AM exercisers - what makes you get up?

[nappentass]

I want to change my workouts to early AM, I know the benefits and need the consistancy.
The problem I'm having is that actual "get up out of bed" moment.
I have 3 alarms, everything laid out ready, loads of intentions, lots of self-talk and yet that 'get up moment' still remains the obstacle.

A few years ago I did early AM workouts, my motivation was pain relief, and I had to get up early to go to the bathroom, so all I had to do was not get back in bed, now I don't have these motivators I seem to be struggling to reach my objective.

So my question to you early morning exercisers is
What motivates you to 'get up' to work out?

TIA
J

[SharonNYC]

Easy -- my cat. He trashes the apartment like Godzilla marching through Tokyo until I get up and feed him. Oh, and he's a very early riser.

[gypsygirl64]

Originally Posted by SharonNYC

Easy -- my cat. He trashes the apartment like Godzilla marching through Tokyo until I get up and feed him. Oh, and he's a very early riser.

How funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My cat used to be like that - many years ago! He still like to get up on the weekends when we are trying to sleep in and play with the dresser handles. He usually gets a pillow or two tossed at him.


Back to the original question. I have never been an early riser but I can get up early to work out because it makes me feel so good (I do Pilates) and I tell myself that the extra hour of sleep that I would get does NOT make me feel as good as I do after I do Pilates. I remember all of the years practially sleeping in the shower - now I feel great and alert (and in control!) as I wash off the sweat!

[Celia M]

My days often take on a life of their own (full of what I call "emergencies du jour"). If I get up and get my workout done before I do anything else, then I can silence that voice in the back of my mind reminding me I need to work out, or prevent me from feeling guilty if I can't get around to it.

Guilt is a big motivator with me - I went to Catholic school. :rolleyes:

[nappentass]

Strange how this thread I started resurfaced
Working out in a morning has eluded me so far after various attempts, so here I am again trying to get up and get active first thing in a morning, over 2 years later
I'm not ambitious I just want to do 30 mins on my treadmill - nothing complicated - so I can enjoy a much longer yoga practice in the evening after a day at work. Hopefully this will be the additional incentive i need to keep the momentum going this time. Today is day 2 - only 98 to go

J

[lorajc]

I jump out of bed really early every morning because I know once I exercise in the morning, my day will start off on a positive note and when I get home from work, I have time to myself and my exercise is out of the way. If I have to stop somewhere after work, it doesn't interfere with my workout. I also work out in the morning because I have a herniated disc and getting moving in the morning early on....helps my pain.

[elisas]

It *is* very hard to be an AM exerciser, and around VF, I'm at the LATE end of the AM spectrum, rising around 6-6:15 to actually start around 6:15-6:30. For me the motivation comes from the fact that the rest of my family is up and about at that hour and I would feel like a lazy slug if I lay around in bed. It works for me, anyway.

More practical strategies have been discussed in our "AM Converts" checkin. Do a search and read through the posts.

Good luck,

Elisa s

[Motivatedbusymo]

How do I make myself get up?? Some mornings, I don't even know...

I have been trying the last few months to consistently wake up early in the mornings. Some days I do great, others.... well... let's just say that I just ADORE my snooze button :rolleyes:

What has helped me get up most is knowing that if I want to get a good workout in, I have to do it in the morning, as it's become very difficult to do it in the evenings after a hard day's work. I also realize that my days are more productive if I workout in the mornings versus the evenings. What has also helped is setting everything out the night before (but that just saves time, it doesn't MOTIVATE me to get up). So, I guess it's really a frame of mind that makes me get up.

BTW, my morning hours vary from 5 AM to 6 AM (weekdays) and 7-9 AM (weekends).

[csmith]

If I don't get out of bed at 5:00 when my alarm goes off, my DH usually rolls over and gives me a push. He knows how crabby I can be if I don't work out. Thank goodness for those endorphin highs!

Cynthia

[Barb L]

The world really doesn't take into account that people have bodies with different time zones. The Morning People make the rules!

As a born earlybird, I can't help you with good advice or get-out-of-bed techniques. However, I think it's best to try to establish a new habit in small increments. Maybe moving your wake-up time back five minutes a week will help your body adjust. In just six weeks, you'll be waking up 30 minutes earlier.

As I get older, I find that going to bed earlier is important, too. Your body may be asking for a certain number of hours, and will adjust better to early rising if it gets an earlier start. Luckily, I live in the Central Time Zone, so I don't miss ALL the shows on Wednesday night tv. However, it's been quite a while since I could actually stay awake until the verdict on Law & Order. I always have to ask my hubby how it came out. But I DO bounce out of bed for my workouts!