If you workout in the mornings. . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I go to a 5:30 am outdoor bootcamp four days a week, so alarm goes off at 5am. I brush my teeth and put my hair in a ponytail. Then I quietly sneak into the closet and pull my full set of workout clothes from one of those hanging sweater organizers (called a 'four pocket hanging wall organizer' on Amazon.)

I've already filled my water bottle the night before, and I just put on my shoes, grab my mat and weights and go. I usually bundle up with coats and hoodies, but shed those after the warm-up.

On Saturdays (or Sunday) I pack all four of my 'bundles' - bra, socks, undies, leggings, top, towel - and put them in the organizer. That way there's no thinking to do at 5am. Just grab and go.

I'm impressed you brush your teeth!!!

[Anonymous]

I walk with friends at 5am. I lay out my clothes the night before. Alarm goes off at 4:41 and 4:43 (silent Fitbit alarm). I grab my clothes and change in the bathroom. Brush my teeth, head downstairs to put shoes and coat on and I'm out the door. If I hit snooze I am in trouble because then I'll fall back asleep. Home at 6am. Coffee by myself until 6:30, then everyone else is up. Shower by 7:15 and out the door by 7:45. I try to be in bed before 10 but that doesn't always happen.

[Anonymous]

M, W, F: up at 5:25 am, out the door by 5:50 for a 6:00 bootcamp at the gym.
T or Thur: up at 5:55 am, out the door by 6:20 for a 6:30 spin class (I only do this once a week b/c I can't deal with waking up that early every single morning)

I'm in bed by 11pm, but aim for 10:30. My goal is 7 hours of sleep a night but I don't always make it, like when there are lots of extra-inning world series games happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:M, W, F: up at 5:25 am, out the door by 5:50 for a 6:00 bootcamp at the gym.
T or Thur: up at 5:55 am, out the door by 6:20 for a 6:30 spin class (I only do this once a week b/c I can't deal with waking up that early every single morning)

I'm in bed by 11pm, but aim for 10:30. My goal is 7 hours of sleep a night but I don't always make it, like when there are lots of extra-inning world series games happening.

Same poster as above, but forgot to say laying out your clothes and anything else you need for your workout is CRITICAL!!!! If I had to rummage around for workout clothes in the morning, I would never make it out the door. My brain doesn't really wake up until maybe halfway through my workout if I'm lucky. Until then, I'm on complete zombie autopilot. Luckily my gym is a 6 minute drive away with basically zero traffic at that hour. I also make sure that the night before my bag is packed with car keys, weight lifting gloves, and that my water bottle is ready to go. And then I pray that my dogs sleep through me walking out the door.

[Anonymous]

Twice a week I wake up at 6:20 and run from 6:30-7am. once a week I wake up at 5:30am and go to a 6am barre class. I also do longer workouts on the weekends.

One thing to remember is that you don't have to workout every morning during the week (esp if you workout on the weekends). Even if you just workout 1-2 mornings before work plus Sat and Sunday, that is 3-4 workouts, which is pretty good.

One challenge I have is going to bed early. I work about 60 hours a week and that translates to 2-3 hours at home at night, which I don't start until my kids go to bed at 8pm. For those of you who go to bed at 9pm, how many hours a week do you work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Twice a week I wake up at 6:20 and run from 6:30-7am. once a week I wake up at 5:30am and go to a 6am barre class. I also do longer workouts on the weekends.

One thing to remember is that you don't have to workout every morning during the week (esp if you workout on the weekends). Even if you just workout 1-2 mornings before work plus Sat and Sunday, that is 3-4 workouts, which is pretty good.

One challenge I have is going to bed early. I work about 60 hours a week and that translates to 2-3 hours at home at night, which I don't start until my kids go to bed at 8pm. For those of you who go to bed at 9pm, how many hours a week do you work?

40. I have zero interest in a job that would require me to work more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My tip is: if you are not really a morning person, don't do mornings. If you are better at night, exercise then. And find something you like to do, or at least do it with someone you like, or with your kids/spouse, at least part of the time. Get a crock pot.

I'm an early person so I exercise by 4am to 5, then clean kitchen/laundry/housework,while tv is on, make dinner/crock pot or marinate ribs/chicken), shower/get dressed/at work 7:15-7:30). But I am home by 4 at the latest.Usually dinner is ready or at least prepped, and I always make enough for at least 2 meals,like pot roast . We usually eat by 4:30, I put the stuff in the sink & let it soak overnight.Spend time with DH. Then I take a nap from 6-730pm, but I get up again & watch tv until about 10 or 11 (depending what's on)

Everyone knows, don't call/visit/expect me to do anything between 6-7:30. DH is good with my hours and will come to bed at 6 with me. I know it's really crazy but it works for us (no kids at home anymore)

BUT,I found I could not belong to a gym. I showed up EVERYDAY at 3:45 waiting for the doors to open at 4, so workers had to be on time, and they were annoyed. And then I got annoyed because men would ask me what I did for a living .Sorry, I'm a teacher, not a stripper

I go to gyms that use fobs to open the doors.

[Anonymous]

Morning exerciser here - definitely lay out your clothes, shoes, towel and anything else the night before. I keep my earbuds, water bottle and magazines (for the cardio machines) in the car so I don't have to remember those. I also try to mix my protein shake the night before so it's ready after the workout.

Still sucks getting up at 5:00, but oh well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:M, W, F: up at 5:25 am, out the door by 5:50 for a 6:00 bootcamp at the gym.
T or Thur: up at 5:55 am, out the door by 6:20 for a 6:30 spin class (I only do this once a week b/c I can't deal with waking up that early every single morning)

I'm in bed by 11pm, but aim for 10:30. My goal is 7 hours of sleep a night but I don't always make it, like when there are lots of extra-inning world series games happening.

Same poster as above, but forgot to say laying out your clothes and anything else you need for your workout is CRITICAL!!!! If I had to rummage around for workout clothes in the morning, I would never make it out the door. My brain doesn't really wake up until maybe halfway through my workout if I'm lucky. Until then, I'm on complete zombie autopilot. Luckily my gym is a 6 minute drive away with basically zero traffic at that hour. I also make sure that the night before my bag is packed with car keys, weight lifting gloves, and that my water bottle is ready to go. And then I pray that my dogs sleep through me walking out the door.

I have a week worth of workout clothes in the car, that is loaded there every Sunday.

[Anonymous]

I’m so jealous of all of you lol; I wish I could get up early and exercise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m so jealous of all of you lol; I wish I could get up early and exercise.

Clock is turning back this weekend. Take advantage of it.

[Anonymous]

I get up at 5:30. Work out on the peleton. Bed at 10.

[Anonymous]

Hope to be in bed by 8:30pm and then read or watch tv till I fall asleep - hopefully by 9:30, maybe earlier. Get up around 4:30am to go row at 5:30pm.

I started early morning workouts about 30 years ago - the best thing to do is to make it a habit and do it five days a week so you're used to getting up early and you'd feel awkward lying in bed after you're awake in the morning. Also taking classes at the gym or joining a team is helpful. There are other people expecting to see you and they'll be wondering where you are if you don't go.

But making it a habit is key. I used to work out 3 days a week before work and it was just too hard to get up early one day and sleep in the next - so I went to five.

[Anonymous]

I am following this thread with interest and hoping it motivates me. Since having our second kid, the mornings are the only time I can possibly hope to get a workout in but I'm finding it hard for many reasons. I'm not a morning person, but I just have to get over it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am following this thread with interest and hoping it motivates me. Since having our second kid, the mornings are the only time I can possibly hope to get a workout in but I'm finding it hard for many reasons. I'm not a morning person, but I just have to get over it.

Yes, that was also why I stuck with a morning schedule. When you get up early before everyone else, no one needs you. They're all asleep! Whereas in the evening, there are lots of reasons to not go to the gym that night.