Seeking advice - can I make myself a morning person so I can exercise before work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I posted earlier about trying to exercise after kids go to bed or having husband handle dinners a couple nights a week so you can work out. I think the people saying "you can do it, just go to bed earlier" are being a bit unrealistic. I feel like I'm similar to OP, even more of a night owl. I absolutely love my down time at night after the kids go to bed, and it would be nearly impossible for me to give that up. It's probably the best quality time my husband and I get together too, since we both tend to stay up late watching some favorite shows talking about our days, family plans, etc. It's much easier and less stressful for me to squeeze in 30 minutes on the elliptical (we have one in our basement) in the evenings, and then do a couple longer workouts on weekends, than to cut 2-3 hours out of my evenings and get up at the crack of dawn.

Why would you need to go to bed 3 hours early to spend 30 minutes on the elliptical in the morning?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i am the same as you - i can get up easily for a 6am meeting, but never to exercise - and my conclusion to your question is : no.

I disagree. I used to be a total night owl and never dreamed I could be a morning work out person. For the past 2 1/2 years, though, I have been getting up at 5am a few times a week for a 530 boot camp. The keys: 1) Going to bed early (in bed by 930 on those nights, lights out by 10), 2) Commitment. "I'm getting up at 5am to work out" vs "I'm going to try to get up at 5am to work out". Don't let the "try" or "maybe" even enter your thought process.

Oh, and definitely set your clothes etc. out the night before. I keep mine in the living room so I can just quietly exit the bedroom.

Good luck OP.

Same here - total night owl too. Just change your schedule. Now I'm useless after 8pm - which is great for getting up exercising in the morning and even getting some work done but hard for socializing sometimes

[Anonymous]

Record your own voice telling you to work out. Also start off with very simple exercise and sleepn in ur workout clothes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I posted earlier about trying to exercise after kids go to bed or having husband handle dinners a couple nights a week so you can work out. I think the people saying "you can do it, just go to bed earlier" are being a bit unrealistic. I feel like I'm similar to OP, even more of a night owl. I absolutely love my down time at night after the kids go to bed, and it would be nearly impossible for me to give that up. It's probably the best quality time my husband and I get together too, since we both tend to stay up late watching some favorite shows talking about our days, family plans, etc. It's much easier and less stressful for me to squeeze in 30 minutes on the elliptical (we have one in our basement) in the evenings, and then do a couple longer workouts on weekends, than to cut 2-3 hours out of my evenings and get up at the crack of dawn.

Why would you need to go to bed 3 hours early to spend 30 minutes on the elliptical in the morning?

I was referring to PPs who were suggesting that OP go to bed at 9:00 in order to get up in the morning to exercise.

[Anonymous]

I started working out in the AM about 3 years ago. Was NEVER a morning person so I was SHOCKED that I did this. 1) Found an early morning class I LOVED 2) kept work out clothes in living room ready to go 3) got my coffee ready to make so at 5am I had very little thinking to do Now 3 years later I cant imagine a different schedule. I will admit that the first week was HARD! I fell asleep at work once that first week (I am just going to shut my eyes for a minute....) I usually go to sleep by 10 or 10:30pm and sometimes as early as 9 or 9:30pm and I really catch up on sleep on the weekends. I LOVE coming home at 7am getting ready for work, getting the kids ready, etc knowing that I am DONE with the workout. Greatest feeling ever!