Early Morning Exercisers!!

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pumper06

Cathlete
OK, so this is huge for me...for the last 2 days (well, Friday and today) I have been getting up at 4:30 am to exercise before work. I finally stopped hitting snooze, got out of bed, and worked out.

I love getting it done in the morning. My only problem is that I am so tired the rest of the day, until about 2:00. Does this get better? How long will it take for my body to adjust to the new schedule?

Here's hoping I can do it again tomorrow!
 
I give you a ton of credit!! Good for you! I was doing so good at getting up at 4:45 and exercising and then I went on this trip like 3 weeks ago across 3 time zones and I just can't get motivated again. I have moved the alarm across the room, into different rooms, different alarms in different rooms, etc. I am just so exhausted lately I can't get out of bed. Anyhow, I'm sorry I didn't really answer your question, but when I did get up I was fine until about 8 PM and then I was like a zombie. I did have a cup of tea during the workout and then a few when I got to work, but I stop at noon.
 
You will get better after your body get used to the new bio clock you set.

During the weekdays, I got up @ 4:30am. I can only do my workout during this time of period. If I don't get up do it, I would miss my workout. I started Feb 1 this year. It was tough at the beginning. But my daughter also motivated me. She is competitive figure skater. She would get up at 5:00am to do her off ice workout in our basement. So when I really dragged on, I thought about her and my flappy mid section pouch, that helped me to get up. After I got up, things would get much easier.

I drank coffee after workout. Then after I arrived to my office, I keep drinking green tea, about 4 cups a day. But truth is, by 9:00pm, I am really tired and tried to get everybody to bed. However, it is always tough job. My daughter always had something forgot to do, and my son did not want to be in bed until I am in bed with him. So if I can get in bed by 9:30pm, I am happy.
 
it gets easier. give your body time to adjust. make sure you are staying hydrated throughout the day. i find when i am getting tired in the afternoons it's usually because i need water. also, you may need to go to bed earlier. i LOVE my early morning runs and workouts, we are kicking butt while most of the world is asleep :)

WantFit said:
my son did not want to be in bed until I am in bed with him.
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how old is your son? do you have to do this every night?
 
I have been doing this for years and my only suggestion is to make sure you get enough sleep! My kids are always teasing me about my bedtime ;), but really I need my 7-8 hours and couldn´t do it otherwise.
 
I am an early morning exerciser (alarm goes off at 4:30 am) but I am just naturally a morning person. I really love getting it done first thing in the morning, it sets the tone for the rest of my day. And in fact, when I don't workout in the morning (or even get up early) I feel sluggish and tired the rest of the day!

I just remind mysef -- I am almost ALWAYS tired when the alarm goes off, whether it's 4:30, 5:30, 6:30.....you get the picture!
 
I'm a long-time early riser to work out (currently 5:00 in the morning). Make sure you're getting to bed early enough!

It really does get easier, but I always fade from around 3:30-5:00 or so, then perk back up. That's a really tough time of day for me (I need a nap) -- right when I have to do carpool, homework, drive kids to stuff, and make dinner.

If you make a habit of it, you will love working out first thing in the morning. It's so much easier to get your workouts in when you get them out of the way first. And you only have to shower and fix your face once (which is a big selling point to me).

Also make sure that you're eating properly -- getting enough protein and limiting those snooze-inducing carbs (especially simple carbs) -- at least until later in the day.

Good luck!
 
I naturally wake up at 4:30-5 without an alarm, never need it. And while everyone says get enough sleep, I have been doing this for years and years and years, and actually feel worse if I get more than 6 hours, go figure....I average about 4.5-5 hours of sleep.
 
I agree with everyone else! Water, decent bedtime, 3 pm stinks but you'll be happy you got it done first thing...it's all true. :)
 
Have you tried a daylight alarm clock? I had one and it was great and I was actually able to get out of bed and had far less fatigue throughout the day. I am a serious oversleeper, too. My clock broke during a move, but I have a feeling that DH is getting me one for my b-day in a couple of weeks. ;)
 
Wow, . . you are all so awesome! I keep telling myself to wake up early and get my jog in the morning before the heat comes around lunch time which is when I usually run. I can't count on falling asleep on time at night unless I take my ambien. I have insomnia. :(
 
I second (or third?) the need to drink lots of water. It does help with the fatigue. I found that after a few weeks I no longer felt so tired and it didn't bother me to get up anymore. Don't get me wrong, when I first stumble out of bed, I'm hating life, but that feeling only lasts for 2 or 3 minutes, tops. Once I'm working out, I LOVE it. It is the best high to know that I did the most important thing for myself first thing in the day. Enjoy!
 
marnapril said:
it gets easier. give your body time to adjust. make sure you are staying hydrated throughout the day. i find when i am getting tired in the afternoons it's usually because i need water. also, you may need to go to bed earlier. i LOVE my early morning runs and workouts, we are kicking butt while most of the world is asleep :)



how old is your son? do you have to do this every night?
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My son is 4 year old. I know I kind of spoil him. I had to read and tell him story. He had to hold my hand before he falls asleep.
 
Well, I am an early morning exerciser, 4:00am or ealier, and it didn't start out that way, really. I just kept wanting more and more time to do my workouts, until I was up to 4 hours working out in the morning. I just had to get up earlier. Now I work earlier, so only do 1 hour workouts in the morning, plus cardio on my way to work, but it feels great! So, don't feel you have to change everything all at once. Just get up 5 minutes earlier every day and before you know it, you'll be working out very early and feeling fabulous!
 
When my hubby and I were deployed to Iraq, we would get up and workout @ 4:30 a.m. at the gym. It was wonderful!! we did it for about 4 months and we still talk about that time. Since we both got up, it made it easier. We been back a little over2 years and it is hard to get up at that time to exercise now- even though we have a home gym.

we would see the same people @ the gym too. It was nice.
 
I do it and it's a struggle b/c I am not a morning person. But it does get better. I had to work on goign to bed earlier (which is hard) and I know that Monday mornings I tend to drag a bit from the weekend.

But its nice being mostly done and then i can do stretch or core later in the evening.
 
Welcome to the 4:30 am club!! I, too am a member. I think it will get easier - what time do you go to bed? Me, pretty darn early!! We're talking 8:30!! This girl needs her sleep. Some days I do get tired but most of the time I'm good. I love starting my day this way - it gives me energy & fires me up!!

Goodluck & stick with it!
 
WantFit said:
My son is 4 year old. I know I kind of spoil him. I had to read and tell him story. He had to hold my hand before he falls asleep.
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hi wantfit, i hope i didn't sound like i was judging! i was just curious because our 16-month old needs his little "ritual" every night to fall asleep too. i actually like it - i read to him, we cuddle, etc - similar to you - so i was wondering what your experience was like. thanks for sharing!

(ps i don't think it's spoiling at all!!!!!!!)
 
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