??? for the morning exercisers (long)

K

KimDW

Cathlete
O.K. When you first decided to exercise in the morning - and I'm talking about getting up at 4:30 to be in the shower by 6am - how many tries did it take you before you actually did it? I am very much a morning person so I am determined to be a morning exerciser. It is the only way that I honestly believe I can get my butt back into exercising. I have tried in the past to do the morning routine but could never stop resetting the alarm (which I have to get out of bed to do). I am so tired after work, plus I've gone back to school and started quilting so I don't want (or have alot of time) to workout after work. The last two nights I've slept in my spare bedroom (which happens to have the full size bed that I had growing up - wierd) and I have gotten the best uninterrupted sleep in days. But, the alarm went off - I got up - walked around (very alert) for about 15 to 20 mins talking myself out of exercising. So I think I can do it but are there any tips you guys may have? I thought about drinking a bottle of water to get something in my stomach so I don't feel so "yucky". I can't eat before 8am because I feel yucky.

Thanks,
Kim
 
Kim, I am trying to do the same thing. I used to workout at 6 am, which really isn't that early (for me) and it was generally not a problem. Well, now I am taking the bus for work and the lastest one leaves at 6:50 am which means I need to be in the shower by about 6 am too. Yuck! I have been working out at night, but really want to do it in the morning. I am going to try to ease into it and maybe try to do it once a week and see how it goes.

Sorry I don't have any advice though.

Karin
 
I also get up about 4:45 and start my workout about 5:00a.m. I think the trick for me is that I sleep in roomy work-out cloths..not PJs and I have a dog who can really tell time. He usually wakes me up 5 mins. before the alarm goes off.:)

If you are using Cathe or any other exercise workout get up out of the bed...and put the DVD on. I also set up all the equipment that I will need for that particular workout, the night before. So instead of walking around 15-20 mins...start your work out.

One more tip, when I don't feel like working out, I tell myself that I'm only going to do 1/2 of the DVD...and I usually end up finishing the whole thing.

Good Luck
 
setting up the night before helps...

i don't eat before i workout... but i do drink a propel during my workout (i can't drink water that early in the morning!)

you just have to DO IT! lol!

i started working out in the mornings from the beginning... so way back when i was doing the shorter workouts it was easier... i just kinda fell into the getting up earlier and earlier to do the longer workouts!

i get up at 4 a.m. so that i have time to wake up... let the dog out.... get dressed.... i've only missed one morning of working out and that's cuz i had hurt my back! on days i don't really want to workout.... i may chose to do something easier.... but the important thing is to just DO IT!

(i have to admit i got to bed between 8 and 9 at night, too since i get up so early!)

AND i even get up at 4 or 4:30 on weekends too as it's best for your rhythmn to keep the same hours all the time!


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cute work out clothes are good for AT LEAST an additional 10-15 calories burned!

http://www.picturetrail.com/desertbriez
 
You might want to search this. It has been talked about before.

For me, I just get up (after sleeping in my workout clothes) and just do it, no negotiating with myself!! If I stop to think about it, I will agree to fit it in later, which never happens.

It is a great habit to make and keep!
 
Thanks for the advice. I did search for the topic and found a few more tips. So I'm going to start slow and not try to do a full hour all at once everyday. I think that's what deters me a little. Thinking "Man I really don't feel like doing a full hour right now" so then I don't even try. Even 20 - 30 mins in the beginning will help my body gradually get used to the change. I've got to do something because I've been in such a slump for a long time. I bought the Gym Style workouts last year and haven't even done them yet. :eek:

Going to try again tomorrow. Wish me luck.

Kim
 
When I first got back into working out, I would get up at 5:15 am for a 5:45 - 6:15 workout. Short, only 30 mins, but I did it 6/7 days a week.

Now I wake up at 4:45 am for a 5:30 to 6:30 workout -- I have gradually moved to longer workouts and earlier bedtimes.

You MUST go to bed early. And you MUST get up every day when that alarm goes off!!
 
Hi, Kim! :)

I get up at 4am (actually 3:50-3:55am, I set my clock forward to "fool" myself). Usually, I just get out of bed, put my clothes on, get all my stuff ready (iPod if running or dvd if inside activity). During my preping, I usually eat about 6-7 grapes and drink an energy drink like Power Shot. I will only eat the grapes to buffer my stomach from the caffeine. I also highly recommend BSN's Endorush since it has no caffeine and is just a big big bunch of B Vitamins....and it tastes good too. Believe me, I am only using these drinks if I am doing heavy cardio. If I am only lifting, I don't use them. By the time I drink them and get my shoes on, and start up my driveway, I am rocking to a beat and loving the FRESH morning air. I can totally see why people get addicted to running, but I think I am just addicted to smelling air and being all ALONE. There is something satisfying about being on the road & golf course alone.

Oh and I have 2 cats who think I am over sleeping if I am in bed after 4:15am...they rub and rub me and drive me insane. Every once in a while they get shoved off the bed }( How do you tell a cat to let you sleep in?

xoxo, neicebug

PS I agree with the previous posts...you just have to do it and not allow yourself to compromise. It is the only body you will get, be kind to it. Make absolute certain you are getting to bed EARLY too!
 
I have had such incredible results with a.m. fasted cardio...that is motivation enough!!!

I drink a lot of water when I wake up, that helps a lot!!

I enjoy the notion of getting a nice workout in so bright and early. I certainly do not **think** about it as the alarm is going off. I focus on the next step or two (i.e. water, coffee, get into exercise clothes and shoes). See, when the alarm is going off, I can get excited about coffee. By the time I am at the "pouring coffee" phase, I am awake enough to get excited about the exercise phase.
 
i started 5a.m. workouts back in highschool b/c i wanted to loose weight. That was 8 yrs ago and i have been doing it ever since. The first week was the toughest for me b/c my body was adjusting. I never went back to sleep once my alarm went off. Its like i go on autopilot b/c if you focus to much on how you don't want to do it and how comfy the bed is it makes it that much harder. i have tried doing afternoon and early evening workouts and they aren't for me. i have far more energy in the morning and i feel great. not to mention i think early morning cardio is what got my abs to pop out. for me to exercise in the afternoon/early evening is like pulling teeth. i have no motivation and i'm tired and i just want to sit and relax. just do it, stick with it and it will get easier. if you know the only time to get a workout in is in the morning thats motivation in itself not to go back to sleep
 
One thing that I found that really helps is forcing myself to go to bed earlier ... that was a difficult habit to get into, but it has helped as I feel more rested in the early AM. I also agree with others, it's just like changing any habit, you have to do it. Like Nike said! :) Deb
 
Kim,

With you on the not being able to eat super early, but in time you'll get there. At first I wanted to die (getting up early and w/o), after about the second week I felt like a rock star and couldn't understand why I ever (for 20 years) worked out at 8 p.m!
 
I agree with everyone here..lots of wonderful tips! I have put out my socks/shoes the night before, and sometimes even have the DVD I'm going to use in the machine so it's ready...things like that to save time. I can tell you that if I don't go to bed early though, the morning workouts do NOT happen...without good sleep you won't do your best anyway. I don't eat before a workout ever because my stomach gets upset to easily...especially if I'm doing cardio...it's terrible and it really ruins my workout. But do you think you could feel "yucky" in the morning because your blood sugar is low? Just a thought...
 
I am not a morning person at all, but when my job forced me to get early to exercise (I couldn't get out of work before 6 and that was a good day). Anyway, I eased myself into it. I started by doing just a 1/2 for 3-4 days during the work week. Knowing that I could sleep in helped. I was then able to increase it to all days, so my rest day could be on the weekend.

Another thing that has helped is knowing exactly what I am going to do each morning. I usually follow Cathe's rotations, but if I don't I plan my workouts for the week. This provides me with the motivation I need to get out of bed each morning.
 
Ok - it's summer - and the ONLY way for me to get an uniterrupted w/o with my monsters on summer break is to be up at 4:00. I agree with settin gup the night before. I set out my clothes, prep my contact lens stuff, set out any weights I'll need, step, etc, even put the DVDs in the player.

I put a lg bottle of water in the freezer when I go to bed, so it's icy cold when I wake up, AND - (here's my trick) I prepare a bottle of Accelerade at night - take it along with the water. I love this stuff (heard it's relatively new, but not sure.) I got it because I never properly replenish electrolytes and I drink too much water. This has the balance of sodium and potassium, and some protein, along with needed sugar to transport protein to the muscles and replenish the glycogen. (Read Nutrient Timing if you want more details on that kind of stuff.) I wouldn't miss my quiet morning workouts now.

Lorrie

www.picturetrail.com/lsass

3 days, 60 miles, 1 cure. Check out my webpage:
http://www.the3day.org/cleveland07/lorriesassbenza808
 
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