Getting back on track with morning exercise - tips and ...

H

Humanhair

Cathlete
Hello educated crowd, I am a longtime Cathe fan and have never had any trouble with motivation to exercise until I started working full time.

I used to be able to get up and exercise first thing in the morning, but I got off track over the holidays and am having a really hard time getting back into it. I just can't seem to get out of bed in the morning.

I need some tips from other morning exercisers -- anyone got any advice?
Thanks!!
Caroline
 
hi Caroline!

- If you use an alarm clock, put it across the room so you have to get out of bed.

- have you workout clothes and water ready to go the night before.

- don't even think about it! Just get up, get those clothes on and GO!

HTH!

Sparrow


Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming ‘Wow - what a ride!’ — Peter Sage
 
I can relate, Caroline (and don't know how much help I will be!). Now that my cat is no longer around to come stand on my full bladder or stick his nose in my face, I have the hardest time getting up. I did buy a dawn simulator alarm clock and that helped some. Also, I set the coffee on a timer so I smell that when my alarm goes off. I think the key for me is trying to go to bed and to get up at a consistent time every day. If I can do that (and I am rarely able to), then I have very little problem motivating myself to get out of bed.
 
RE: Getting back on track with morning exercise - tips ...

Caroline -

I just lately have started working out in the a.m. I struggled at first and then I started posting here. I post every day after I work out -- so it keeps me honest. Let me tell you, knowing that if I don't work out I won't have anything to post gets me motivated!

I've also gotten some e-mail workout buddies -- and seeing their e-mails in the morning have really helped!! It is soooo depressing having to respond to a e-mail buddy who got up early and worked out hard and then my reply is .... oh, sorry I slept in. Let me tell you, it works!! :)

Good luck!
Michelle
 
I agree with everyone else who has posted - just do it!! It does get easier. Well, not if you've been up with kids at night. :-( If everyone sleeps well here, it's actually better for me to get up and get the workout out of the way. This way I'm all done before I have to wake the kids up for school.

Good luck!

Dallas:)
 
I get up around 4:30am to get my exercise in. It's NEVER pleasant to hear that alarm! But I know it would be far worse in every way if I were to turn over and sleep in. It is, in many ways, the most important part of my day! I can't afford to miss it. I'm 56, so I'm sure I'd start rusting if I got away from my workouts.

What I do is lay out my workout clothes the night before. I also know which workout I'm going to be doing. I get up, put on the clothes, grab a bottle of water and, for a treat, suck on a hard peppermint to wake up my mouth a little, put the DVD in and within moments, all thoughts of sleep are gone! Afterwards I can face the demands of a busy day knowing I took the time to keep my body and mind active and healthy.

If you have to adjust your bedtime to an earlier hour, do it. Your body needs adequate rest.

It's hard to form those good habits, and way too easy to lose them. But you know the holidays are over, so they can't be used as an excuse anymore! So tomorrow, get up and full steam ahead! Before long, you'll be hooked again.
 
I don't give myself a choice. It's just as natural as brushing my teeth. I just do it and feel so good about myself afterwards!
 
Sometimes (SOME times!) I am excited about doing a workout the next day. Lying in bed thinking about it as I fall asleep keeps me focused on the workout - as opposed to thinking about how the heck I'm going to roll out of bed in the morning!
 
I have been having the same problem since the holidays and can't seem to get back on track. Thanks for posting this! I think my problem is that I don't get to bed early enough. This has motivated me to get to bed early tonight!
 
I just love working out in the morning! When you are the first one up around you, things are so serene, so peaceful still. I love that I can see the first ray of sunlight kiss the sky. Even if it is still dark by the time I am done, I feel like I have done everything that I need to to make my day great, and I got it done while my neighbors were still sleeping, so I am already ahead of the day.

Missy
 
RE: Getting back on track with morning exercise - tips ...

Everything I need for the workout is set out the previous evening: the DVD is in the player cued up to the warmup, whatever equipment I need for the w/o is put into place, the HRM monitor and workout clothing is hanging in the bathroom so I can pull it on right after I get out of bed.

Also the night before, I prepare breakfast/lunch/snacks that I will take to work, lay out my work clothes, and even put the protein powder in the blender so when the workout is over I just need to add the water, ice, and fruit.

I figure the less I need to do in the morning translates into that much more sleeping time. All I need to do is roll out of bed, workout, shower, dress and run out the door.

My alarm clock is set for a half hour before I need to get up so I can hit the snooze button a few times too!

Being a natural night owl/late sleeper myself, this routine has worked for me for a couple years now.
 
I had the same problem Caroline. It just seemed extra dark to me in morning during the holidays and I couldn't bring myself to get up. I solved it by sleeping in my workout clothes for a few days. Then when I didn't feel like getting up I would think, "Well you're already dressed doesn't make sense to take off your workout clothes without sweating." After a week of that I was back on track and able to get up in the morning again.

KIM
 
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