So I'm going to, I promise, I swear on this blog screen-- I'm going to wake up early tomorrow and go for a run.
My new gym is right around the corner from my apartment.
I can do this... I will do this...
I already don't want to do this. But! Here are some
handy tips for getting up, getting at 'em, and getting going for a morning run:
1. Sleep in your running clothes!
2. Put the alarm clock out of reach... perhaps across the room
3. Visualize yourself running in the morning before going to bed. Nothing's better than goal-oriented visualization techniques. Sometimes I even daydream about rolling out of bed--early--and happy.
4. Get a running buddy! Do you think my gym would frown upon me bringing my teddy bear?
Do you ever work out in the mornings? What motivates/forces you to get out of bed and do it?
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Comments (10)
There's only two days of the week I don't work out in the morning: Sunday, which is my rest day; and Monday, because I need to leave the house at 5AM. Otherwise, getting up a couple of hours before dawn to work out is a regular thing. It's a great way to start the day, and even if you've done a 1.5 to 2 hour workout, by 7AM you've already done more than a lot of people do all day. The way I see it, it gets you going and makes it so that you can't lounge around and waste time. I noticed that people who do this tend to be more productive than they were across the entire day than they would if they did not start the day this way.
Also, another good reason is that working out early elevates your BMR early, so you end up getting a longer effective caloric burn over the day than if you did the same at night, when going to sleep reduces your BMR again.
Oh my GOD, I have such trouble working out in the morning. I have never been a morning person and I also take meds that make me groggy when I wake up, but I really want to get on a morning schedule because there are definite benefits to it, especially with my ridiculous schedule when I usually run out of time at night to work out. Even if I plan it, things come up, whereas nothing is going to suddenly come up at 6 a.m.. Sleeping in workout clothes is a great idea, I might try that. Then I can literally drag my ass straight to the elliptical and just start.
if you want it you'll do it if you don't you won't. especially if there are no consequences on the line. i recently started running in the morning and my alarm clock is across the room. basically, you need to be your own drill sergeant and tell yourself I DON'T CAAAARE IF YOU'RE SLEEPY YOU LAZY CHILD!! PUT ON THOSE SNEAKERS AND GET MOVING!!!" that's what i did. sometimes i feel TERRIBLE in the morning, but those times i get up anyway. if you give yourself a no matter what attitude you'll do juuust fine.
I guess there are worse things to be addicted to though.
i go to bed early so i can wake up early for gym. i get there 5 ish and there is a consistent group of guys and gals there. i dont talk to any of them but everyone recognise each other. in my head, i give them each a nickname.
i see some of them on weekens too, just later 8 to 10ish.
I awaken between 5:30 and 6:30 every single day. I'm in bed sleeping between 9 to midnight. I am way past that "up until 2 A.M. and drinking so that I don't wake up until 10 A.M." style of living.
For me, mornings kind of suck for most things. On weekends, the stores aren't open yet and there aren't any events going on that I like. I refuse to become occupied with yard work until at least 11 A.M.
On weekdays, I have 2 hours to kill before getting ready for work. I don't feel like reading or doing any hobbie stuff on those mornings. So, that leaves watching TV or working out. And morning TV often sucks.
This morning, (Saturday - 9:15 A.M.) I got motivated to walk up and down (22 times) this large hill next to the football field at the local highschool because I saw that the school was preparing for a 10 A.M. football game. They often have a game on Saturday at 10 A.M. Being around a track and field motivates me especially when there are sports people like coaches, players, support staff and fans around. Going up and down that hill before and during the game helps me to meet people. When I take a water break from doing the hill, my hill fitness exercise helps lead to conversations with the people at the game and I make friends and contacts. People don't usually see anyone walking straight up and down large, steep hills and they have questions about it. I also love sprinting the length of the football field on Sunday mornings whether I am there completely alone or there are track runners there. And then there is rollerblading at the lakeside park trail on weekends by 10 A.M.
In hotels and condos that have gyms with multiple TVs, I enjoy working out to a 2 hour morning TV show called Classic Art Showcase. I have to laugh because other people come into those gyms and turn their TV to the morning news. I find it impossible to workout to the morning news because I don't get inspired by hearing about murders, bombings, child molester arrests, war and the bad economy. But they like the ability to exercise and stay informed of the badness at the same time. My TV is playing opera, classical music and dance which gives me positive energy.
i think sleeping in my running clothes would be the #1 best thing!!!
I like to workout when i don't work too early i.e. 10 am.
i also find it helps to go for a short run like 10/15 minutes.
I HATE working out in the morning. I hate getting out of bed period and often set my alarm early so i can just lie there and enjoy being warm in this stupid cold country haha
I'm in the Army, so I don't usually have a choice :) However, when I do, I usually save my workouts for a little later... UNLESS I have a busy day ahead of me, then I will try to do it in the morning, because otherwise it won't happen.
What motivates me on those mornings? Well I can't sleep in a sports bra, so I usually set my running clothes out. I also like to set up a timer for my coffee pot, that way it's all ready brewing and I can look forward to having a cup before I head out. Plus it goes to waste if I just let it sit there while I sleep :) And visualization definitely helps too. And I also don't like staying awake too late, so that helps me wake up earlier. I like my sleep these days :)
You would certainly NOT RUIN YOUR MORNING by running, that's for sure - if anything you will be enhancing it, waking yourself up, making your day AMAZING!
I wake up every morning between 6 & 6:30 to work out. While it is TERRIBLE actually peeling the comfy sheets off of my warm body, it feels EVEN BETTER to get off the exercise machine after my exercise is over! I feel like a WHOLE NEW PERSON... and if I were to NOT exercise for a day, I know I would feel like a lazy sack of crap!
Motivation =
1. I am going to feel awesome after working out
2. It tones me up
3. It wakes me up
4. I feel very healthy
5. I can eat a little more without feeling guilty
6. Reducing risk of disease!
Yeah, I go running in the very early morning. Before I had a gym membership I always got really freaked out the night before that some kind of wild, hairy, rabid animal would see me running and chase after me and kill me.