Getting up Early - Looking for advice
Dantanian
Posts: 18 Member
Hi :happy:
I am just over 3 weeks into my fitness program and due to work commitments, childcare etc for 3 days a week I can only really get my exercise in either early in the morning or late at night. I don't know about you but I find things 20 times harder at night after a hard days work, and given that this is the only time I get to spend any quality time with my wife I find myself really struggling to get the workout done.
Anyway the obvious solution to my problem is to get up earlier in a morning (I'm normally up at 7am), I would like to try and train myself to get up at around 5:45 each morning to give me an hour in the gym and time to get showered before the rest of the house is up.
Has anyone trained themselves to get up earlier as a result of their training regime? If so I would love to hear how you managed it or if you have any tips that I find useful.
I'm also looking for friends on here to add a social aspect to all this hard work.
Thanks
Dan (31mUk)
I am just over 3 weeks into my fitness program and due to work commitments, childcare etc for 3 days a week I can only really get my exercise in either early in the morning or late at night. I don't know about you but I find things 20 times harder at night after a hard days work, and given that this is the only time I get to spend any quality time with my wife I find myself really struggling to get the workout done.
Anyway the obvious solution to my problem is to get up earlier in a morning (I'm normally up at 7am), I would like to try and train myself to get up at around 5:45 each morning to give me an hour in the gym and time to get showered before the rest of the house is up.
Has anyone trained themselves to get up earlier as a result of their training regime? If so I would love to hear how you managed it or if you have any tips that I find useful.
I'm also looking for friends on here to add a social aspect to all this hard work.
Thanks
Dan (31mUk)
0
Replies
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I am having the exact same issue! My doctor told me to start taking Melatonin about 30 minutes prior to going to sleep. I've been doing this for two weeks now and it doesn't seem to be working. He told me to double the dosage. I was taking 10mg each nigh, I am going to start taking 20mg.0
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Luckily I don't live too far from work so I've turned my commute into my exercise as well. I cycle the 7 miles to work each day which takes about 30 min each way. It's working well for now but I know I'll need to add gym to this as I get down to trying to loose the last few stone. I get up at 7:20am and I'm out the door by 8am cycle 30min shower at work (again luck my work has showers).0
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I tried for about a month but I gave up. I'm really not a morning person and I don't sleep particularly well. Maybe I'll try again once we finally get some nice weather.
Best of luck to you though
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If you want to do it bad enough you will!
The first few days are hard, but you get used to it. It sets you up for the day, and I've found I'm a much happier person getting up @ 5.30/6am every morning to workout! I have my workout clothes right by my bed & literally roll out of bed, put them on & go!!!
Believe me once you start you won't stop :happy:0 -
I have! You just have to do it, and go to bed early. Your body will adjust in a few weeks. I used to get up around 7/730, now I ahve no trouble getting up at 5 to exercise. Make sure you're getting enough sleep - it is hard to get used to going to bed earlier, but in a few weeks, you'll manage. I think it's also easier if your wakeup time is consistenet - 5am 3 days a week, 7:30 the other days is killer, but 6 am every weekday would be easier.0
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I get up every day at 4:30 to get my workout in before getting ready for work. I just have to go to bed a little earlier. It's great because I feel so much better throughout the day. And, my brain doesn't have time to come up with any excuses for me NOT to work out!
Good luck!!!0 -
If you want to do it bad enough you will!
The first few days are hard, but you get used to it. It sets you up for the day, and I've found I'm a much happier person getting up @ 5.30/6am every morning to workout! I have my workout clothes right by my bed & literally roll out of bed, put them on & go!!!
Believe me once you start you won't stop :happy:
@ Nutty...What time do you go to bed at night?0 -
I get up at 4:45, put my shoes on and start walking. It makes my day better. I am afraid if I wait till I get home from work, I won't do it. I go to bed very early.0
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I'm in the same boat.. I usually wake up everyday at 5:30 and get ready and head to work.. I have a 30 min drive.. at night I have 6 kids that all need my attention.. and the house does too.. so I was working out an hour right when I got home but I'm finding out that isn't going to work to well.. miss the kids.. and this forces my husband to make supper! So today I got up at 4am and went to the gym.. lucky the gym is only 1 block away so I basically rolled out of bed and walked over there! But I"M not sure I could cont.. to do that every morning! I love my sleep but I'm thinking this is the only option I have... I did feel more energized to start my day though... good luck!
Edit to add I like having the radio and tv to myself.. problem with tv nothing really on.. this morning I watched the "Nanny" But I'm thinking I could get used to this!0 -
@ Nutty...What time do you go to bed at night?
I'm usually in bed for about 10.30 - 11 the latest!0 -
wear workout clothes to bed! believe it this has really worked for me ... have no excuses .. my whole aim in life is not to make excuses ... electric left on so it doesn't take "time" to load wii zumba it's just there ready to go0
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wear workout clothes to bed! believe it this has really worked for me ... have no excuses .. my whole aim in life is not to make excuses ... electric left on so it doesn't take "time" to load wii zumba it's just there ready to go
Don't know any gym's that will allow me to work out Nekid! :bigsmile:0 -
Hi :happy:
I am just over 3 weeks into my fitness program and due to work commitments, childcare etc for 3 days a week I can only really get my exercise in either early in the morning or late at night. I don't know about you but I find things 20 times harder at night after a hard days work, and given that this is the only time I get to spend any quality time with my wife I find myself really struggling to get the workout done.
Anyway the obvious solution to my problem is to get up earlier in a morning (I'm normally up at 7am), I would like to try and train myself to get up at around 5:45 each morning to give me an hour in the gym and time to get showered before the rest of the house is up.
Has anyone trained themselves to get up earlier as a result of their training regime? If so I would love to hear how you managed it or if you have any tips that I find useful.
I'm also looking for friends on here to add a social aspect to all this hard work.
Thanks
Dan (31mUk)
I did exactly this for a while. And to be honest, it feels AMAZING! I'm having a hard time getting the motivation to do that this week because I've been sleeping terribly, but it gives you so much energy during the day. It's also kind of nice to get that "you" time in before taking on your job or other duties for the day.
I'd say go for it. I will try to get up at 5AM (like I used to) next week if you get up at 5:45AM-deal?0 -
I know exactly how you feel. I just had a baby and working out at night and getting him ready for bed at 7pm allowed me 0 time with him. I get up at 3:30 and go to the gym for 30 mins. Then I get ready and I have a good 30-45 mins with him in the morning and then all night. That is my motivation. Although when he doesnt sleep well I get no sleep and dont go. You just have to find that motivation and for me it was spending time with my son. 0
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@ Nutty...What time do you go to bed at night?
I'm usually in bed for about 10.30 - 11 the latest!
Hmmm....that's what I've been trying to do but I keep waking up around 2:00 - 3:00 AM wide awake! Hope the Melatonin kicks in!0 -
If you want to do it bad enough you will!
The first few days are hard, but you get used to it. It sets you up for the day, and I've found I'm a much happier person getting up @ 5.30/6am every morning to workout! I have my workout clothes right by my bed & literally roll out of bed, put them on & go!!!
Believe me once you start you won't stop :happy:
^ this is true. i used to get up at 7am, but since memorial day, i have trained myself to get up at 545AM. You get used to it after awhile and its not so bad. You can always drink a small cup of coffee in the morning too, that sometimes works! AND, on top of all that, when you come home at night, you already have your workout done! it's such a great feeling!0 -
During the week, I need to get 2 runs in before work. I HATE getting out of bed with a passion. Once I'm up, I'm OK. The alarm goes off at 5:00. . . if I'm lucky I'm out the door at 5:20 (usually 5:30). I go to bed later in the summer than I should to maintain those early hours, so it's good I only do that 2 times a week. I can get my 3rd run in on the weekend any time (long run) so I can sleep in a bit.
Wish I had helpful hints. For me, knowing that I have to keep my training schedule for my upcoming half marathon is the ONLY thing that gets me out of bed for those runs!!!
Now I want to take a nap. . . zzzzzzzzzzz. . . .0 -
I wasn't able to be consistent with my workouts until I started getting up early. I get up at 4:30am during the week to exercise. It was hard at first, so I set my alarm 15 minutes earlier every few days until I was getting up at my desired time. The night before I put my workout clothes right next to the bed and I set out the equipment I'll need.
I love that I have it out of the way and can tackle my day with that crossed off my to do list. I don't stress out now when something comes up in the evenings that used to make me miss a workout. I enjoy how quiet the house is and value this time to myself. And I feel so amazing afterwards.
I don't always get to bed early enough, so some mornings I just can't wake up. But then as I'm working out in the evening and crabby because my routine is disrupted, I remind myself that I could have avoided all of this by just getting the heck out of bed when I was supposed to.
Try if for a while and see what you think. If it doesn't work for you, you can always try something else.0 -
Up at 5 every morning for the workout. There is a gym near work that I use - the traffic is much better that early (30 min drive) and the gym is usually not that busy. With the workout done in the morning I can leave work on time, sometimes pick up the kid from school/camp, and spend the whole evening with the fam. Bedtime is no later than 10. As with all routines, the first few days are tough.0
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Don't drink any caffeine after 3pm. This will help you go to sleep earlier.
I found that by getting up earlier, I not only had time to workout, but that my commute rush was non-existant. I'd get to work earlier, so I would leave earlier (and have less of a commute home).
Getting up earlier gave me more time with my family, not less.
And you do adjust to it fairly quickly, in about a week or 2. Just be careful on the weekends, if you stay up late and get up late it makes it harder to maintain your routine on Monday.
Good luck!0 -
If you want to do it bad enough you will!
The first few days are hard, but you get used to it. It sets you up for the day, and I've found I'm a much happier person getting up @ 5.30/6am every morning to workout! I have my workout clothes right by my bed & literally roll out of bed, put them on & go!!!
Believe me once you start you won't stop :happy:
^^THIS! I have been working out first thing in the AM for a few years now...and I absolutely love it!
It was certainly an adjustment, but I found I could not consistently workout in the evenings. There was always a good excuse popping up. And if there wasn't, I would find one. LOL I start work at 7:30 AM, so I have to be up around 4 to workout prior. But I feel fantastic after my workout! I have tons of energy and am able to focus mentally as soon as I start my day. And no 3PM slump, either.
BTW, I go to bed around 9PM, no later than 10 on "school" nights. It's not an easy habit to make, but it will be worth it. Best of luck to you.0 -
I've done it a few times over the years.
I start by setting the alarm a half hour earlier. Then I just get up, put some music on, and take my time getting ready. That way, I feel prepared for the day, happy and not rushed. I do that for a couple of days and then I set my alarm back 15 minutes ealier and add a short work out. I just keep doing that until I'm at the time that I need to get up in order to get the work out I want and still have time to get ready for work. It's very easy once I start. The problem is starting. If I don't really feel motivated, it doesn't work, but once I've made the commitment, I just have to get out of bed on time on the first day and the following days are no problem. The real test is the morning you wake up and you say to yourself "I can skip it, just this once." If I DO skip it, I'm done for because then I'll just keep sleeping in day after day.0 -
I was totally not a work-out person at all when I started this program. I slowly got into different work outs to see what really worked for me. I found that I can get up at 3:45 in the morning, work out for an hour and then get ready for my day. I always watch a show I am interested in while I work out, it makes the time go by quickly. I try to go to bed no later than 10 because I have to get up so early. It has worked great for me and I love to start my day off with a good workout. I also work out in the evening for an hour after the kids have gone to bed. I know how that the end of the day sounds awful (we have 5 kids) but I just put on a show I want to watch and before I know it I have worked out for my full hour.0
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... I would like to try and train myself to get up at around 5:45 each morning to give me an hour in the gym and time to get showered before the rest of the house is up.
Has anyone trained themselves to get up earlier as a result of their training regime? If so I would love to hear how you managed it or if you have any tips that I find useful.
Hi, and yes - this is what I do. The big thing is, get to bed early enough. If you're not used to going to bed early, you'll need to retrain your sleep clock (cyrcadiam rythm? Is that the geed term?)
Try taking 2 melatonin, 2.5mg, tablets, or even 3. They work wonders, non-addictive, totally natural, etc. As long as you're enough sleep, you'll probably be reset within a week.0 -
You just have to force yourself out of bed. The first month is the hardest but once you get into a groove you will look forward to your workout & you will be so happy you got up.0
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I started by getting up at 5:30 a.m. and now I get up between 4 and 4:30 a.m. On gym days I get up earliest and on running days I can sleep a wee bit later. I just kept changing my alarm clock by 5 to 10 minutes until I found the optimal time....after a few weeks you will start to naturally wake up at these hours. Of course you will also most likely be asleep earlier too..... My wife doesn't mind me falling asleep early; as far as she is concerned the changes in me since I began this quest far out weigh a few extra minutes in the evening..... Best of luck to you on your journey!0
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I get up around 4:45am. But I go to bed by 10:00pm. it's rough, but worth it...and you get used to it after a while.. FR sent :-)0
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I run to work. I get up at 4:20am, get my stuff ready for work, walk to my starting point, stretch, and I'm running by 5am. It takes me about 50-55 minutes to run the 5 miles to work, then I shower and get in uniform, put my gear on the truck, ready to start running calls at 6:30am.
You can do it.0 -
I love working out in the morning! Once you get in the routine, you will love it. It is so nice to have your workout done and out of the way early in the morning. I know if I worked out in the evenings, there would be a lot of days I would skip out on my workout. I just make sure to get to bed early. ( I dont have any kids yet) I like to make sure to get at least 8 hours of sleep. Don't get me wrong, there are still morning when I am tired, but when I am done with my workout I feel refreshed and ready to take on the day!! Good luck, stick with it, you will be happy you made this decision! 0
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I used to wake up at 7/7:30am to get showered and get my son dressed/fed and to day care before getting to work at 8:45am. To get my morning work outs in, I had to start waking up at 5:15am. The first few days, it may seem hard to get out of bed, and all you want to do is turn the alarm off and go back to bed. But by the time you leave the gym, you have a ton of energy and are glad you came. Give it a week or so and it will feel natural to you.0
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