Really early morning workout

coloradocajun

Active Member
Hi everyone,
I now live in my own home & I could workout in the morning without worrying about waking up the neighbors. I'm just wondering if anyone works out really early. I have to be at work by 7:00 M, W, F & 7:15 T, R so I think I would wake up at 4:00. :confused: I just like getting it done & not being so tired & rushed in the evening. I could go to bed early. Just wondering if anyone else gets up that early to workout.
I searched "early morning workout" but maybe I did something wrong, I didn't look too much, didn't see any threads with this title.
Thanks!
 
Early Morning Workout Devotee

I have been working out at 4 AM for about 25 years (ever since residency after medical school). There are so many reasons I have chosen to make early morning workouts my norm:
No one really needs me between 4 and 5:30am. This was especially true when I had young babies. When I tried to work out in the afternoon, I always felt so guilty about taking time away from the kids! Now, my babies are teenagers, but thankfully they still "need" me, and they like to workout also. So, I get up early (even on weekends) to exercise in our home gym so that everyone can have time in the gym later in the day.

I really prefer to workout on an empty stomach. I have tried to workout between breakfast and lunch (on weekends), but honestly, there is about a one hour window when I don't feel too full to exercise AND at the same time, I don't feel too hungry to delay lunch.

By working out in the early AM, I arrive to work (0630) fully awake, already feeling accomplished, and satisfied that I have done something good for my own health..and then I can concentrate on the health of others all day! Plus, I am trying to set a good example for all of the 20-something-year-old residents I work with! They are awesome, and when they know I can fit working out into my life, they know they have no excuses!

When I have a really good workout in the morning, I am much less likely to over eat/ eat junk. Why mess up all the good I have already done by eating an Oreo? The flip side is that if I skip my morning workout, I feel kind of slug-like and I am more likely to eat junk.

On the weekends, it is the hardest to set the alarm to get up and work out. Sometimes I start a little "pity party" a la "why should i have to get up early on the weekends to workout? Well, I don't know the answer to that question, but I do know that the later in the day it gets without exercising the less likely I am to exercise at all. So, I get up because it works!

The most important element to success in early morning workouts for me are:
Make sure I am going to sleep early enough so that when the alarm goes off at 4, I feel rested, and it isn't a struggle to get up.

Set my workout clothes and shoes out the night before in the bathroom. So I roll out of bed, go to the bathroom and change..no thought process involved.

Decide the night before which workout I am going to do (I usually decide this as I unwind right before getting into bed). I have to say that the workouts I least look forward to are the days I need to lift weights (both upper and lower body on the same day). So, when the alarm goes off, if I just cannot bear the thought of hoisting weights, I let myself do something "easier" like 45 minutes on the elliptical trainer and then a few weights just to keep jello from forming.

Probably the best advice/ encouragement I have is don't wait until you feel like getting up to exercise. When that alarm goes off, and you are in your warm bed, you are never really going to "feel like" getting up. Just get up, get dressed and get going. If after a few minutes of movement, you still feel like "this isn't a good morning", show a little forgiveness to yourself and do a mini workout or just stretch. The key is to make yourself get started, and then do what you can.

Good luck with the early morning workouts. I love them!
 
Thank you sleeping mom!

I soooo appreciate your response! I really love the feeling of being awake when I get to work & I always eat better when I exercise in the am. I think I just needed to know I'm not crazy to do it soooooo early. Thank you! Your residents are very lucky to have you as a role model.
 
There are LOTS of morning exercisers in this forum:D
I love starting my day with ME time and feeling energized and relaxed at the same time when I get to work. Coffee and juice is all I need to get me going.
My time isn't completely consistent but it starts as early as 4:45. If I ever needed to start earlier then I would - for me it's worth it!
 
I love to work out early in the morning. Hubby has been getting up by 3:30 to go walking before he leaves for work at 5:00 a.m. so I get up & do some extra stretching or yoga; once he leaves I pop in the workout for the day. I feel so energized and ready for work when I'm done. I do make sure to have water handy so I can sip on it throughout my workout. I agree with sleepingmom's advice, don't think about it, just get up, get ready and get it done. You'll be glad you did. I also pick out my workout the night before; have my clothes ready, etc. so there's no thinking involved.
 
Thank you Jennifer Love & measured oak! Just knowing y'all are up early with me is motivation! I got some bright lights so I can see what I'm doing & a laptop table since all of my workouts are on the laptop. I'm getting psyched, just driving home 5ish today made me think, I won't have to worry about getting in the workout this time Mon because I will have already done it! I'll try to get a pic of my wonderful new space soon. Thank you!
 
Hi there,

I'm actually not an "early" early morning exerciser, and am pretty new to Cathe to be honest but I wanted to comment on this anyway:

I would definitely try to do an early morning workout if you can. Like the poster above said, you won't really "feel" like exercising at 4 am because you will not be fully awake when your alarm goes off, but after even just three weeks of doing it, then it will be easier.

I just started a new job that requires a significantly earlier wakeup time than I am used to and also requires a longer morning routine. Now, for years I have wanted to accomplish both of these things but never could get myself out of bed. Now that I have been doing it for about three weeks though, it's starting to feel like a habit - and I think they say it's about 21 days to start forming a habit.

Good luck to you! :) Also, try setting your alarm far away from your bed and also at eye level! I used to try setting mine far away, on the ground/at knee level but it never worked. Now my bright blue alarm is eye level which helps jolt me awake in the AM when my eyes see that kind of light.
 
I am also a morning exerciser. My workout starts around 4:45. I enjoy working out in the morning for the same reasons that have pretty much been mentioned already. I am a morning person. I am just too tired in the evenings. It is my quiet time and the best time to workout out when my kids were small. The evenings are easily interrupted with kids activities or errands or helping with homework.
 
Early exerciser

Hi,

I am another early morning exerciser.
I have done 5:00 am for years.
Now my day start from 4:00 am.

Love my time completely alone at the comfort of my own space (Home) ;););) it is my "Me time" as someone else has quoted above.

Welcome to "Early bird club" ;-)
 
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Appreciate the support!

Thank you Candiceena, hearty max & Nathalie! Okay, I don't feel so crazy now knowing others are up super early. I like knowing it will start to become a little easier after a few weeks. I love the encouragement & support! I'll be up at 4:00 beginning Mon (Mountain time) with y'all! Thank you!:):)
 
I'm up at 4:45 getting it done. I much prefer to get it done before I start my day. If I wait until after work, it probably won't get done. I have too many other things to do in the evening, plus I just don't have the same energy at that time. I'm an early bird so I'm much more productive in the early hours of the day.
 
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Loving it!

It's 2 for 2 & I am loving this!!!!! Not so stressed in the evening, awake when I get to work, feeling great about exercising more & doing something for myself first thing in the am! :) I will try to get up the nerve to post a pic sometime soon, you ladies look amazing! I know it's only been 2 days, but I think this is going to stick.
 

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