How to become a morning workout-er?

I workout in the morning when my son goes down for his nap. I do it to get it out of the way for the day. That's my motivation lol. I'd rather do it then, than when all the kids are in bed and things settle down for the day.

I am a night owl and a teacher. So I started exercising last June when school was out and then when school started in August, I thought how in the world will I exercise?? Well.. I set the alarm for 4:30am and did it almost every day last school year -- 190 days of school! I can't believe it myself. I knew if I didn't do in the morning it might not happen. I have found that during that time I would come up with great ideas and solve problems and felt so much better. There were mornings when I absolutely did not want to get up. But I got up and did it, even though I was half asleep, no matter what, and once I got going I was so happy I did and felt so great. The funny thing is now it is summer and I am back to sleeping late and staying up late, I don't really like exercising later in the morning like I did last summer. So I've been setting the alarm for 7:30 (which is VERY early for me naturally) and getting it done then so that I don't feel like the day is over. I also have read that most people who successfully stick with an exercise program do it in the morning -- so there is another reason to do it then. Good luck - you can do it!

I get up at 5 to make it to my 6:15 class at least 3 times a week. It can be challenging. Here are my tricks:

1. Little to no alcohol the night before.
2. Drink a tall glass of water before bed, that way you will HAVE to get up.
3. Push yourself really hard until it becomes habit and don't let yourself sleep in too late on days you don't work out in the morning.
4. In bed by 9, lights out by 10.
5. Find something you love. I love my gym. What's better than starting out your day with your friends?

Now, I work from 8:30-5:30 and have to leave the house at 7:45 to get to the office on time. It takes me a solid hour to get ready in the mornings, so I get up at 5AM on lifting days (MWF) now. I didn't think I'd be able to do it, but I've stuck to it for 3 months and now it's just a habit. At first,, you just have to force it. Don't even think about it - just get your butt up and DO IT.

GFT....and don't hit snooze

When I started going to the gym, I went at 5 pm like clockwork for two years. Then, when I got to my last year of veterinary school, I was looking at 15-17 hour days starting at 6:30 a.m. By then I was doing CrossFit, so my only choice in terms of their class schedule was 6 a.m - and regardless, we'd sometimes be at school until 10 p.m. or midnight, so it was morning or bust. So I set my alarm for 5 (wouldn't have time to shower after), and did it.

I don't have any tips. I knew that was the only time I would be able to work out, so when that alarm went off, I just rolled out of bed and got going. I didn't think of it as optional, so there was rarely any argument in my mind. Just like you have to get up at a certain time to get to work, I had to get up to go to the gym. I suppose it helped that I enjoyed it, and I love the community and friends I made at the gym, which was super motivating. It was also sometimes nice to brag a little to my overworked, sleep deprived colleagues that I'd found a way to work in some exercise.

Working out in the morning has been a desire of mine for a while now. My natural habit is to sit around and slowly wake up in the mornings and end up working out late morning/early afternoon. It works out okay, but I usually end up rushed for my afternoon/evening activities during the week and if the family has plans on Saturdays it causes me stress trying to figure out when I am going to exercise.
So I hatched a plan for myself to get going earlier by starting with walks at 7 AM. It doesn't require to much coordination or strength, in fact I hardly have to be awake. I've only been at it a week and only managed it about 3 out 5 days this week, but that's 3 mornings I did go.
I am hoping that my body will start to crave the activity and I'll begin a life long routine of not only exercising in the morning, but just wanting to wake up earlier naturally.
Thanks for asking the question, and thanks to all the responses. I find it very encouraging to hear that two weeks should make me a transformed woman. OP, know that you aren't alone in your efforts.

OMG I am sooo in for this thread. I needed to read this. I feel ashamed now lol. I used to be a morning person and get up early to workout. Now there is no way in hell! The worse thing is I now can't wake up earlier than 8 am. I have to be to work at 9. I don't know what it is, but I am tired all the time. I take all my vitamins and usually workout in the evening. I go to bed at midnight and wake up at 8. I am tired all day and when I get off I am tired and sometimes do not want to workout.

I really really need to start getting up at 7 am to workout. I feel so lazy cause all of you are waking up at 4,5 and 6 and I'm here complaining about 7 sheesh! I feel like I would have better results with morning workouts. Not only better weight loss results, but even more energy. I honestly felt great when I woke up at 7 to workout. I had a good amount of energy though out the day. It is soooo hard. My motivation should be to just get it over with. I need to just force myself and try harder.

Someone mentioned turning off electronics an hour or 2 before bed. I think that is a great idea. I am on my phone and laptop until I close my eyes. It has become a problem.

Great info on here. Thank you!

Really the only advice I can give is just to do it. After a couple of weeks, it won't affect you anymore. I had to start getting up at 4:45 for work and thought it would KILL me. Now, I actually wake up before the alarm and it's fine. Also working out first thing in the morning means that you get to spend all day with the smug satisfaction of already knowing that you have worked out and accomplished something great. It's a good feeling!

Agreed.

Now if only I can convince myself to take this advice as well. I'm up early every day, but usually have a headache that takes an hour or so to fade. Plus, I'm super fortunate that work is just a couple of blocks from the gym so I've been working out on my lunch hour. I really want to switch though, because I'd like to switch to lift then run 3 days a week from lift 3 days a week, run 2 days a week. Can't do lifting then running in an hour.

Work 8:30p-5a. I'm so happy to be done with work for the day, workout time is happy time for me at 5:30a lol I do a workout when I get out of work and another one before work.

I for one can't do it. I tried for a few days and it was awful. I've always been a night owl, I go to sleep no earlier than 1 am when I have to work in the morning and on the weekends it's sometimes as late as 6-7 am. Honestly I like it that way, I like staying up all night as that's just the way I am.

I just force myself to work out after work, my gym is near my work so I drag my *kitten* there before I go home at least 3 times a week and everyday as soon as I get home I do a workout DVD before I have dinner or do anything else. I find that if I just do it before I go into relaxed mode I don't find any excuses to not do it.

I personally prefer evening workouts.. Morning workouts (even afternoon) are crappy, dull, boring, and plain and simple suck

I just (literally yesterday), began to love morning workouts... Well, that's a bit of a lie. I've had one or 2 good ones before, but that was because I woke up at 4AM to run before I went traveling, and the excitement of being out that early when it was dark out got me through those workouts (I run by the way; back then I did about 4 miles, now I do more like 5-8 most days)

I'm in a similar situation to you, as I'm starting a job in a week, where i'll be working with kids; thus, being EXHAUSTED by the time I get home at 5PM after a 45 minute commute in rush hour traffic. Anyway, I've started experimenting with what helps me get through, and what's worked best for me, is having GU. Yesterday, I had it immediately before I headed out the door (I've developed a stomach of steel when it comes to eating before runs), and by mile 2, I felt unstoppable as the sugar flowed through my bloodstream, and kept me going for almost 7 miles easy.

You don't HAVE to have GU either. I just like it because it's super easy to digest, and it tastes mad good (Chocolate Outrage literally tastes exactly like chocolate pudding, and I don't mind that at all in the mornings). A banana, or a slice of toast would probably do it too. I've found that I need around 100 calories in me at once at least however, to get me through. I've tried 5 raisins at a time, and it didn't help at all.

So, my advice; think about how cool it is to be up so early, and how badass/ninja like it feels to be out there when nobody else is. And, have a high carb, low fiber snack before to get you up and moving.

ALSO, this doesn't work for me, as it causes my stomach to make weird noises, but coffee works for a lot of people as a pre-workout. If it doesn't upset your stomach without food in the morning, that's a good idea too!

You just have to force yourself for 2 weeks... after that, it becomes more of a habit and gets easier (though I still dont LIKE it ahahah)

Agreed, your body will adjust and you will fall asleep earlier. Maybe you can find a buddy to join you?

The nice part about early morning workouts is they are never interrupted by alternative options (happy hour after work, friend wants to meet up, extra studying, etc).