People who exercise as soon as they wake up

[Anonymous]

I set out my clothes the night before.

I wake up, use the bathroom, dress, put in contacts, brush my teeth and go. If I'm thirsty, I'll drink water. Definitely no coffee before exercise. I'd probably have to stop to poop!

[Anonymous]

I get up. Brush teeth, put hair in ponytail, get into workout clothes. Have a cup of espresso. Straight on a run or to the basement (we’ve always had a good setup with treadmill, bike, weights, etc.).

The key is to just make it a non negotiable. I lay out my clothes, etc. at night.

I’m a morning person, so it works well for me anyway BUT it also makes sure that I do get a workout. I find too many things through the day can derail later workouts.

[Anonymous]

I'm less able to do this now since I'm pregnant and DH WFH so he can get up with the otger kids, but I still get my peloton in before 9.

When I was determined to loose weight I did this because I was also doing IF and a component of that is working out before you break your fast. I got up at 5:30 every morning so it didn't impact my family and I could still get a good workout in before kids started waking up. It was the only time I knew that I'd have all to myself and I honestly found it really therapeutic.

[Anonymous]

I get up, feed the cat, make coffee. Bathroom, drink coffee while watching news or reading phone for like 6-7 minutes, get dressed, brush teeth, workout. So I guess I don't do it RIGHT when I wake up but within about 20 minutes.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, what turned me into a first-thing-in-the-morning runner was when it became impossible to do it any other time of day. Was a SAHM for years and thought my friends who woke up at the crack of dawn to run were crazy. Then I went back to work full time and that became the only time of day to do it. And so it became habit over the years, because giving up running is not an option. Now I love getting it over with first thing, even in the dead of winter when I’m running in the freezing cold dark.

[Anonymous]

What helps me is if I don’t sneak out before my family wakes up, my kids start asking me for stuff. It’s amazing how they can wait for breakfast or get their own if they don’t see me, but once they see me it’s “mom, mom, mom.” When I get that run in I am so much more patient and able to attend to them and deal with the rest of my day.

[Anonymous]

I just started doing this. I brew coffee before I start my class and drink it afterward. I do have a lot of water handy while working out.

At least it's a cardio class in the basement so I don't have to get up early enough to travel to a gym.

[Anonymous]

I don't have to be "on" (Zoom) until 10 at the earliest most days, so it is easier for me.

I wake up, change, get a cup of coffee and drink it while checking email, go for a run or walk. Get ready, move on with my day.

When I have to be up and moving at a more regular time like 9, I just do it earlier...but always have a small coffee before.

If I am concerned I won't get moving the next day but want to, I sleep in a flowy exercise tank so I am already part of the way there.

In my 20s I got up super early and just went to the gym, no problem.

I HATE exercising after I have already started my day.

[Anonymous]

The anticipation of my breakfast and coffee helps me get through my workouts. I workout at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, what turned me into a first-thing-in-the-morning runner was when it became impossible to do it any other time of day. Was a SAHM for years and thought my friends who woke up at the crack of dawn to run were crazy. Then I went back to work full time and that became the only time of day to do it. And so it became habit over the years, because giving up running is not an option. Now I love getting it over with first thing, even in the dead of winter when I’m running in the freezing cold dark.

Yes!!

I hate working out at any other time other than first thing in the morning.

Pre-covid I would wake up at 4:45, brush teeth, splash face, put on gym clothes and went to the gym. I was showered, dressed, and ready for the day when I came back home at 7. Just in time to get the kids up for school, make coffee and eat breakfast together. Ah, the good ole days.

Now I wake up at 5:45 to exercise in my basement. I pray children don’t hear me as I tip toe down the stairs. Usually someone will wake up halfway through my workout. Sometimes they watch sometimes they feel compelled to climb on me.

[Anonymous]

I lose all motivation if I don’t go as soon as I get up. DH brings me coffee (tea) in bed, I drink it, Get dressed, stretch, head out on my run. Every single day. I have a wonderful husband who handles all the kid stuff in the morning bc he knows how important the running is for me.

[Anonymous]

I used to go running at 4 every morning before work, before the pandemic when I was still commuting to work. It was wonderful, no noise no traffic, cool weather. But it was dark, and you don't run as fast in the dark, even if you think you're going fast, you naturally slow down to pay more attention to each step. But it was wonderful to get the workout done early. Then I'd have a hearty breakfast and nice shower and everything and be ready to go. The tough part was getting to bed by 9.


Now, I work from home so there is no need to get up as early. I now usually run in the evenings or during lunch hour if it isn't hot. I do run faster when my legs are more awake and there's daylight, but the huge drawback is that there are other people around. I have gotten up to run at 5 to go before work, and it's cooler, but it's still dark out now and I can't get my legs up to speed, but there are no people giving me dirty looks for not having a mask on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. People say immediately, but like do you brush your teeth? Put contacts in? The whole roll out of bed and go thing never quite seems as easy as when people say it.

I set everything out the night before. I get up, take my meds and vitamins, brush my teeth. Then I fix coffee (prepared to go from night before) and feed the dog. On run days, I drink coffee before the run and go (dog runs with me). On Peloton days, I take coffee and walk the dog, then work out. I never eat before I work out. Just coffee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I drink my coffee after I finish working out.

Same, and I love my morning coffee.

I just set my alarm, get up and go. Once you get into the habit it's fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. People say immediately, but like do you brush your teeth? Put contacts in? The whole roll out of bed and go thing never quite seems as easy as when people say it.

As soon as I wake up I go into the bathroom to I pee, brush teeth and get dressed. Then I go downstairs to put on my sneakers, grab my gym bag and go. It really it that easy. I do a 5 min warmup when i get to the gym .