how to get motivated to get up in the morning to excercise

ChantalD75
ChantalD75 Posts: 680 Member
edited September 23 in Health and Weight Loss
I have been wanting to get up earlier in the mornings to go and use my treadmil as it's a deep freeze here in Manitoba right now.... I can't take my dogs for a walk. And I need to start excercising again. And I don't have time at night with 3 boys and with all their hockey / takewondo. So I thought get up earlier and do some treadmil and if i have time in the evening I can squeeze out another work out.... But every day I tell myself yes tomorrow up earlier and you can do it.... my alarm goes off in the morning and I snooze it over and over again until the last possible sec and I get up and then it's a rush to get out the door.... I need to know HOW I can stop doing that.... anyone out there have any advise for me???
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Replies

  • sarahmckinley
    sarahmckinley Posts: 23 Member
    :( I have no advice, but I would love to hear if someone else does...bummmmp!

    it's SO hard when it's SO COLD!!!
  • CJWirth09
    CJWirth09 Posts: 24 Member
    Me too!! Would love some advice!!
  • MOOOSEEE3
    MOOOSEEE3 Posts: 218 Member
    my advice...stop hitting the snooze button. Just get up, and DO IT! Not trying to come across as harsh, but set your mind to it, and make yourself get up and excercise. Guarantee you'll feel A LOT more accomplished if you do. :)
  • realm69
    realm69 Posts: 23
    Unfortunately I don't have any advice, but I did want to say that I totally sympathize with you I have been stuck in the same rut. The covers are so warm and it's so easy to hit snooze. Before the Holidays I was doing really well getting up early and going walking, but it seems like the weather has sapped all my willpower. Good Luck!
  • balston2010
    balston2010 Posts: 62 Member
    I dont know either...i have been trying the same thing for years..maybe if we have to make each other accountable we would.
  • sliceofsarah
    sliceofsarah Posts: 141 Member
    Try going to sleep in your exercise clothes. That's what I do and they are pretty comfy to sleep in. That way there is one less excuse to not get up in the morning to exercise! You can just roll out of bed and not have to think about it.

    Oh and I also wanted to have that I just have everything ready to go in the morning. Workout shoes with socks tucked in them by the bed, water bottle filled, MP3 player out with headphones. It really helps just to have it all ready for when you wake up!
  • Iorns78
    Iorns78 Posts: 118 Member
    I agree, any advise would be appreciated!! I have two active little ones and work 10 hour days, if I got up in the AM it would help me out, I would actually get a workout in!
  • bethvandenberg
    bethvandenberg Posts: 1,496 Member
    I keep my alarm in the bathroom so I have to get up to turn it off, and I put my workout clothes in there too so when I'm up there are my clothes and then I just do it. Some days I swear I'd rather get stuck in the eye with a stick but I'm up and the clothes are there so....
  • corey_e
    corey_e Posts: 162
    When I first started on here I took baby steps. First I changed my diet and no exercise. Then once my body adjusted to the new diet I felt a little more energy which I then started walking my dogs when the weather wasn't too bad and playing my wii. Then after about 2 weeks I was able to get up and go to the gym and each day it got easier and easier. I have so much more energy now and that keeps me going.
  • foxfirekenzie
    foxfirekenzie Posts: 244 Member
    Put the alarm clock out of reach so you actually HAVE TO get up to turn it off. Once you turn it off, keep on walking right to the treadmill where you have your workout clothes and shoes waiting. Put them on, go use the toilet, put on some tunes or a movie and start walking.

    Would this do the trick?
    Best of luck in your success. YOU CAN DO IT!!!
  • OLP76
    OLP76 Posts: 768 Member
    I use to live in Winnipeg Manitoba so I know where you're comin' from on the coldness...Try placin' your alarm clock away from the bed, where you HAVE to get up to turn it off from beepin' or the music...! Once up go to the bathroom, do your business - have your workout clothes ready for you in the bathroom - get changed. Take whatever music or a bottle of water with you to the treadmill...start it up - and a way you go...! You'll feel much better once you completed the first mornin' :)....best wishes my friend xo
  • nickyevans
    nickyevans Posts: 216 Member
    the only way I have been motivated to get up early to exercise is by going to exercise classes at the gym in the morning. It does help that my gorgeous hubby comes to those with me. It is hard though to drag myself out of a cozy bed at 6.10!
  • deusse
    deusse Posts: 3
    My advice would be to get yourself something that's a real treat -- do you love to read? how about an awesome new page turner? love movies? move your TV into the treadmill room -- and save that treat for ONLY when you are on the treadmill. It has to stay in that room. So if you get yourself really into a book or a movie and enjoy half an hour of it or whatever you choose each day, you will be DYING to pop up to see what happens next...

    That's what i do anyway :) Good luck!
  • polo571
    polo571 Posts: 708 Member
    wear your ourout clothes to bed and have everything ready to go and have it organized. As soon as alarm goes off jump out of bed and let the cold air wake yah up and just do it. You dont need motivation for that you need desire.
  • mchristensen527
    mchristensen527 Posts: 2
    Put your alarm clock on the other side of the room so you have to get out of bed to snooze it.
  • leslielove
    leslielove Posts: 251 Member
    I don't let myself eat breakfast until I work out. That's a pretty decent motivator, for me at least.
  • ♥_Ellybean_♥
    ♥_Ellybean_♥ Posts: 1,646 Member
    I have no clue either :sad: sorry...but I would lov e to hear advice...

    I am late almost everyday to work, because I hit that damn snooze button too many times. I wake up at 6:35 to be out of the house by 6:50 to only be out the door at 7:10 (yikes) :noway: ... Would love to know how to get up earlier.. I tell myself all the time, I will get up when Hubby gets up.. I will get up at 5:30, or I will get up even at 6.. but nope.. sleepy me lays there. :ohwell:
  • sroseber
    sroseber Posts: 197 Member
    I'm the same way. I've been trying to fit in 5, 10, 15, 20 minute workouts here and there whenever I can (usually while I'm watching TV in the evenings or on my lunch break) Hoping that maybe getting more active in general will make it easier to motivate myself to get up in the mornings. The few times I have managed to push myself to just do it and get up (MOOOSEEE3 is right) I have had so much energy throughout the rest of the day. I think part of my problem too is that I don't get to bed early enough and so still being tired on top of being cold makes it really, really hard to get out of bed.

    Good luck...hoping we both get better at this. :wink:
  • annie422
    annie422 Posts: 114 Member
    I read once where it takes the brain 2 weeks of consistent daily routine to determine that this new routine (getting up early) is a good thing. Up until that point your brain will react harsly to you screwing up it's understood routine (staying warm and cozy in your bed). BUT if you just make yourself do it for 2 weeks, by the end of that time when your alarm goes off your brain and body will say "yes, this is right and normal and I'm ok with this." and may even look forward to it!

    Two weeks doesn't sound that bad right???

    Good luck!
  • chelebe
    chelebe Posts: 13 Member
    I have the same problem. I hate morings. I was luck though in the sense that my boys karate teacher took pity on all of us out of shape mothers. He now holds a kick boxing cardio class in the back of his gym. so while my kids are learning their stuff, I am working out too. You might try asking their instructor if they would consider doing the same. Then you can skip the moring workout on those days.
  • buffalo77
    buffalo77 Posts: 8
    TV on the treadmill. Watching Glee on Hulu on the treadmill is the best motivator I've got.

    I bought a shelf at Target, had my husband install it and I put my laptop up there with some computer speakers.
  • AbbyLu
    AbbyLu Posts: 29
    I keep my alarm in my bathroom next to my work out clothes and sneakers. That way I HAVE TO get up to turn my alarm off, and since my stuff is right there, I might as well change and work out since I'm up. I know me too well, I am too tired and lazy to workout after work so I just remind myself, you know you won't do it later, just do it now and be done with it.
  • mwkinney
    mwkinney Posts: 14 Member
    I used to hate getting up so effing early too until I just simply made the decision that this is what needed to be done. Simply making this decision to get up is a good metaphor for our journey, yes the easy way would be to hit the snooze just like eating that fast food is the easy way to feed yourself. If you make this first step, it will snowball and making those decisions down the road will seem so simple.

    Sorry to get all dr. freud on you.
  • helengator1
    helengator1 Posts: 70
    1. Sleep in your workout clothes.2. MOVE YOUR ALARM CLOCK. Okay, okay..so I live in FL and my idea of cold is 60 degrees. But, it's all relative, lol. I wear wool when it goes below 60. Anyway-I have recently become successful getting up for 5:30am spin class. I would like to thank whomever here in MFP that gave me this advice, wish I could remember who! 1. Sleep in your workout clothes. Even if you go out to a gym like I do, if they expect us to workout AND look cute at 5:30, they are just going to be let down, lol. If you're lucky enuf to do it at home, then you have no excuse. Your clothes will still be warm and not cold from drawer or closet. 2. MOVE YOUR ALARM CLOCK. If I have to get up and cancel the alarm so I don't wake up my 3 kids, hubby, and dog and have to actually get out of bed to do it, I'm less likely to crawl back into the bed. So, easy two step process to being out of bed and already dressed for ur early morning workout :). Plus, think of the swaagger points you get all day for being able to tell yourself "I get up early just to workout. I rock!" Good luck everyone! Shoot...now I just realized I have to stay committed since I just told you guys how to do it! Good and bad of MFP-accountability ;) lol!!
  • jacquejl
    jacquejl Posts: 193 Member
    I wake up at 4:30 every morning to stretch and then exercise. I have fallen out of the routine a few times. To get back into it I drink a glass of water before bed (about 8 oz). It forces me up early to go to the bathroom. Since I'm up and I already have my workout clothes on (I sleep in them) I have no excuse to not exercise. Also, one summer I scheduled a workout buddy. My friend showed up at my house every morning at 5:00 to walk. It was a great movitivator to get out of bed and be ready!
  • marciml
    marciml Posts: 41
    I work really long hours and have a daughter and a very lovey dog. I have been wanting to do some sort of video at home, but with the loving "distractions" I have, I knew I had to find a way to get up even earlier to do it. I just started doing the Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. I have not had any problem getting up at 4:30am since I started and I feel great throughout the whole day. I think the reason I have been able to do this, is because I must do 10 days at each level. If I miss a day, then its going to throw off my whole schedule and I want to complete this workout as its meant to be done. Having a daily commitment is really helping to motivate me to get me out of bed.

    Best of luck to you!
  • mpatternmaker
    mpatternmaker Posts: 20 Member
    I get up at 5am to go to the gym & work out 4-5 mornings a week and it is NOT easy. I've been doing it for about 2 years & now it feels wierd if I don't do it. The first couple weeks are the hardest!! Put the alarm clock across the room and make sure it's an obnoxious alarm, not nice music you would want to lay in bed & listen to. Get enough sleep the night before. I know that I need to work out and I positively CANNOT do it after work or in the evening, as far as I'm concerned that's when I relax. If I get my exercise in in the morning I feel so much better that it's done and out of the way, not something looming for later on to have to deal with.
    The best advice I can give is from NIKE, Just Do It..... It gets easier I promise. Good luck!
  • januadiaboli
    januadiaboli Posts: 117 Member
    I totally agree (especially 'cause I live just outside of Saskatoon). That bone-chilling cold weather just wreaks havoc on my motivation.

    I'm trying to get out of bed earlier so that I can get up and exercise before I have to take the boys to daycare and go to work. I'm finding that, if I'm (1) not super-organized the night before and (2) not getting to bed early enough, it's just *so* hard to not hit that snooze button 15 times. It helps that the only time I watch TV is when I'm on the treadmill, and I usually deliberately set my timing so that I'm in the middle of an episode of something when I'm finished my workout--further motivation to get at it the next day.

    Good luck!
  • terpgirl23
    terpgirl23 Posts: 9 Member
    I have just started getting up at 5:15 to work out and it's been the smartest move ever. Like others who do this have said - once you start it just feels 'right"; you get totally thrown off if you don't do it.

    Here is my advice - as someone who recently made the move to AM workouts - tell yourself you are only going to get up JUST THAT ONE DAY. Don't worry about tomorow or the next day, just think about that one day. You can do anything ONCE, right?

    I have gotten up for flights at earlier times (I told myself) and that one time didn't kill me, so I could certainly get up early to workout just once.

    Lots of people talking about breaking your goals down - think about loosing 5 or 10 lbs instead of 50 - but I have to break things down into itty, bitty tiny bits. I took me a long time to figure this out, but once I did, it was freeing.

    So try it. Just once. The first time is the hardest.
  • spicy618
    spicy618 Posts: 2,114 Member
    OMG! This is Right On Time!

    Thanks for posting this because I usually sleep with as little clothes as possible, but "sleeping in workout clothes" is Brilliant. :bigsmile: I never thought of it. :laugh: Oh and placing the alarm in the Bathroom... Genius. :happy:

    I workout at home and I've been getting up at 4:45 to do Chalean Extreme :yawn: If I don't Jump out of bed immediately after I stop the alarm, it's really hard to get up. This morning was an example of that. :ohwell: Gonna Bust it out as soon as I get home, but I feel sooo good when I can tell myself, "Workout done" :bigsmile:

    :flowerforyou:
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