Getting up Early - Looking for advice

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  • michele2224
    michele2224 Posts: 36
    I am kinda in same position, I work 60 hours 2 jobs i get to 1st job at about 8:30-5:00 then go straight to 2nd job from 5:15 to 10:00 so I have to get up the earliest (due to trying to get some sleep..lol) at 6 AM and all I do is walk about 3 miles & do 100 crunches and it is too late to do anything when I get home at 10:30 at night.

    All I can suggest is do what you can, I am gonna start taking advantage on the weekends since I do not work, but I guess the main thing to do is set your alarm and do what you can,until maybe you can get more of a schedule in place.
  • eklipz95
    eklipz95 Posts: 3
    Back in college a guy at the gym told me that cardio workouts are 300% more effective if you do them before eating breakfast..... now, I don't know if I believe the number he told me. However, here are a couple articles that discuss what it does for you and may give you some motivation to do it.

    http://www.mensfitness.com/nutrition/what-to-eat/breakfast-before-or-after-a-workout

    http://www.livestrong.com/article/512020-how-to-burn-fat-working-out-before-breakfast/
  • shmiracles
    shmiracles Posts: 105 Member
    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).

    this is great. i bike and walk everywhere. i love it!
  • shmiracles
    shmiracles Posts: 105 Member
    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.

    this also! so great!
  • thejulesmarie
    thejulesmarie Posts: 17 Member
    My alarm was set for 7 am every single day for a month. Just like it takes time getting used to new eating habits and actually exercising, it takes time for your body to adjust to a new sleeping schedule. It's going to suck for a few days, but don't get discouraged! It's a lot easier to get up early if you know that you're going to be doing something productive. Best of luck!
  • Zylayna
    Zylayna Posts: 728 Member
    I'm a 'semi-morning person'...I don't mind getting up early, just don't really like getting up early to work out right away! However, I have found that getting my workout done first thing in the morning is crucial...if I don't do it then, it rarely gets done.

    For the most part, the real training comes in teaching yourself to GO TO BED EARLY! If you go to bed around 9:30/10pm, then a 6am morning isn't so hard. Still sucks until you get through your warm up, but then it's all good I find. If I don't go to bed early enough, then the workout is just pathetic and I'm grumpy. 7.5 to 8 hrs a night is pretty much mandatory to have a successful morning workout. Some can do it on less, but most people need at least 7.5/8hrs a night or more.

    Being married, it's also a transition for a spouse to get used to you prioritizing an early bedtime to get up early for a workout if they aren't doing the same. Your schedules will be slightly off and it can cut into 'movie time' or other such things.
  • Bondgirlforever
    Bondgirlforever Posts: 64 Member
    My friend who is using a different site started getting up earlier to work out by setting her alarm clock 15 minutes earlier for two days and then 15 more minutes earlier and so on until she reached her desired time. She said it helped her ease into it!
  • mommamisty823
    mommamisty823 Posts: 99
    You just have to make yourself do it. I get up at 4:45 and go on my run 3 days a week (I also get my 3 year old up, on the potty, then put her in the jogging stroller with her blanket and sippy cup with a small snack). I have a 45 minute commute to work. I usually set my alarm extra early because I'm the type of person that hits snooze a few times before I roll out of bed.

    Granted this is only my first week doing this, but I do have to admit that I have more enrgy throught the day and am usually in a better mood. Good luck to you.
  • Dantanian
    Dantanian Posts: 18 Member
    All,

    Thanks for all the helpful comments, seems like the top and bottom of it is that I have to just do it, after a while I should have trained it into myself. I do like the idea of having my workout done in the morning so that I don't have it hanging over me all day. I may well come back and let you know how I get on. My alarm will be set tonight for 5:45, fingers crossed the wife does not throw it out of the window when it goes off. :laugh:

    Thanks

    Dan
  • sbernardy
    sbernardy Posts: 188
    WE should get one of those alarm clocks that your only allowed to hit the snooze once and if it goes off again before you get up the alarm clock jumps off the end table and rolls around the floor buzzing , loud as heck and you have to chase it down :laugh:

    http://www.amazon.com/Clocky-Alarm-Clock-Wheels-Aqua/dp/B000TAS9XQ
  • DMUND
    DMUND Posts: 299 Member
    BUMP - I'm looking for idea's as well!
  • akaporn
    akaporn Posts: 231 Member
    0400: Wake up
    0430-0530: Exercise
    0600-0700: Drive to work (55mile)
    0700-1800: Work (office, computer screen, boring stuffs)
    1900-2100: Soccer/Running
    2100-2200 Drive home
    2230 Bed Time

    The only question is do you want it bad enough. It's your body. it's your health. I understand that mine is a little extreme. So pick something that you will be able to maintain and enjoy.
  • rakeem76
    rakeem76 Posts: 1
    There is an old native American trick that works for me... drink about 2 pints of water before you go to bed. Your body will wake you up! It also addresses staying hydrated enough :) hope this helps.
  • niclan724
    niclan724 Posts: 49 Member

    @ 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!


    My Dr. started me on melatonin to help me sleep, and I was up and wide awake at 3am everyday. Sad to say, that's the melatonin doing that.....

    Sometimes taking Magnesium with the melatonin can help you body process it more efficiently, but unfortunately melatonin has that effect on most people... I'm not sure how old your mattress is, but we just replaced ours after 8-9yrs. We had the usual spring mattress, and I realized it was KILLING my back....I hadn't gotten a good night's sleep for a while now. We went and got the new foam mattress from Sam's- like a Tempurpedic but about $2500 cheaper! It's a dream come true...pun intended. Totally made getting up earlier so much easier bc I'm actually getting a good night's sleep!!
  • PixelTreason
    PixelTreason Posts: 226 Member
    I get up at 5am to do my routine (3 days weight lifting, 3 days cardio). I was NEVER a morning person and would get up as late as possible to still get to work on time - about 7:30 am.

    You get used to it. It's tough, so tough at first but if you force yourself to go to sleep earlier, it's doable.
    Now I kind of like it. I like running in the morning when nobody is up yet and the streets are all dark. Feels like I have a secret, being one of the few people awake. :)

    Seeing the sun rise so beautifully isn't too shabby either.
  • indygal76
    indygal76 Posts: 283 Member
    I get up at 5am to run. It's much cooler for me. I then come home, shower, get family ready and we are out the door in order for me to get to work by 7:30. Good luck finding a routine that works well for you!
  • indygal76
    indygal76 Posts: 283 Member
    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.

    That is awesome!!!
  • mousepaws22
    mousepaws22 Posts: 380 Member
    We can't get melatonin in the UK unless it is prescribed by a Doctor- I asked for it a few years ago as I suffer from insomnia and they refused to prescribe it for me.
  • Ish1313
    Ish1313 Posts: 13 Member
    Life is hard. You have to make choices. I, obviously, have been making poor choices...that is what put me here in the first place. I have a family and a 50 hour a week job. I have decided this go around that I would make myself a priority. I use every opportunity I have to sneak in physical activity...mail box run, walk on lunch break. Start somewhere. Do what you can and dont beat yourself up over the rest. I have always been an ALL or NOTHING person, "Im going to get up at 4:30 everyday and walk." Well, after the first 2 days, I give up. Don't set yourself up for failure.
  • mojolo7
    mojolo7 Posts: 36 Member
    Find a friend (maybe even one on MFP) who is striving (and motivated) to get up and exercise at the same time. Exchange phone numbers, and try to make sure your friend is up with you each morning...we do this via text message, and it's encouraging and hysterical! Usually it goes something like this:
    Me: "Ugh. I don't wanna. Please don't make me."
    Friend: "I don't want to either, but I ate 2 pieces of chocolate cake last night, so we're doing this." (Or something to that effect.)

    By the time you're awake enough to read/send a text and try to come up with an amusing response, you're awake enough to get out of bed and workout. :-)
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