Stiff in the morning - what to do??

MRSchultz

Cathlete
Hi everybody:

I have been trying to get up and do at least a 30 minute workout in the morning before work. This means getting up by 5:00am. I am so stiff in the morning that I just don't think I can do it. Any ideas? I feel extremely old in the morning - I'm only 33 years old, but my body is just soooo stiff in the morning.

Help!! :)

Marcia.
 
As well-intentioned as your plan is, IMHO your body is telling you that it is not gonna do much of value for you that early in the morning. If you're that stiff (and, btw, I hear ya sistah - I am like a collection of popsicle sticks at that hour) that consistently, then re-schedule your workout.

A-Jock

If It Doesn't Work, Don't Do It
(Yoda, "Star Bores The Attack Of The Special Effects")
 
Hi Marcia...I also work out first thing in the morning (5:30 am x( ). I always do a 10 minute stretch before I start my day with Cathe and another 10 minutes before I go to bed. Before you know it, you won't be complaining of stiffness any longer. Hope this helps.
 
marcia:

I have to agree with A-Jock here: your body doesn't like morning workouts, you may not naturally be a morning person.

It sounds also like you could use some deep stretching as part of your regular routine, maybe some yoga or other stretching tape. If you aren't already, that is,

Clare
 
I am stiff in the morning too but I am a bona fide morning person. Some gentle, rhythmic movements followed by an equally gentle stretch works very well. Now that it's winter, I also like to take a twenty minute soak in the PM in a warm bath and put on my PJ's and do a total body stretch. It increases my overall flexibility and cuts down on morning stiffness as well as helping me to relax.
Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/nosmile/peacesign.gif
http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/person/smilejap.gif
 
I'm very stiff in the morning too, so I don't workout when I FIRST get up, but I do workout in the morning. I usually drink a cup of coffee, catch up on my e-mail, the forums, etc. for an hour or so. Then I do a gentle warm-up, and by then, I feel much better. Maybe waiting a while will work for you, too???

Shari
 
Marcia, I'm the same age as you and work out the same time as you in the morning. Earlier this year I was sooo stiff in the mornings I couldn't stand it. I would take an IB thinking that would solve the problem. Well, during the summer we moved and with this move my husband surprised me with a whole new bedroom set! With the bed frame he picked out a perfect pillow top firm mattress. I have not been sore one morning since. Maybe if your mattress is old, it may need to be replaced or even flipped around.
Susan C.M.
 
That could very well be, Susan, thanks for the idea.

Thanks to all of you for your wonderful advice, I will definitely give them a try.

Take care, Marcia. :)
 
How old is your mattress? Maybe you need a replacement, or a different kind of mattress. It's amazing what a change can do! Also, if specific parts are stiff, you may be able to figure out some specific "fixes": ie: stiff neck= different type of pillow, or avoiding sleeping on your stomach (which is the worst possible position for getting everything out of whack!); stiff lower back = sleep with some pillows under your knees (I do this, and have told others with lower back stiffness to do so, and it works wonders); stiff shoulders/elbows = be aware of your sleeping position (ie: are you sleeping in some contorted position that puts stress on these areas. I know it's hard to change the way you sleep, but I used to sleep with my arm slung over my head --and had done so for years--until I read that this may actually contribute to impingement problems. Since then, I've modified my position, putting a pillow next to my elbow and bending my arm up so that only my hand is over my eyes--what can I say, I was a cat in a previous life and need eye coverage at night!--and have noticed much less stiffness in my shoulders).

I am no way, no how, not by any means possible a morning exerciser, but some other things you can do (and which may have been mentioned) are: stretch well before going to bed (making sure you are warmed up, either from a warm/hot shower or bath or some light cardio warm-up; get a heated mattress pad so that your muscles are warm in bed; take about 10-15 minutes to gradually transition from bed to full-out up, by doing some gentle stretching and rythmic mouvements, first lying in bed, then seated, then standing.
 
I'm glad this wasn't one of the forum guys asking this question. I'm sorry, but that subject line is pretty dang funny to me. A question for the Playboy forum?? :+ :+ :p }( :+
 
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just noticed that myself, I'm so embarassed! That never even occurred to me until you just said it. :)


OMG!!!!!

Marcia. :+ :7 :+ :7
 
Re: things that can be taken two ways:
Yesterday, I was at a board meeting, and we were talking about setting up a display honoring Martin Luther King in the student union that bears his name. One of the display pieces will be a bust of Dr. King, that will cost $8,500. When one of the other board members asked "how big of a bust can you get for $8,500?," I had to keep myself from making some kind of comment about asking Pamela Anderson.
 
Marcia, maybe it's the bed or sleeping position, but maybe you're going to bed stiff. A bit of bedtime stretching, gentle yoga or pilates might make your a.m.'s more comfortable. And stretch a bit in bed before you leap out. I don't do much, but kind of uncork from the fetal position I sleep in before I get vertical.

Debra
 

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