Morning exercisers

spyrosmom

spyrosmom

Cathlete
So how do I become a morning person? I am moving job locations, same job, same company (21% raise - HOT DANG!!!) but it involves a longer commute, which will put me home later. I normally w/o after dinner (keeps me from eating too much, too). But with getting home later, I will obviously be eating later, and then workout later and shower later, and have little time with my 6 yr old son who goes to bed at 830. If I did my workout after he goes to bed, it would be too late, and I'd never get to sleep. However I am so NOT a morning person, and getting up at 445 or 5 am to sweat, jump, lift, grunt, etc is not real appealing, either. Is there a way to make the transition easier, or do I just jump in with both feet an go for it?

Thanks,

Nan
 
i get up every morning at 5. i've been doing it since high school (8 yrs ago). when i first started i too wasn't a morning person back then. but it was something i really wanted (to loose weight) and knew it was the only time i would get my workout in and stay consistant. it gets easier with time. the first week or two are brutal! but after that, you get used to it and then you realize how great you feel. not to say that i never have those days that its still hard but by having my clothes ready to go and thinking about how i will hate having to do it later i still get up. what also helps is to not think about what time it is. you need to just go on autopilot. i have found that if i think about how early it is and how i would rather stay in bed it makes it harder. just try positive thinking and pumping yourself up. good luck.
 
It was SOOO hard becoming an early morning exerciser, even though I'm a morning person. And I am just now getting back into the habit of an early morning workout. They say it takes 21 days to make a habit, but they are not easy days! LOL I personally think it is easier to just jump in with both feet...it will get easier. I make sure that I get up and get going as soon as the alarm goes off. I perk up quicker that way. Good luck with everything, and don't give up. It may not be easy in the beginning but believe it or not, you will reach a point when your body is ready to get up at that time and you will start waking up minutes before your alarm goes off!
 
It takes time, trust me. There have been many mornings that I will swear at myself for getting my poor body up so early! But in the end - it is so worth it for the after-feelings.

I love that feeling that I have worked out for the day. I love coming home from work at night and relaxing, knowing I worked hard all day long!

Good luck! It takes time but you will get there!








"Life is short so be the best you can be every day of your life!"

"Running feels great for my soul!"

:) CHEETAH :)
 
Hi Nan,

I used to be a morning person in my younger days, and then after having kids I became more of an evening person. About 2 years ago, I started going to bed at 10 pm to get up at 6 am to exercise for an hour before the kids get up. I don't remember it being a hard transition - I just went and decided to do it one day and jumped right in. I think it helped not having to think about it so much because I didn't have time to change my mind.

Now, I love exercising in the morning because I have so much energy throughout the day. I also get it out of the way and not have to worry about finding time later on. Congratulations on the pay raise! Sorry about the commute. I hope the early morning exercise works out for you.

-Nenita
 
I think whatever you do, you just get used to it. I've tried to become a morning exerciser many times, and I don't feel that my body is adjusting very well - my workouts aren't as intense, my muscles aren't that strong, etc. However, I continue to work out in the evening - Around 9:00 during the school year when my kids are in bed. I usually workout until 10:00. I used to have trouble falling asleep, but now, I zonk right out after I've cooled down a bit. I get up at 6:00 A.M., by the way.
 
To echo everyone else, it'll become the norm for you.

I started in the morning 6 years ago, because I would constantly find excuses not to work out when I got home at the end of the day.

Now, I get up at either 4:30 or 5, depending on my work schedule, and go for an hour. Like another poster said, the first two weeks or so are TOUGH and you'll have to drag yourself into it.

But for me, now I can't wake up without it!
 
Nan,

I sometimes work out after 8-9pm and this isn't too late for me. If I eat by about 6:30pm then it's fine to workout hard at this time. can sleep fine afterwards as well. I workout better after midday. I have been out for runs in the morning at 8ish, but I find mornings quite difficult. I'd rather workout later.

I watched a program where they mentioned an American football workouts at 2am! And Condelezza Rice is suppose to start her workouts at 3am or 4am! She does weight training with her trainer. Talk about determination.

Yen
 
>So how do I become a morning person? I am moving job
>locations, same job, same company (21% raise - HOT DANG!!!)
>but it involves a longer commute, which will put me home
>later. I normally w/o after dinner (keeps me from eating too
>much, too). But with getting home later, I will obviously be
>eating later, and then workout later and shower later, and
>have little time with my 6 yr old son who goes to bed at 830.
>If I did my workout after he goes to bed, it would be too
>late, and I'd never get to sleep. However I am so NOT a
>morning person, and getting up at 445 or 5 am to sweat, jump,
>lift, grunt, etc is not real appealing, either. Is there a
>way to make the transition easier, or do I just jump in with
>both feet an go for it?

It is FUNNY you posted this today...I was going to post the EXACT same question ! Today was yet another one of those mornings I had planned to work out, but then slept right through and got up at the last minute to get to work. I swear every morning when the alarm rings I feel as if I had just been given a 2 hour massage and some AMBIEN ! My body just does not want to move !! But I keep trying to do it. Reading the responses to your post gives me some hope though ! Good luck! Maybe we can coach each other to get up in the mornings to do our CATHE workouts ! Maybe having an e-buddy would help !!!:D
 
I've been a morning exerciser for as long as I can remember although that doesn't mean that I haven't wanted to skip it some mornings. You'll have to push yourself for the 1st couple weeks. Another trick, as I'm dozing off to sleep I say a little affirmation like "I will have a restful sleep and when I wake up I will feel refreshed and energized" It works a lot.
 
The most important thing is to GET TO BED ON TIME. You can't keep doing this consistently if you don't get enough sleep. I worked full time with 2 kids and also taught yoga 3 evenings a week. The only time to lift weights and do cardio was if I got up at 4:00 so I did for years. I was in bed by 9 PM.
 
Ihe only way I can do it is to have my morning coffee prior to exercise. That means I don't start exercising until at least 30-45 minutes after waking up. Can't do it otherwise, however.
 
I purchased a "nature" clock to wake up by, which helps alot! My husband thought I was crazy at first, but now admits that it's great too. A light slowly comes on 30 minutes before your alarm time, growing brighter every minute. Then 15 minutes before your alarm time, you can have a sound come on. I use chirping birds. You can also set up the clock to not have the sound or the light come on. It REALLY helps me get going in the morning!
Paula
 
Wow - some technology. The sound of sizzling bacon would work for me. Next innovation - add smells. Sound and smell of sizzling bacon. I would be milking the cows at 3:45.. :<)
 
I used to get up early in the morning about 5:00 two years ago and it really helped out with sticking to working out. The problem I ran into is that I started looking tired in the afternoon and evening and really felt tired by the afternoon. Getting up early to exercise definitely has it advantages but I would like to know how to beat the tired feeling at night especially even going to bed at a descent time. Maybe it is just something with my body.

Did anyone ever experienced this and did you find a way to remedy this to keep getting up early?

Keep trying to get up early, as well as I am starting this on monday.


kim
 
>I purchased a "nature" clock to wake up by, which helps alot!
> My husband thought I was crazy at first, but now admits that
>it's great too. A light slowly comes on 30 minutes before
>your alarm time, growing brighter every minute. Then 15
>minutes before your alarm time, you can have a sound come on.
>I use chirping birds. You can also set up the clock to not
>have the sound or the light come on. It REALLY helps me get
>going in the morning!
>Paula


That is a great idea...think I will shop for one of these types of clocks tomorrow !!!
 
Step 1. Get 1 adorable pit bull from local shelter.
Step 2. Get another adorable pit bull from local shelter.
Step 3. Don't let them sleep in your bed at night.
Step 4. Give in and let them sleep with you.
Step 5. Start feeding them in the morning AS SOON as your alarm goes off before you even let them outside. This will assure lots of jumping off the bed and back on, off the bed and back on until you get up and go feed them.
Step 6. Be sure to have 3 parrots - at least one that screams loudly because she, too, wants to be fed breakfast muffins once you get up and turn on the lights to feed above mentioned pit bulls.

You will start getting up no matter what time you set your alarm - 2am, 3am, 4am. It's all really quite simple. :)

Congrats on the raise!!!

Suz

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." - Anatole France

http://www.picturetrail.com/dogs2birds
 
kariev, I don't mean to be a negative influence, but there is more and more research lately indicating that sleep helps with weight loss. For example, check this out:
http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/lose-weight-while-sleeping?page=1

And this:
http://womenshealth.about.com/library/weekly/aa121702a.htm

And this:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/533105

Exercising in the morning is great, but if it's a choice between exercising and sleep, I would not assume that exercise is the better choice.
 
Kim, I'm with you. I got up early for 2 1/2 years, and was tired every day. The advantage was getting it out of the way. Which is a huge advantage. Now, I am trying to do it after I get the kids breakfast. I am having a hard time sticking with this, something always comes up. I guess both ways can be problematic. Also, the older I get, the harder it is to get up and get moving. My back hurts, my shoulder hurts, yadda yadda. After I am up and walking around, I don't feel so stiff when I work out. Melissa
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top