Any early morning exercisers here? ( 6 a.m-7 a.m)

KrissyIrene83 · February 2015

Hi! My name is Kristin. I am 31 years old, and need to lose probably about 15-20 pounds. I am so motivated to lose weight and have increased my exercise and am eating a lot better! I wanted to ask anyone who currently exercises in the morning if they have seen it to make a difference in your weight loss? I leave for work at 7 am, and I was thinking of working out from 5:15-6 am. I heard that it jump starts your metabolism. I would like to go to the YMCA and just do the elliptical, and walk and jog on the treadmill. Here are the questions I was wondering:

a. What do you do to exercise early in the morning?
b. Do you feel tired at work, or do you feel more alert at work? Can you feel a difference at work because you exercised before?
c. Has it helped your weight loss and metabolism?

I am pretty sure I am going to start tomorrow, but wanted to hear if anymore recommends it or has seen benefits from it. I was just worried about being tired at work. I think working out early in the morning will help me with my schedule, because I have two little boys and sometimes can't find the time in the day to exercise.

Also, I really need friends on myfitnesspal, I have 0 as of now!! So add me please

Thanks!!

markg45202 · February 2015

Hi Kristin,

I have moved my cycling routine to the early morning hours in addition to an IF schedule (1600 cal/day; 6 hours on/18 hours off). I ride about 30 minutes after waking up with a 10-minute warm-up, 2 25-mile trainer rides and 10-minute warm-down. I do not eat before the rides and take in only water with Powerade (80 cals/serving).

At first I was in awful shape; I had a really hard time adjusting to that schedule. Admittedly, it is still difficult but getting a little easier each day.

I have been averaging 1.2lbs/day weight loss and my heart rate during the rides is becoming more and more efficient. (Down from 135 bpm to 127 bpm).

Sending you a friend request.

Good luck!

-Mark

KrissyIrene83 · February 2015

Thank you Mark! That is my goal 1-2 pounds a week!

bababs89 · February 2015

I go to the gym bright and early before work a few times a week to do cardio or a boot camp class (like 5:15am early). It was rough at first, but now I love it! It definitely makes me feel more alert and like I'm ready to start my day. I'm not sure that it has helped my weight loss anymore than going later in the day, but it is definitely easier to fit into my schedule and makes me feel better.

KrissyIrene83 · February 2015

Thank you babsabs89. That's what I was hoping is that it would make me feel better. I do Zumba classes a few times a week and it really sheds the pounds as well!!

tbilly20 · February 2015

Working out in the morning rocks! I go to the gym and swim in the AM or hit the ellipitcal. I also ride the spin bike early at my work. During the summer, I ride my bike to work, so the time is about the same. Usually 6-7 am.

My mornings feel better, and my head is more clear. Not sure about metabolism based on time of day. My favorite part? I am done with my workout for the whole day early!!!

KrissyIrene83 · February 2015

Thank you tbilly! I was looking for motivational replies to help myself get my butt out of bed early tomorrow! Thanks!

leeabrown5054 · February 2015

I get up and work out early too but its hard for me to get out of bed so I set my alarm on the other side of the room so I have no choice to get up, then I grab some protein and head out, the first week or so halfway through the day I was tired but I eventually got over that, as long as you're eating properly with the exercise you shouldn't feel tired in the afternoon.

AmyRhubarb · February 2015

I exercise early in the morning because if I don't get it done early, it doesn't happen. I workout at home, so out of necessity need to get up and get it done before the family gets up and invades the living room. So 5am is when I start my workouts on strength days, and at sunrise on run days in summer (to beat the heat), and I enjoy the luxury of running mid-morning in the winter months.

The benefit is having it done and getting on with my day. I don't believe working out at any particular time is more beneficial than any other - the best time to work out is when it fits in your schedule and at a time you can stick with.

KrissyIrene83 · February 2015

Thanks everybody! Your thoughts are greatly appreciated!

pdwhitlock · February 2015

krisrog213 wrote: »

Hi! My name is Kristin. I am 31 years old, and need to lose probably about 15-20 pounds. I am so motivated to lose weight and have increased my exercise and am eating a lot better! I wanted to ask anyone who currently exercises in the morning if they have seen it to make a difference in your weight loss? I leave for work at 7 am, and I was thinking of working out from 5:15-6 am. I heard that it jump starts your metabolism. I would like to go to the YMCA and just do the elliptical, and walk and jog on the treadmill. Here are the questions I was wondering:

a. What do you do to exercise early in the morning?
b. Do you feel tired at work, or do you feel more alert at work? Can you feel a difference at work because you exercised before?
c. Has it helped your weight loss and metabolism?

I am pretty sure I am going to start tomorrow, but wanted to hear if anymore recommends it or has seen benefits from it. I was just worried about being tired at work. I think working out early in the morning will help me with my schedule, because I have two little boys and sometimes can't find the time in the day to exercise.

Also, I really need friends on myfitnesspal, I have 0 as of now!! So add me please

Thanks!!

Hi Kristin! I absolutely despised working out 6 months ago, especially in the morning. So I started walking/running in the evening. I was exhausted after work though, and I just wanted to come home, fix dinner and relax. Two months ago,I changed to working out anywhere from 3-6 times a week now in the morning instead. The hardest part is not hitting the snooze button! I've found my routine and if I miss a morning I feel sluggish and sleepy that day. If I prepare myself the night before, I'm committed and looking forward to the next morning workout. So at night, while fixing and logging my meals for the next day, I pack my gym bag with my clothes and essentials for the gym and I actually SLEEP in my workout clothes. I've found that the less time I have to spend getting ready in the morning, the more I look forward to being in the gym. I've found a new hobby in weight lifting but still have to force myself to do my minimum of 30 minutes of cardio. I hope this helps. Let us know how you progress!

Capt_Apollo · February 2015

I wanted to ask anyone who currently exercises in the morning if they have seen it to make a difference in your weight loss?

the only difference it makes in my weight loss is that it's often the only time i get to work out.

I leave for work at 7 am, and I was thinking of working out from 5:15-6 am. I heard that it jump starts your metabolism.

it does no such thing.

a. What do you do to exercise early in the morning?
b. Do you feel tired at work, or do you feel more alert at work? Can you feel a difference at work because you exercised before?
c. Has it helped your weight loss and metabolism?

a. i have everything prepared the night before. clothes laid out, lunch and food to take to work in a bag in the fridge. coffee pot on an automatic timer. remove all possible excuses that will prevent you from walking out that door.

b. yes, at first i felt more tired at work, but you get used to it. it is better than a cup of coffee... but i still need that coffee

c. no, a healthy diet has helped my weight loss

I am pretty sure I am going to start tomorrow, but wanted to hear if anymore recommends it or has seen benefits from it. I was just worried about being tired at work. I think working out early in the morning will help me with my schedule, because I have two little boys and sometimes can't find the time in the day to exercise.

you'll be tired at work, but the best way to counter this is to get at least 7 hours of sleep the night before you try to work out at 5am. also, don't start off doing this four days in a week. try twice a week for a little while.

LadyLots2Lose · February 2015

I'm a morning exerciser on weekdays and I throw a couple of afternoon sessions in where my schedule allows. Getting up early was the hardest part for me (I'm a night owl or, I was) but after a few weeks my body clock had me bouncing out of bed at 05:30 ish most days. I definitely feel more alert during the day as a result but, I don't know if there's any real metabolic benefit to working out at particular times.

Capt_Apollo · February 2015

also, a motivating song as a ringtone is good. for a while mine was "eye of the tiger"

pdwhitlock · February 2015

Also about having young children and working out, I found that the morning helped me because my husband works evenings and so the morning time is most often the only "quiet time" I have. Maybe the more reason I consider this time my hobby now

tgoila · February 2015

Me too!!! I wake up by 6.30 and workout from 6.45-7.30 at home. Currently doing Jillian's ripped in 30. my question is, do u guys eat something or work out empty stomach? what are the pros and cons?

Luvbeers · February 2015

I also wake up at 6am... slam a tall espresso then use an elliptical for 45min in the winter or go run for an hour in the palace gardens during the spring, summer and fall.

sengalissa · February 2015

krisrog213 wrote: »

Hi! My name is Kristin. I am 31 years old, and need to lose probably about 15-20 pounds. I am so motivated to lose weight and have increased my exercise and am eating a lot better! I wanted to ask anyone who currently exercises in the morning if they have seen it to make a difference in your weight loss? I leave for work at 7 am, and I was thinking of working out from 5:15-6 am. I heard that it jump starts your metabolism. I would like to go to the YMCA and just do the elliptical, and walk and jog on the treadmill. Here are the questions I was wondering:

a. What do you do to exercise early in the morning?
b. Do you feel tired at work, or do you feel more alert at work? Can you feel a difference at work because you exercised before?
c. Has it helped your weight loss and metabolism?

I am pretty sure I am going to start tomorrow, but wanted to hear if anymore recommends it or has seen benefits from it. I was just worried about being tired at work. I think working out early in the morning will help me with my schedule, because I have two little boys and sometimes can't find the time in the day to exercise.

Also, I really need friends on myfitnesspal, I have 0 as of now!! So add me please

Thanks!!

I get up at 5.30, have coffee and work out (I lift, mainly). To me, there is no better way to start the day. I feel alert, on track, strong and awesome.
When I am tired in bed, I just picture myself after the workout and how I would feel if I did not go - reason enough to go!!

Two things:
- you have to go to bed earlier and make it a habit. My alarm clock is on 5.15 even on rest days.
- Remember to take in enough water after!!!

giantrobot_powerlifting · February 2015

On the weekends I'm in there at 6am. Saturday's I deadlift . Yeah, it pumps you up the rest of the day - I chase around a 4 year old on the weekends.

jemhh · February 2015

I'm up at 5:15 and down to the basement to exercise by 5:30 four days a week and at the gym by 6 once a week. I like getting it done early in the day. The only drawback is that I need a longer warm up in the morning compared to the afternoon or night.

As for what I do, some days weights and some days walking on the treadmill. I don't feel a difference at work, energy-wise but I do feel relief that I've done something active before sitting at a desk all day.

Exercise has helped me burn more calories, which has translated to more weight lost. I don't think I burn more in the morning vs.the evening though.

cliffodom1 · February 2015

I am busy as mort people are. You don’t control your time from 8:00am until you go to bed. Either you have a work schedule and after work you have to get everybody fed, and the dogs need to be petted, your kids need to be played with, your favorite TV shows need to be watched, and your favorite bar needs to be drank at. So the only time you can control is between 11:00pm (bed time) and 7:00am (getting ready for work). You can either fill that entire time with sleep (that little slice of death) or you can wake up and work out. That is what I do. I get to the gym around 4:00am to 4:30am. I have a lot of energy during the day because I have always had energy. Getting up early just moves your body to a new more easternly time zone. The tired thing comes from when you reset your clock to that easternly time zone by waking up early you want bed time earlier say around 8:00pm you start feeling like bed time is near.

NoelFigart1 · February 2015

I work out from 5:30-6:30 most days. That's when I can reasonably get my training in, and when I am less likely to make excuses about it.

For the first month of starting an exercise program, yes, I am tired. Period. Then I get into a groove and in general that morning workout wakes me up and has me more alert and charged up for the day. Oh, I sleep like the dead when I am working out properly, and I by damn need my 7.5-8 hours or I am blasted well useless, but if I go to bed on time, I'm all good.

I have never had my metabolism tested so I have no idea in the world what my exercise does for it. I know that when I work out a lot, my weight loss goes pretty steadily and I have to eat uncomfortably little to lose weight if I do not (short, middle-aged yo-yo dieter)

gerryleanne92 · February 2015

My morning alarm goes off at 6:00, and I have to leave the house no later than 7:30. In the evening I do at home workouts such as The 30 Day Shred, Blogilates pilates videos from YouTube (I follow the monthly calendar everyday), many flexibility stretches, and I'm slowly easing myself into using weights... But when I got home from work in the afternoons I just wanted to relax, and it took a lot of internal bribery for me to get on with whatever I'd set myself at the time.

Then I decided to add in a little morning routine to my schedule, and ever since I've been doing it (3-4 weeks now), I've been itching to get home and get my butt moving. I walk to work (only fifteen minutes), but having that pumped feeling from my morning workout on the way means all I think about on my journey is how motivated I'm feeling, how I can't wait to get home and do some more, and what I'll do today, because I'm chasing after keeping that pumped feeling I have from my morning routine.

At the minute my morning routine is:
- 1 minute plank
- 15 press ups
- 20 crunches
- 10 double leg lifts
- 25 criss cross crunches
- 50 pointed butt lifts (each side)
- 20 squats

I do this routine once over on Tuesdays and Thursdays, twice over on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and three times over and weekend mornings. It takes me just over 10 minutes each time through, and I only just fit it into my allotted time in the morning, but I manage! If I don't get up and do it right away, I won't fit it in; which is even more encouragement to get out of bed - It's literally 'now' or not at all.
I haven't noticed it make much of a difference to my metabolism, weight or progress etc. specifically, but it's made a massive difference to my motivation, which in turn makes me work harder and gives me greater results overall anyway!

LeanButNotMean44 · February 2015

My alarm is set for 4:05am so I have time to eat before I hit the gym. Usually I lift weights, but lately due to injury have been doing mainly cardio. For me, working out in the AM is such an ingrained part of my routine that I feel lost if I deviate from it. I also love having my evenings free.

My advice would be to prepare as much as possible the night before. Also, sending a FR your way.

librislady · February 2015

I work out from 6am-7am before work every day. MWF is for circuits of various bodyweight-type exercises (sometimes with additional dumbbells and medicine balls), and TH is for cardio on the treadmill with my Zombies, Run! app.

I feel more relaxed at work because I stretch out after exercise, and it definitely helps rev my metabolism because I'm becoming *famished* by mid-morning. (Particularly on the weight days - bring lots of healthy snacks to work!)

For bodyweight workout ideas and tips, I really like NerdFitness:
http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2010/02/15/how-to-build-your-own-workout-routine

Welcome to the Breakfast Club!

ShibaEars · February 2015

I am also trying to get up a couple mornings a week to workout at home. There's no way I could make it to the gym early at this point lol (it's about 30 minutes away). I'm trying to be up at 5:20 to start a 30 minute workout at 5:30. I feel a little more tired during the day, but I'm sure I'll adjust. It does make me feel very good though! As for it affecting weight loss, it's too soon for me to tell.

Make sure it's a workout you enjoy doing. I'm doing a kickboxing type workout that I LOVE so it motivates me to get my butt out of bed.

harieta · February 2015

krisrog213 wrote: »

a. What do you do to exercise early in the morning?
b. Do you feel tired at work, or do you feel more alert at work? Can you feel a difference at work because you exercised before?
c. Has it helped your weight loss and metabolism?

I am pretty sure I am going to start tomorrow, but wanted to hear if anymore recommends it or has seen benefits from it. I was just worried about being tired at work. I think working out early in the morning will help me with my schedule, because I have two little boys and sometimes can't find the time in the day to exercise.

Also, I really need friends on myfitnesspal, I have 0 as of now!! So add me please

Thanks!!

Hello, Kristin!
To answer your question - I am not sure what to say about morning exercise and metabolism but:
a. I set my alarm 40 minutes earlier than I should and make sure I go to bed early so I don't sacrifice my sleep. I am mostly doing Jillian Michaels workouts and when I started, I used to get everything ready the night before: my mat, the dumbbells, the workout outfit etc.
b. When I started last year I felt more alert at work (I no longer needed 3 cups of coffee a day) and I had more energy! - I am not sure if it was the workout or the fact that I was making sure I got at least 7 hours of sleep. I felt sore, even now I still do, but that's not something bad - It was something reminding me that I had done a great job earlier that day!
c. Exercising - yes! It definitely helped! The timing - probably, because it is easy to form a habit by exercising in the morning (no excuses like - I had a busy day at work, I am too tired, I have other plans etc) it is something that you are likely to continue for long term.

Good luck and enjoy your workouts!

lollie1285 · February 2015

I'm a 5:30 AMer over here!! I do super intense boot camp style workouts 3-4 times a week. I like it because if I have a rough day at work or am too tired to work out after my shift, I don't have to worry about it because it's all taken care of! As far as metabolism goes, I really don't know. But I definitely prefer the early morning workouts over afternoon or evening ones.

I second the preparing the night before. I need to leave my house by 5:10, so everything needs to be packed and ready to go so that I can get out the door super fast.

Try it, bet you'll love it!

AllanMisner · February 2015

krisrog213 wrote: »

a. What do you do to exercise early in the morning?
b. Do you feel tired at work, or do you feel more alert at work? Can you feel a difference at work because you exercised before?
c. Has it helped your weight loss and metabolism?

a. I workout from 5 - 6ish each morning. Two to three times per week, I do crossfit. Two to three times a week I do slow cardio (typically walking). Once or twice per week (not always this early) I lift heavy. When I do crossfit or slow cardio, I do the work in a fasted state.

b. Depending on how hard I pushed (not applicable on the slow cardio days) I am physically tired, but otherwise, no difference from days I don’t work out.

c. Yes, this program, particularly slow cardio in a fasted state has greatly aided my fat loss.

twerglum · February 2015

I am getting up at least 4 days per week to do the 30 day shred video. The best part for me is that I get in a little bit of exercise right off the bat, and if I have energy to exercise more after work, it's a bonus. I work full-time and have two little kids, so for me it just works. It was hard at first, but now I feel like crap if I don't. I don't think it makes a difference on the weight loss doing it in the morning, it just gets it over with so you can be happy about your day. I find that if I start right early, it is motivation for eating really good all day as well.

Any early morning exercisers here? ( 6 a.m-7 a.m)

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