Inspire me to work out in the mornings please!

[csquared]

I'm trying to convince myself to just get up early and run before work and need a swift kick in the pants. DH travels for work a lot (and is also in the middle of training for a tri), I work full time with an hour and a half commute each way and DD keeps going to bed later and later (she's still up "talking" to herself at 9 even though she was in bed at 8). I used to either run on my lunch hour at a gym near my office or on the treadmill in the basement after DD went to bed, but I LOATHE running this late at night. All I want to do is go to bed, so I think I'm better off going to bed early and getting up even earlier. My alarm already goes off at 5:30 to be out the door by 6:45 (DD is SLOW to get ready), so I'd need to be up by 4:30 or 4:45 to get a normal weekday run in (3-5 miles). There's seriously something psychological about that hour that I can't get over...tell me I'm being stupid and just suck it up and do it! What time do you get up to run / workout in the mornings? As I write this, I think I just need to find a new job closer to home, lol.

[dirtyred]

I hate working out in the morning.

However, I have a BodyMedia Fit, and if I work out in the morning, I am a calorie burning machine all day. This means I can have dessert or eat some calorie-laden dinner, like pizza. If I work out in the afternoon or evening, that increase in metabolism seems to stop cold when I go to bed, so I don't get the hours and hours of burning more calories than normal.

Will that do it?

[Brie]

I bribed myself the first time I went to 5:30 am CrossFit. I told myself that if I got up and went the next day, I'd buy myself a Lululemon tank to work out in.

It worked. And I realized that morning workouts are awesome, and kept going. By noon, it feels like it was all a dream, ha.

[spunkypenguin]

May 30, 2012 20:27:37 GMT -5 Brie said:

It worked. And I realized that morning workouts are awesome, and kept going. By noon, it feels like it was all a dream, ha.

This is what I find so odd about working out in the AM. Sometimes I will workout in the morning on weekends and by mid-afternoon I start thinking about my workout for the evening and realize that it's already done.

I'm also trying to coax myself into working out in the mornings before work this summer since it's been dreadfully hot after work when I normally run outside and I can't stand running on the treadmill. Hopefully others will have some good suggestions b/c I need them too!

[csquared]

Thanks! The promise of something from Lulu might do it for me And I also have a Body Media band as well as a Fitbit so maybe I should reactivate the Body Media / start using the Fitbit again. I'm a bit of a data junkie, so that might just help. I'm going to start on Friday...early bedtime tomorrow and bright and early Friday treadmill run it is!

[SuziSaysDa]

You can do it! When I first got started with morning workouts I had to have everything ready to go the night before, even slept in my w/o clothes - so I could just roll out of bed and go. Then after it became habit and I realized how great if felt it was so much easier to get out of bed and do something that made me feel so good - but that first week or two is rough, so do everything you can to eliminate any excuses until it becomes a habit.

[jdbyogi]

Oooo, I like the idea of bribing myself, too! I drag my butt out of bed early and meet my running group at 7am on Saturdays and I feel like I have so much time during the day, even if I take a nap. I wish I could run at 7 every day. I'm with you that the 4:45/ 5am just seems SO early! But it was 80 on my run tonight at 8PM, so I need to make the switch.

[csquared]

Good point about it being cooler earlier too. I'll have to stick to the treadmill myself (can't leave DD home alone clearly - she's 3) and it's too dark and I'm too nervous that early in the morning. On the weekends, though, I should also drag my behind out of bed to do my long runs outside. Also like the idea of sleeping in workout clothes - anything to make the mornings easier!

[oreille]

I get up at 4:30 for runs. I do it because I run outside, and can't stand the heat any other time.

Right now I'm doing the runner's world streak challenge, and so far it has been awesome for my motivation. I only have to promise myself to get up for one mile per day, but once I'm out there, I always just end up doing my normal runs, assuming it is a run day and not a rest day.

The biggest motivator I have is that I've noticed a huge positive impact on my mood and energy level for the day when I workout in the morning.

[katietornado]

I get up at 5:30 these days to run, but when I was doing 5:30 a.m. boot camp, I was up at 4:30. I never quite got used to 4:30, honestly, and 5:30 is so much more manageable.

Anyway, getting up and running in the morning is awesome. Like PP said, sometimes I realize later in the day that I've kind of forgotten about my workout. It also leaves my evenings wide open...usually for another workout (CrossFit), but sometimes for relaxing, spending time with the H, etc.

Definitely give it a shot...morning workouts are fantastic for so many reasons!

[theoriginalbean]

I'm running by 5:00 Tues/Thurs/Sat. It sucks when the alarm goes off, but once I'm out there it's all good. I like getting it done before it gets too hot, plus it gives me the rest of the day to do whatever. I always feel like I have more energy on the days when I run early.

[texassmith]

I really need to try this. I feel like running after I get DD #2 to bed just sucks up so much of my evening.

[CallingAllAngels]

I love to sleep. Sleeping and eating are my two favorite things.

That said, I have been shocked by how much I love running in the mornings. It's nice that I am off the hook for the rest of the day. Plus it's so peaceful and quiet and just a nice way to start the day. Give it a try.

[2doxies]

May 31, 2012 9:19:38 GMT -5 CallingAllAngels said:

I love to sleep. Sleeping and eating are my two favorite things.

That said, I have been shocked by how much I love running in the mornings. It's nice that I am off the hook for the rest of the day. Plus it's so peaceful and quiet and just a nice way to start the day. Give it a try.

All of this. Waking up is a bitch, and I have to talk myself into not hitting snooze, but once I'm up and moving its great. It's totally worth it and accomplishing more of a workout before 6am than most people do all day makes me feel great.

[bluelikejazz]

Getting home at 5:15 after work and having nothing to do but eat dinner and relax with DH (or read, knit, watch TV, whatever) is so heavenly that the 5:00am wake up to go workout doesn't even phase me anymore.

The alternative of heading straight to the gym after work, dealing with the tons of people, maybe or maybe not getting to use all the equipment I want because it's so crowded, and not getting home until 7:00, still having to make and eat dinner, and not getting to really relax until 8:00 is not my idea of a great night.

So mornings it is!

[Deleted]

I started working out in the mornings because I really just never did it after work. I finally realized that I don't like working out in the evenings because there's so much else going on. Also, I have horses so running after mucking stalls and/or riding was awful.

I've been getting up at 5 to work out for a few years now and I love it. I ran this morning and will take my horse out tonight and still have time to be a normal person tonight! So worth it.

[huckleberry]

It keeps me from thinking up reasons why I should skip my workout at night - I like to just get it over with!

[cinco]

I'm starting my early workouts again tomorrow. We can hold each other accountable! The baby wakes to nurse at 4:45 and then goes back down until the other kids are awake. I just need to suck it up and get it done then. I skipped my afternoon coffee, so I should be able to get to sleep early tonight.

[bqbride]

May 30, 2012 22:47:10 GMT -5 SuziSaysDa said:

You can do it! When I first got started with morning workouts I had to have everything ready to go the night before, even slept in my w/o clothes - so I could just roll out of bed and go. Then after it became habit and I realized how great if felt it was so much easier to get out of bed and do something that made me feel so good - but that first week or two is rough, so do everything you can to eliminate any excuses until it becomes a habit.

Me, too, right down to sleeping in my workout clothes. I was up and out the door before my brain even woke up enough to realize what was happening. Gradually, I began to notice how much I loved watching day break across my city during my early morning rides, how cool it was at that time, and I really began to love it. I'm not up that early anymore, but am still a morning girl. If I push it until later, it's probably not going to happen.

[abramos]

I find that evenings get hectic and can change alot for me so morning
Bribing myself (not food related). For example, I am getting myself a mani/pedi this weekend for going to boot camp every day this week.
Maybe Lululemon will be on the horizon.....

[taratru]

Here's my biggest motivation (beyond beating the heat, ramping metabolism and all that): After work, I can just come home and have a glass of wine.

[marie427]

I am in the same boat - 1.5 hour commute each day for me. No kids though. My alarm is set for for 4:30 and am have to push that back to 4 when my weekday runs get longer as I progress through marathon training. It sucks, but I know I won't work out after work, nor would I want to when there are still tons of cars on the road and tons of people a the gym. Running at 5:00 is so peaceful, and I have the neighborhood to myself. Whether you run on the treadmill or outside, you will feel more refreshed during the day and you will go to bed at a decent hour naturally.

[dragonfly08]

May 30, 2012 20:27:37 GMT -5 Brie said:

And I realized that morning workouts are awesome, and kept going. By noon, it feels like it was all a dream, ha.

This! I started meeting friends to walk/run at 6/6:15 AM and at first I told myself I'd just do it once, maybe twice a week. A few months later and I'm out there with them every morning. And on days we don't walk for any reason, I actually miss it! I get home at 9 after putting my kids on the bus and wonder why I feel so sluggish...it's because I'm used to being energized from having worked out already! It kills me to not have that under my belt before I really get my day started. Plus, the early workout means I often still have time to do something else - some weights, abs, yoga - later in the day if I want.