Early Morning Workouts

tmarie514
tmarie514 Posts: 11 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I am not proudly a 7:00-7:20 a.m. riser during the week (yes, later on weekends). This has been fine up to this point because I could get to work at an acceptable time, take 1.5 hours for lunch to workout, and go on with my day. However, on Monday I'll be starting a new role in my company that will not only require me to get to work 1.25 hours earlier than normal, but will also prohibit my 1.5 hour workout lunches for quite a while. That being said, I'll be trying to implement a 3x a week morning routine for the days I can't workout in the evening. (Doing DVD's in my living room until winter passes.)

Any tips for how to make such a dramatic switch to not only waking up at 5:30, but also getting a workout in at that time?

Do you sleep in your workout clothes? Set your alarm in the living room? Have the DVD in and ready to hit play before going to bed?

Replies

  • symba1130
    symba1130 Posts: 248 Member
    All of the above! I cant say any of these have worked for me well, I find that getting up early is great, but I have a hard time working out at home. I layout my workout clothes and I so have the DVD already set up to go.
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    do you sleep in your work clothes and then go straight to work? do you sleep in your car with your hand on the key and the nav already set to your work address? do you have a special fairy that descends upon you during sleep to wake you up to get to work on time?

    i'm guessing the answer to all of the above is a resounding NO. so clearly you have the ability to handle your business when it comes to work. make the decision that you getting up early to work out is important and you'll get up for it just like you're able to get up for other things you consider important.
  • ItsCasey
    ItsCasey Posts: 4,021 Member
    Honestly, I don't see how motivating yourself to work out first thing in the morning is any more or less difficult than motivating yourself to do it after a long day at work. It's all in your head. Just decide to do it until it becomes a habit.
  • jackjackattck
    jackjackattck Posts: 117 Member
    I do not sleep in my workout clothes, but I typically have them set out and ready to go the night before. I can't get myself to actually leave the house that early (my workouts begin at 4-4:15 AM), so I have my yoga mat, weights and DVD's ready to go when I wake up as well.

    The first week will be really hard, but once you get into a routine your body will adjust. Plus, you will be so tired in the evenings from waking up earlier that it will be easier to go to sleep earlier as well. I have been waking up at 4 AM like this for one month (as opposed to 5:30 AM previously), and I love it. Sure there are plenty of times that I just do not want to get out of bed, but I can guarantee 5-10 mins into the workout I feel great! I start out my day with a lot more energy, I am often to work earlier than I was before, and I can go about the day with less stress and worries knowing my workout is behind me.

    It isn't too difficult if you set your mind to it and.... just do it! Good luck!
  • SunofaBeach14
    SunofaBeach14 Posts: 4,899 Member
    I made the decision to workout during the day or evenings.
  • vjohn04
    vjohn04 Posts: 2,276 Member
    I made the decision to workout during the day or evenings.

    This^. Except for weekends... I tend to get up early and go for a run.... after I have coffee, of course.
  • Whambam087
    Whambam087 Posts: 170
    I'm an absolute morning person so I have absolutely no difficulty getting up early in the morning to workout. There's no struggle to wake up and roll out of bed because I naturally wakeup at 4:30 to 5:00 am without an alarm clock bright eyed and bushy tailed and ready to go! Since I wake up so early I think it's a lot more convenient to squeeze a workout in before work and to get it over with then to go after work when I'm drained and the gyms packed. Plus working out early just makes me feel refreshed for the rest of the day. Now if you could tell me how to sleep in that would be nice since I can't do that for the life of me. 6 am is the latest I can sleep lol
  • krm0789
    krm0789 Posts: 134 Member
    I'm laughing at but liking your alarm in the living room routine. I didn't work out last night, so I slept in my workout clothes, loaded up my video, & set my laptop up for my workout this morning... but the snooze button got me.
  • Sirrunsalot75
    Sirrunsalot75 Posts: 370 Member
    Set all of your workout clothes out the night before so you can roll out of bed, dress and go. Make sure you know your workout plan the night before so you don't think about anything in the morning. Once you finish, you will feel great and ready for the day.
  • MG_Fit
    MG_Fit Posts: 1,143 Member
    If you're going to wake up early workout, just make the decision to do so. Personally, I don't like going to a gym that is packed, so I have the alarm set for 3:55, and usually roll out of bed at 4-4:05. Take care of business, and head to the gym. I try to get to bed by 9:30. I find that if I go to sleep later than that my routine will suck. I agree with Casey in that, you just need to resolve in your mind to do so. There are no tricks, if it's something you want, then own it.
  • shazbox1
    shazbox1 Posts: 175 Member
    Start your day 15-30 minutes earlier each day this week. It will help a lot when Monday comes. Other than that, it will just take a few days for you to become used to waking up at that time, and then it will feel the same as 7:00.
  • BeachGingerOnTheRocks
    BeachGingerOnTheRocks Posts: 3,927 Member
    If morning workouts are the only thing that fit your schedule, then just have your stuff out and ready to go when you wake up.

    Sleep in workout clothes? I'd wake up all night long feeling strangled. That's a whole lot of compression.

    You just have to do it and slowly get used to the routine. That being said, I'd rather go to the gym at 7:30pm and rely on my crock pot more.
  • train_01
    train_01 Posts: 135 Member
    I usually go at 5 am (that's when my gym opens). It is much less crowded at that time and full of familiar faces which is nice. I set out my clothes the night before and get my bag and water bottle ready so all I have to do is grab and go. Getting out of bed is the hardest part but I'm motivated because if I don't get up and shut the alarm off, my hubby will get VERY cranky haha. A good idea is to set up your alarm clock across the room from your bed, that way if you want to turn it off or snooze it, you have to get out of bed. Then it's like, "I'm out of bed anyway, I might as well stay up". :)
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    Honestly, I don't see how motivating yourself to work out first thing in the morning is any more or less difficult than motivating yourself to do it after a long day at work. It's all in your head. Just decide to do it until it becomes a habit.

    ^^^This.

    If you want it, you'll get yourselfe up for it.

    I switched from working out at 3:30 in the afternoon to 4:30 in the morning in a weekend.
  • Cre8veLifeR
    Cre8veLifeR Posts: 1,062 Member
    I am one of those annoying morning people :) Just get into a routine and it will get easier.
  • PetulantOne
    PetulantOne Posts: 2,131 Member
    Honestly, I don't see how motivating yourself to work out first thing in the morning is any more or less difficult than motivating yourself to do it after a long day at work. It's all in your head. Just decide to do it until it becomes a habit.

    Yup.

    I'm not a morning person, at all. I love sleep.

    I work 8-4:30 and then have school 3 nights a week. i learned early on that trying to workout after all that was too much of a struggle. I made up my mind to get up an hour early and do it before work. It sucked at first, but I just kept at it. Now I don't even think about it. Alarm goes off at 5, it's Tue or Thur so it's time to go lift. It really does become automatic if you just do it.
  • RhysWill_I_Ams
    RhysWill_I_Ams Posts: 245 Member
    I would say your biggest obstacle is willpower. Its all about thinking I love to workout I will wake up early and do it just as hard as I would any other time.

    Prep is key. Have your clothes set out the night before, set 2-3 alarms and put your clock or phone outside your door so you have to get out of bed to turn it off.

    On top of it feel positive! Working out in the morning makes you feel more alert kick starts your metabolic rate quicker and keeps it going throughout the day. So use that as motivation and think you have work then whatever you wanna do in the evening.
  • xPeacefulx
    xPeacefulx Posts: 59 Member
    I'm a early bird. I usually get up around 4:30 - 5:00 no later then 7:00 i really enjoy working out in the mornings just makes me feel refreshed throughout the day.... plus seeing the the sunrise is awesome :)
  • SugarLou57
    SugarLou57 Posts: 84 Member
    I am making the switch this week to mornings. In the evening I get my gym bag ready with my regular clothes and towel, put my work out clothes out to wear to the club. Decide on lunch and have that ready in the fridge. I set my phone alarm (way louder and more annoying than the other one) for 4:45 am.

    I get up, brush my teeth, feed the cats, make my Green Smoothie, get dressed and head out the door by 5:15 for the club. By 7 am I am done. Next evening - start it over again.

    I feel so good having the whole day ahead instead of rushing home for dinner.
  • MarlaVSings
    MarlaVSings Posts: 66 Member
    do you sleep in your work clothes and then go straight to work? do you sleep in your car with your hand on the key and the nav already set to your work address? do you have a special fairy that descends upon you during sleep to wake you up to get to work on time?

    i'm guessing the answer to all of the above is a resounding NO. so clearly you have the ability to handle your business when it comes to work. make the decision that you getting up early to work out is important and you'll get up for it just like you're able to get up for other things you consider important.

    This is exactly what I needed to read. Great advice, thanks!

Categories