Help me be a morning workout person

[pivot]

I had every intention of working out this morning. Laid out my clothes/shoes last night, put the workout DVD in the DVD player, put my weights out and set my alarm for 5. DS ended up waking up at 3:45 and I fell back asleep at 4:30 only to sleep through my alarm. 

I don't get home until 5:30-6 most days and then it's dinner, bath and bedtime for the kids and by that point I am beat. It seems mornings will be the best time to fit in my workouts but I just can't seem to get there. I did do a cycle class at 5:30 last week and I loved it! Getting the workout out of the way was awesome. I think the only reason I got up for that though was because I had paid for it and didn't want to lose the money. I start my half marathon training next week and would love to do my runs in the morning before work as well.

How can I make myself get up and workout at home? 

[Deleted]

I LOVE my morning workouts, and I swore I could never be a morning workout person. I find that it is most helpful not to think of my workouts as optional- it's just something I do. And the morning workouts got a lot easier when it became my habit.

I started with a groupon to a studio, and the only time I could fit in their classes was if I did the 6am class, so some days I was going to bed earlier, getting up earlier, and doing the class and some days I was doing a 9:30 class at the gym. I really like the studio and that helps, but another big motivation for me to workout early was the extra free time during the day.

But it got 1000x easier when I just started working out at 6am every day. Instead of going to bed early some nights, the early time became my norm. Instead of waking up early to work out, the early time is my regular wake up time. And since I basically just roll out of bed and go, there isn't a real chance for me to formulate any thoughts about it- by the time I am awake enough to think about feeling lazy, I'm already practically at the studio.

[billyhorrible]

I hate getting up early to go running, but I love being done with it before breakfast, so that's my incentive.

I would also look into finding friends to do it with. It keeps you accountable and it's more enjoyable. I'm not sure I could get up early to work out in my living room, but I get up at 4:30am on weekends to meet my friends and run. A lot of them get together at 5am during the week to run too, but I usually do shorter runs by myself on those days so I can sleep later during the week.

[pivot]

Thanks for the input ladies. I really just need to suck it up and roll out of bed. It's hard with a teething 5 month old but if it's not one thing it'll be another. I'm hoping that my half training will force me to just get up and do it since I will have to do the workout no matter what.

[brux]

It's really hard for me to get out of bed. I've been working out at 6 am for about seven years now (off and on, with a nice two year break for a baby). It's never easier for me. I always fight myself in the morning.

It's taken me seven years to understand that I won't feel any more well-rested with that extra 1.5 hours of sleep in the morning. I just won't. It doesn't mean I don't lament and yawn and sometimes skip, because I do.

I attend a small group personal trainer from 6-7 twice a week. He questions why I'm not there as do my classmates. That helps me.

Every night before class, I get my workout clothes ready. And I think through what I'm going to wear to work so I can get ready quickly post-workout.

[billyhorrible]

Jul 24, 2017 9:26:26 GMT -6 pivot said:

Thanks for the input ladies. I really just need to suck it up and roll out of bed. It's hard with a teething 5 month old but if it's not one thing it'll be another. I'm hoping that my half training will force me to just get up and do it since I will have to do the workout no matter what.

I have been there too. And I've cancelled on runs when I've had 3 hours of sleep because of a teething baby. It sounds cheesy, but I used to remind myself on those days that he was only going to be little for a short while, and I would have many years to get in shape/run.

Also, this isn't your first half, right? After my second was born and turned into a horrible sleeper, I changed the way I trained for half marathons. I kept my weekday mileage low, which meant I didn't need to be out for as long, and built miles on the weekends.

[pivot]

Jul 24, 2017 9:59:40 GMT -6 @shinyredsmartazz said:

Jul 24, 2017 9:39:45 GMT -6 brux said:

It's really hard for me to get out of bed. I've been working out at 6 am for about seven years now (off and on, with a nice two year break for a baby). It's never easier for me. I always fight myself in the morning.

It's taken me seven years to understand that I won't feel any more well-rested with that extra 1.5 hours of sleep in the morning. I just won't. It doesn't mean I don't lament and yawn and sometimes skip, because I do.

I attend a small group personal trainer from 6-7 twice a week. He questions why I'm not there as do my classmates. That helps me.

Every night before class, I get my workout clothes ready. And I think through what I'm going to wear to work so I can get ready quickly post-workout.

This mindset has been helping me lately. I think about going back to bed for an hour and a half, and I know I feel like shit when I do that and even more groggy because of the wake up. It drives me to just stay up and get it done.

This is all so true. I always feel better when I get my morning workout in even though it's less sleep. I might set the alarm on the other side of the room tonight so I have to get up. 

[Pizzaslut]

Seriously, I just get up. Move the alarm to the other side if you have to. No matter how tired I am, once I get out of bed, I'm much more awake. Like PPS said, I am exhausted by the end of the day no matter what. The extra calories I burn means I can have a few extra calories or a glass of wine, so that helps motivate me as well.

[pivot]

billyhorrible This will be my second half. I signed up for the virtual training team this year and should be getting my training packet in the mail this week. I am curious to see what their training plan looks like. I have a feeling I will have to modify my week day runs like you said.

But you are so right! I remember with my first that I missed the MOTN snuggles when they stopped. I am trying to soak it all in with this LO!

[Ali7P]

I still struggle with this myself, but I'm also training for my 1st half marathon and need to do my runs in the morning. My training plan has 2 week days runs and a longer one on the weekend. I have found that if I tell MH I'm getting up to workout that I follow through more often than not (we take turns, I go first then he goes to the gym while I shower & get ready for the day - thankfully our 5 and 1 year old sleep in till around 6:30/7:00 these days!)

Also, I only get up early 2 days a week to workout. My other workouts I usually fit in after the baby is in bed (DD1 entertains herself in before bed) and will usually just do a strength training video at home. And I do my longer run on Saturday mornings at the gym (while the girls are in the gym daycare).

[trippyalien]

I typically get up at 5 for my workout days. It is rough, but on the rare occasion that I don't drag myself out of bed when the alarm goes off, I typically feel worse and less rested if I doze off again before I have to get up for work. Also, it helps that my husband gets pretty pissed off if I wake him up with my alarm and don't in fact get up.

Even though 5 AM is painful at times, it starts the day off positively and I find that I am much more motivated to stick with better food choices post-workout. I have also adjusted my evening schedule so I am rarely still up at 10 (there may or may not have been a day here or there this summer that I was in bed before it was dark out). Stick with it—it definitely gets easier the more you do it.

[tjr42]

Saw this yesterday...
www.google.com/amp/m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_59760f1ce4b00e4363e10a35/amp

My strategy (recently) is to turn my ummm "situation" (read as living with the inlaws) into workout motivation. My kids get up around 6. MIL usually is up by 6-6:15 and generally tells me to go back to bed. I'm going to take her up on watching kiddos but workout instead of getting 30-40 more mins of sleep. But...kids being kids...those jerks have decided to sleep in all week. Normally I'd be throwing a party but they decide to stay in bed until 6:30-700 when I plan to use them as my alarm clock. Plan went 1/5...fx for next week.

In our old house I would be up with our early risers and do that squat workout or that push up workout I posted in the workout thread. I get them set up with Mickey and cereal and do my thing before showering and making W's breakfast.

Without the kids as an alarm...I'm useless in the morning.

[cleanqueen]

I run 2-3 mornings a week depending on the mileage scheduled. Some nights I'll actually sleep in my running clothes. Just shorts and a tank or sports bra. It's one less thing to do when the alarm goes off at 5am

[tjr42]

Jul 30, 2017 13:04:24 GMT -6 FlightView said:

Can I ask a question? What does everyone eat before a cardio workout in the morning? Smoothie? Toast?

When I was doing yoga (kundalini) first thing in the morning it was recommended to do it on an empty stomach.

I doubt I'm much help. If I eat before a morning workout it's in the car on my way (hard boiled eggs, banana, or a microwaved egg muffin made for the week). Usually if I don't eat in my car I don't leave my house or couch if I try to eat. 😜 I've gone to eating oatmeal with plain Greek yogurt mixed in and whatever fruit we have (bananas, apples, blueberries) on top like a hour before bed. I can typically get by just fine for a workout and eat after. Then again...a few posts above you can see I rarely get my ass motivated. But back when I worked out before work with co-workers this was my go to.

[billyhorrible]

Jul 30, 2017 13:04:24 GMT -6 FlightView said:

Can I ask a question? What does everyone eat before a cardio workout in the morning? Smoothie? Toast?

When I was doing yoga (kundalini) first thing in the morning it was recommended to do it on an empty stomach.

Weekday mornings I only do 3 miles, so I don't eat anything. On the weekends I run longer, but still try to keep it light. Usually some form of bar - Like a power bar, or kind bar.

[Pizzaslut]

Jul 30, 2017 13:04:24 GMT -6 FlightView said:

Can I ask a question? What does everyone eat before a cardio workout in the morning? Smoothie? Toast?

When I was doing yoga (kundalini) first thing in the morning it was recommended to do it on an empty stomach.

I don't really eat anything. If I wake up hungry, I may just take a few bites of a banana.