Trying to be a Morning-Exerciser

I have a plan (beginning tomorrow morning) to exercise *before* work (about 6am) instead of after. My problem is that I have a hard enough time getting out of bed just to get to work, let alone any earlier. In my half-asleep state I almost always hit the snooze (usually without any memory of doing so!)

SO

Are you a morning person? Is it easy for you to pop out of bed in the a.m.? Can you share any tips on how to do so?

Have you had success transitioning from night owl to early bird? What helped you make the change?

Thanks!

Morning is my favorite time to work out. Getting up and doing it, it's done and you have the rest of the day knowing it's done! I get up a bit earlier and do it. Every person has their preference but I get up, eat breakfast and then workout. That way I've gotten up and woken up a bit to get going.

I actually just got a new job that has me work shifts such as 9-6, 10-7, 11-8. So I'm usually too tired from standing all day to go to the gym afterwards. I've started getting up early and going to the gym. I thought it would be impossible since I'm really not a morning person, but honestly I just pushed through, got up, drove to the gym with my eyes barely open, and did it. Once you're at the gym you're good to go. Just stick with it and don't allow yourself to sleep past your alarm.

I try to wake up around 6 or 7 so I have solid time to spend at the gym. I head home, shower, and get ready for work. It honestly does make you feel a lot better during the day.

I think the main thing you have to strive for is motivation. If you're motivated, you'll get up. It's going to suck, you're gonna want to sleep in, but you can do it.

When I was younger, I used to LOVE to work out after work. Get all that tension out of the body. But once I got into my mid-40's, I just couldn't do it anymore. I was exhausted after work. Since I am a natural morning person (love those sunrises!), I tried doing my workout before getting ready for work. OMG! What a difference! I am filled with pep the rest of the day! I get up at 5, brush my teeth, throw on my exercise togs and do a 40 minute workout. Then I get ready and walk the mile to work.
I think - try different times of the day to see if you like it better. But don't try to fight your natural tendencies.

I go to gym before work, I rock up at 6:30 when the gym opens.

The only tip I have is 'just go' does not mater how tired you feel, when I am half awake and tired and that is most mornings I push myself to go.

Once there I wake up and feel a hell of a lot better afterwards awake and full of energy.

Goof luck!

I used to refuse to get up early to work out, but now I'm up at 5AM Monday-Friday without fail to get my workout in. I wouldn't say I'm a "morning person." At first, the motivation was that I would not have to do it after work, which I consider a huge pain in my butt. That was enough for awhile and, when I started to get lazy, I just took on the Nike mentality - "Just do it." I didn't think about it or ponder getting in a few minutes of sleep. When that alarm goes off, my butt is off that bed and into the bathroom to change into my workout clothes and throw my hair up. I lift at home, so I don't have to trek to the gym or anything, which is preferable for me. Now it's a habit, and something I look forward to. I usually wake up before the alarm goes off these days. Working out in the morning gets my day off right and it's such a relief to do it early and not worry about doing it at 8PM after dinner. When I get home, I want to cook, eat, and relax with my husband and dog, or maybe take a little evening walk, and then hit the sack by 9.

People I know think I'm absolutely nuts for getting up at 5 to work out, though.

best advice i can give is lose the snooze button, it only makes you want to procrastinate getting out of bed more and more. if you have to, put your alarm clock far enough from your bed that you are forced to get out to shut it off
[/quote

^^once you are up it would be hard to hit the snooze.

I have found that exercising in the morning has helped to boost my metabolism and has jumped started my weight loss after a long plateau. I wake at 5 a.m. and exercise for 45-60 minutes before getting ready for work. I leave home at 6:30 for an hour drive to work. It can be done! This has tremendously helped give me energy throughout my day. Tips: Prepare as much as possible the night before; pack lunch, have clothes ready for work, have workout clothes laid out so when the alarm sounds you are ready to get moving!

I am more or less a morning person... been having to catch a 6am train to work for long enough that I naturally am up pretty early. BUT once the kids sports are going I have to get up at 4am so I can workout before that train. What seems to help me is packing my gym bag before time and having a defined workout set. When I really need a boost I ask my MFP friends to push me, that accountability to friends is always a big push.

Morning workouts are my favorite. I get out of bed immediately after the alarm goes off, get dressed, and walk to the gym right away. By the time I totally wake up the workout is over. Basically, I am too sleepy to talk myself out of it.

I'm not a morning person either, but unlike so many, I prefer to workout fasted. The only thing I have before I go is coffee. Anything else and I feel nauseous.

Like everyone else said....have as much prepared the night before. Lunch, clothes, etc. etc. Then "just do it". You may have to really talk yourself into it the first little while, but I find that it feels amazing to get up and get it done. Then the rest of the day is mine! No worrying about whether I will be able to fit it in later or not.

Give it a shot and see. If it doesn't workout, fit it in somewhere else.

I used to refuse to get up early to work out, but now I'm up at 5AM Monday-Friday without fail to get my workout in. I wouldn't say I'm a "morning person." At first, the motivation was that I would not have to do it after work, which I consider a huge pain in my butt. That was enough for awhile and, when I started to get lazy, I just took on the Nike mentality - "Just do it." I didn't think about it or ponder getting in a few minutes of sleep. When that alarm goes off, my butt is off that bed and into the bathroom to change into my workout clothes and throw my hair up. I lift at home, so I don't have to trek to the gym or anything, which is preferable for me. Now it's a habit, and something I look forward to. I usually wake up before the alarm goes off these days. Working out in the morning gets my day off right and it's such a relief to do it early and not worry about doing it at 8PM after dinner. When I get home, I want to cook, eat, and relax with my husband and dog, or maybe take a little evening walk, and then hit the sack by 9.

People I know think I'm absolutely nuts for getting up at 5 to work out, though.

I could have written this. It's done before my body realizes its awake, and I have the time after work to hang out with friends, get things done, etc. I love it. I also wake before the alarm now, even on weekends. I'm def a morning person. love being one of the only ones out and about first thing in the morning.