AM workouts

[larmbruster]

Okay, so this a reoccuring problem of mine:

I'm on a "fitness track" right now, or at least was, for the past 2.5 weeks about, getting up early (about 5am) and getting in my cardio. Awesome right? Yes...until this morning.

now, I've sort of hit a wall, where I'm just completely exhausted. It's like, working out in the morning only works for so long, before I'm drained (all day). At this point I'll typically take today off, which will be followed by tomorrow... and the next day...and basically a whole week.

Anyone else have this problem? What did you do to get past it? Just keep going? ....this 2.5 weeks is actually long for me too, I usually don't make it past 1.5-2 weeks.... the way I've been staying awake during the day: Drinking like 4 cups of coffee a day ....which I really don't want to continue to do.

any advice would be greatly appreciated!

(PS: I sort of feel like i have to workout in the morning too, because in the afternoon, I end up not working out.)

 

[PhyllisG]

If you have been working out every day for 2.5 weeks you need a rest day. Take a day off. What I find helpful at times is to say take a walk with Leslie Sansone for 2 miles or do an Ellen Barrett. Basically something less intense but allows me to keep the habit going. I remember years ago Anna Benson (from the Firm) claimed that if you did it for 28 straight days it became a habit. So my advice is if you are too tired take a rest day or if you want to continue because you are afraid you will lose your momentum then just do something not as challenging that won't leave you wiped out. ]

 

[jcm]

I'm training for a half marathon and have to start getting up in the morning again. I'm easing into it! You might want to take a rest day here and there but still get up at the same time. I know that consistency w/ waking and sleeping is key. So still get up at 5, have some coffee or something and do something else - but don't watch t.v. you'll fall asleep! Kudos for your 2.5 weeks. You've given me some motivation.

 

[hrcfitness]

Totally agree!

I MUST work out in the am; if I don't it just doesn't get done. That being said I totally agree that it gets tough. The best plan that works for me is Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday get up early (like 5). Take Wed and Sundays off. Workout on Saturday but not super early.

Remember that it takes 3 weeks to make something a routine...so give it a shot and if your body is saying "not today" then listen.
Hope this helps!

Elena

 

[Dela]

Are you factoring in any rest days at all? Or you just worked out 17 days straight? Is it possible on weekends for you to workout a little later but still in the morning, so maybe you could do 3 days during the week at 5AM then the weekends later? You said you are doing cardio in the AM, are you getting in any weights? I always found I did not have the strength for morning weight workouts, but even if I was tired, I still preferred doing weights in the evening.

Combining weights and cardio is the way to go anyway for best results plus it helps to have variety in your workout routine.

 

[jldx2in2000]

I am an early riser M-F (3:15 am ) so I feel your pain. I have been doing this since April of this year. It was really hard in the beginning but I just forced myself to push through it. Because I get up so early, that means I am in bed by 7:30pm. Being consistent in your sleeping habits is the biggest key. Make sure you go to bed at the same time and wake up at the same time. However, on the weekends, I do go to bed an hour or two later and sleep in an hour two more in the morning.

Rest days are also important. I used to take my rest day on Wednesdays and would sleep in till 5 but then I found that was messing with my sleeping patterns since I really slept in till 5 three days a week. Then I switched my rest day to Sunday. I feel better with M-F being consistent.

Good luck and keep working on it. It takes about a month of consistency for something to become a habit. Once it becomes a habit, it will actually be hard to break!

 

[MelanieC]

What time are you going to bed?

I get up at 5:15 4 days a week to workout and at first I found it really tough getting used to. So I have learned to discipline myself and go to bed early. I know that may not be possible for you - I don't have kids so it is possible for me to go to bed early.

Also when I do feel that I'm starting to hit a wall, I rest. Like this morning. Yesterday I felt so drained of energy that I decided this morning to "sleep in" to 6:30 and I skipped my workout. I used to feel really guilty doing that, but I've learned that its better to listen to my body when I'm tired and give myself needed rest - much more effective than pushing forward with a workout when I'm not feeling well.

My weekend workouts are later in the morning.

I hope you do get some rest because there is no sense to pushing yourself beyond your limits and crashing. The whole point of working out is to feel good and happy!

Melanie

 

[larmbruster]

First off, thanks everyone!
Yeah, I was including rest days too... To give a little background, I'm trying to workout 6times a week: Cardio 5x week in the morning (M-F) (30-40 mins each session, 2 of those being HIIT workouts, the other 3 less intense), weights in the afternoon 3x week (MWF), and plyo legs (only) on saturday. Sunday is usually a rest day (or just Yoga if I need the stretch) =)

Melanie - I think you are right, with at least getting up consistently at the same time, even if I dont' do anything... I at least did that this morning! lol Maybe I should be only working out 5x week with cardio...and maybe take off like Tues. and Th. mornings, but still get up at 5am....or just sleep in till 6 ;-)

I do still make it to bed fairly early around 10-10:30ish...11pm is late for me. So i'm still getting about 7hours of sleep a night, and a little more on the weekends.

Also, to be honest, I do feel like if I don't workout in the morning, that I'm "failing" my routine... weird (maybe), but that's why I feel better doing a little something every day...maybe I need to learn to change that though. I know taking a day off is "good", and I do enjoy rest days...but during the week I notice a huge difference...on the days I don't workout before I go to work or school, I feel more tired and not as awake....which I think leads me to thinking of taking a morning off as "Bad" because of the "bad" side-effect (of being tired all morning).

 

[JodelleFitzh20]

Are you fueling up adequately after your morning workout? the reason I ask is that, your blood sugar will drop and make you lethargic for the rest of the day, if you skip breakfast or if you don't eat some protein and carbs within 30 mins of your morning workout. Regulating your blood sugar by keeping food intake going every 3-4 hours will keep your energy and hormones stable so you don't hit a low, or crash altogther.

 

[MelanieC]

Also, to be honest, I do feel like if I don't workout in the morning, that I'm "failing" my routine... weird (maybe), but that's why I feel better doing a little something every day...maybe I need to learn to change that though.

I know exactly how you feel - believe me! I take the time to schedule a really good program for the month, then feel that if I skip something, I've failed my routine, or I'll start to gain back a ton of weight. I was beginning to lose my joy in my workouts though because of this mentality. And for me, I love working out with Cathe - so I don't want to start working out begrudgingly.

Its taken me a lot of time and reflection to realize that I need to stop feeling guilty if I missed a workout. If I'm tired, then I need to respect that.

You mentioned that you usually go to bed at 10:00 - 10:30. Why not try a little earlier - like 9:00 - 9:30? You may notice that you will still have energy in the mornings that you don't workout.

Also, another member posted something about making sure your diet is adequate. I totally agree with this. It wasn't until I really analyzed my diet that I realized I wasn't getting enough protein. Once I changed that, I found my energy levels increased quite a bit.

Hope this helps - I just wanted you to know that you're not alone in how you feel and what you're going through. I think we all go through tough periods of figuring out what works best for each of us individually!