up any earlier than I have to lol. However, I realized that doing PM workouts meant that my workouts were inconsistent because some evenings are busy and then the day is gone before you know it. Also, I am exhausted after work and dread having to workout on top of my already long day which doesn't help the motivation and consistency. Sooooo I just got to a point where enough was enough and I realized that if I want to get it done then it's going to have to be in the AM.

How do I get up? My alarm is on for 6am which allows me 1 snooze (yes, I built in room for a snooze because that's just who I am and I enjoy having the extra 10mins to slowly get out of bed and not feel rushed.) I have my workout clothes ready to go, running shoes next to the treadmill, water bottle in the fridge ready to grab, prep all my other work clothes/lunch/bag/etc... the night before so the AM is super easy to get through even if I'm half asleep and stumbling around. I also drink water before bedtime the night before because by the time my 6:10am alarm goes off I need to go to the bathroom so bad that I have to get up.... and then I'm up so I just say screw it and head for the treadmill instead of back to bed. If it's a really slow day then I tell myself I can just walk it out... but I find usually after the first 10mins I feel great and end up running anyways. Good music really gets me pumped.

I'm now at the point where it's pretty easy to do it.. i almost look forward to it as well which is a change for me. I have more energy for work and feel like I had some "me" time before the long day ahead. Plus I love that I can come home after work and not have that extra thing still left on my to-do list - i can just relax after work now, enjoy my family, take time to cook dinner, etc.

P.S. I should also mention that I built up to getting up an hour earlier by doing 10-20mins increments each week.

Sorry for the long post but I hope that helps!

haha love this.

I'm up at 4:30 am to workout. Was it hard at first? Very. But after a while your body gets used to it and I'm now at the point that even on the weekends I'm up really early. I like it though, I now get alot of things accomplished in the mornings before the rest of the house is awake. Like others of said, you just have to want it bad enough. A person can do anything they set their mind to, as long as they really want it!

If you have a smartphone, take a look at an app called "I Can't Wake Up". Its a free app. There are different tasks you need to perform before it will allow you to snooze or turn the alarm off. Puzzles, passwords, etc. My favorite is the barcode scanner. You can program several items and it will randomly select one each morning. You must scan the barcode before the alarm will turn off.

I like to pick things from my kitchen since its all the way on the other side of the house from my bedroom. Normally once I'm out of bed, I'm good.

I don't need this app, but that just sounds like fun, especially the barcode scanner! I want to set it up on my fiance's phone and make him scavanger hunt for things I've scanned into it just to get his butt out of bed in the mornings. Okay, that was mean, but it would be kind of funny *snicker*

My hubs wakes up at 4am to go to the gym, he hates it but once he gets there hes always glad he went.. I think you just have to zombie your butt out of bed and force yourself until you get into a routine.

It gets easier once your internal clock adjusts to the new schedule. Definitely never put the clock right by your head, that's snooze button city. Put it across the room. Use multiple clocks set at different alarm times. Once your internal clocks clicks you'll find yourself beating your alarm up.

I too struggle, but AM workouts are really the only time I have to make sure I fit it in...gotta try moving that alarm clock across the room! Once you are up, its not that bad, and once you get that workout in you will feel so good about the day!

Get a dog or cat. Once there is even the slightest sign you're awake, they're up. Once they get used to eating early, they will make sure you won't sleep in!

I'm in the same situation as you are. Between working full time & two children - I find it hard to exercise at night when things finally settle down because I've been going non stop all day and I'm exhausted. Last week I attempted my first morning workout...out the door at 3:45 for 45 mins at the gym. It was hard and I couldn't believe how that 45 mins helped my energy level all day. I have a friend who works out at 5:00 am every morning - so I text her when I'm done for a little piece of accountability since we can't workout together. I started slow...last week two mornings, this week I will do two - but try for three and hopefully end at 5 days a week by middle of July. I set my alarm for 3:30 and then set my cell phone for 3:35 and leave it in my kitchen. It's loud enough to wake me up - but not loud enough to wake up the hubby and kids... it worked last week and I hope it works tomorrow morning when I plan on going.

Good luck...

I agree with those who wonder if you're getting enough sleep. If you're in bed at 10 and fall asleep quickly, that's still only 6.75 hours of sleep. I need at least 7 to function quasi-normally, and do best when I've had 8. Unless you have time in your day for a regular nap, I'd suggest going to bed earlier if you really want to get up at 4:45.