Questions for AM exercisers

D

dutchgirl

Cathlete
I am considering changing the time of my workouts from the late afternoon to early in the morning. For those who exercise in the AM 1) do you wake up, throw on some clothes, and go work out or do you eat breakfast, then workout, 2) if you eat breakfast (or a snack), do you wait a certain amount of time before starting your workout or dive right in, 3) do you change your breakfast depending on whether you are doing cardio or strength.

If you wouldn't mind answering those questions and just letting me know what you do I would greatly appreciate it. I want to make sure that I don't start the day so depleted of energy that I never really recover so any advice would be super.

Thanks:7 ,
Sabine
 
I wake, dress, walk the dog (generally at 6 am), then go down to workout. I keep a big container of water for hydration next to my workout area. After working out I stretch, then have breakfast, which is usually a protein shake with fruit.

Hope this helps.
 
Sabine,I am a super a.m. exerciser. I am getting back into my routine after 6 months of not being able to do anything due to selling/buying home, fixing, painting, you name it, we had it done!

I need to be out of the house by 6:45 a.m. Yup, with 3 children and all in tow.

I go to sleep between 9:00 and 9:30 p.m.....

All of this in preparation of telling you at what time I get up:

3:30 a.m.

I now live in a 2 story home. Once I get up, which is not as hard as you would think once you know your plan and are excited about it, I close the door to my bedroom and the children's bedrooms (5 bedroom home) and I head downstairs. I get dressed in my family room because I have laid out my gear the night before. I drink what I call my 50/50: 50% orange juice with 50% water. It has the electrolytes I need and it helps me get through my 1-hour session with Cathe.

In the last 5 months I have gained 7 pounds because of the house, etc. If I don't do it this way, I cannot exercise. Soooooo, that is my story! It is doable if you set your mind to it.

Right now I am doing the July 2003 rotation for fat loss and definition. On Monday I did CTX UB, Tue I did Imax1 and this morning my legs were tired so I did not do LL. However, I will do it tomorrow and continue....I really enjoy my time alone! Trust me, nobody wants to keep you company at that time!!!


Blessings from our home to yours...Runathon
 
Wow Runathon! I am in awe of you. I don't think I could ever get up that early to exercise. You go girl!!
 
Sabine,
I am a previous evening exerciser who just made the switch to AM. I have now been doing AM since the first of June (this was no easy accomplishment!).

I decide what I'm going to do the evening before, then when I get up (at 6:00) I drink some water, get dressed, and then am exercising within 15 minutes.

This has been a difficult transition for me as I don't like to get up! Everyone had told me if I could do this for 3 weeks it would become easy. Well I am doing it, but after 10 weeks it is still hard! I have to say though that I do like getting it done early in the day! So I won't give up!
 
I workout every morning around 7:30 a.m. I get up, drink my one cup of coffee, brush my teeth, put my contacts in and I'm ready to go. I drink a protein shake right after I finish. I don't change anything with doing cardio vs. strength, I'm a creature of habit!
Debbie in OH
 
430 am

I get up at 430, go downstairs to get water, go into my workout room to change into my workout stuff, and start. I always set everything out the night before, and I'm usually exercising by 440. For some reason, I'm not hungry for breakfast until about 630, after my shower.

On days that I didn't eat much dinner, I might drink a little OJ before I start, but that's rare.

By the way, I've been doing it this way for over 10 years. It's the only time I'm truly left alone.

PennyLaney
 
First of all, I have my weekly workout calendar filled out so there's no room for talking myself out of exercising.
I get up at 5:30am; grab my workout bra on the way out of the bedroom; go pee; drink <= 4 ounces OJuice (so I have some instant(sort of) energy) and a few drinks of coffee(my treat for rising so early); guzzle some water while I read some Bible; then head to the basement(not allowing myself to think about what's ahead). Lace up my shoes and start the tape. It's very hard(for me) to keep motivated and disciplined. If I don't do it before anyone else gets up I won't do it, then I feel Horrible all day and beat myself up.

Good luck.
Force yourself for at least 3 weeks to give it a chance to become habit.
I'm lucky in that I have Sat and Sun I can sleep late, then workout later in the day while hubby watches the kids.
 
I get up at 4 and take my time, I can't get right into it. I have to really be awake, drink some coffee, a little juice, then I'm ready to work out by 5AM. To me it has become like brushing my teeth, if I ever miss and go the gym after work, I don't work as hard, I'm just trying to get it over with.
 
I get up 5:20 and do wts and than maybe a cardio session and than in the eve. I may do another cardio and 10 min. yoga.My cardio last no longer than 20 min per session.So sometimes I will do 2 sessions.It all depends on time in the a.m as to what I get accomplished I have 1 hour and than I take a shower and get dressed and eat breakfast.Which always is a whey protein shake and some kind of oatmeal,cream of wheat etc. and o.j.It is so hard to get out of bed esp when hubby doesn't have to work I just want to lay there.:p
 
I like to get up about 7 am unless I am very tired from the day before. I get into my gear and either get on my treadmill first or start lifting weights. I usually eat breakfast after my first hour of exercise..... Rhonda :7
 
Hello,

I am also one who doesn't like to jump in right away when I wake up. I wake up between 5:00 and 5:30. I drink a cup of coffee and maybe if I am hungry have some fruit or yogurt. A lot of the times I will turn on the TV at 5:00 and watch sitcoms until 6:00. That has been a downfall for me. I just want to keep on watching TV. Right now in the morning Mama's family is on and it cracks me up. Honestly you will feel better during the day if you get up and get it done in the AM. If I leave it until PM I tend to think I have too much other things to do and I am single, no kids. Give it a try for at least a month.

Winter
 
Sabine,
I have found that once you start getting up early enough to work out you will be hooked. it is a great way to make good use of your time! I,too, like several of the other a.m. exercisers get up at 4:30. I usually have a cup of coffee,scan the newspaper quickly and start working out by 5 ish.I find that I have a lot of difficulty working out after eating anything, even something light.I usually eat a light breakfast afterwards. Working out in the morning is what guarantees consistency for me. It is really the only time of day that is all mine. It is also a great feeling to be headed to work knowing that you've already done your work out and don't need to worry all day about how you will find the time. I hope a.m. workouts work for you the way they have for me!!!Good luck :)
 
Hi,

I always have my tapes planned at the begining of the week to keep me focused. I lay my clothes out the night before. I wake up about 5:45am, roll out of bed about 6:00am. Go to the kitchen, get my water and shoes and head to the basement. I have to get a work out in before talking to anyone and before my youngest is up. It was hard to get into a routine for me at first. I was use to working evenings and not getting to bed until 1:00am. My work schedule has changed and I love getting a work out in. My husband says I'm much easier to live with if I've had my work out.

Good luck, keep trying.
 
Well, I guess I'm the laziest morning exerciser. I get up at 3:30 or 4:00 (I start out right, anyway), but then I drink coffee, play on the computer, and do anything I need to do to get ready for work (teacher). I don't really start my workout until 5:30 or 6:00. I finish up about 7, grab a quick shower, do minimal hair and make-up, then I'm out the door, usually with a jug of water and an egg sandwich or a protein shake in hand (sort of a long, peaceful drive to work). I sometimes eat before a strength workout, but I try not to eat before cardio, as I've heard you'll burn fat better if your body isn't using carbs for fuel. If I'm feeling really weak during a strength workout, I've even interrupted the workout for a quick snack (I'm diabetic). But I always eat afterwards. I'm not one to lay out my clothes the night before, but I have a supply of cheapie tank tops and gym shorts from Wal-Mart that I keep hanging up in the laundry room, along with my sports bra and socks. I just grab an outfit and dress right there.

Shari
 
I get up at 6:42 (the 2 minutes is my “lie-in” time. 6:40 feels too anti-social – it’s all in the head but it works for me!) . I have my workout schedule all planned out each month so I know exactly what I’m doing. I quickly get dressed, get the DVD or video running and pour myself a pint of water then I’m ready to start. When I’ve finished, I get some yoghurt and oatmeal cakes and sit down to watch TV whilst eating my brekkie. Then I hit panic mode because I got carried away with watching the TV, so I race upstairs, maybe iron the day’s clothes, shower and am ready to take on the world. When I get to work at 08:59 I’m all smiles and feeling happy. Everyone at work knows when I have missed a morning workout (which isn’t very often) because I’m a real grump until mid-morning!! If I ate before exercising I would definitely get a stitch…that’s if I got round to doing a workout – I could quite easily talk myself out of exercising if I didn’t get straight into it upon rising.

Give it time though, it does get easier being a morning exerciser. You’ve spent all your life not working out first thing in the morning, it’s quite a shock to the system changing a life long habit but do stick with it.
 
Thanks Kristi!

It takes time and motivation to get you started...but once you have done it a few days...you realize it is not that bad!

Keep on keeping on! :D

Blessings from our home to yours...Runathon
 
I love to get up and exercise first thing in the morn. That way I get it out of the way and don't talk myself out of it during the day with those excuses like, I'm too tired/busy/achy/sleepy/full, etc.

I always exercise on an empty tummy otherwise, I'd get qweazy!!! LOL!


Blessings,
Kimberly
 
I set my alarm for 5:20 (although the clock reads 5:30) and I try to be up by 5:35 or 5:45. I have my clothes waiting to slip on- hanging for me to grab on my way to the bathroom. I immediately head to my Family Room where all my equipment, hopefully, has been set up the night before.
I have been drinking the bottles of "Propel" during my workouts -- if not that I will have plain water or mix it with OJ or apple juice.
I find that I need to get right to it, or I may easily get side-tracked with other 'stuff' to do.
What a wonderful start to your day!! You begin feeling like you accomplished something already!!
I hope it works well for you.

Linda ;)
 
Runathon:

You are such an inspiration. I used to be a morning exerciser, but then I went to only evenings (no idea why). I get up at 5am every morning now anyway and drink my coffee/read. After reading all of these posts I think I will go back to AM exercising to get it out of the way and what a wonderful start to the day - seeing Cathe's smiling face. :)

I really liked your idea of 50/50 (juice/water) that would be a great energy booster to get my body wakened up.

Thanks for all the great advice all of you. Keep workin'.

Marcia :)
 
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