To ask if anyone does actually get up at the cracks of dawn to exercise?

[Newjobworkwear]

Chatting to a friend about fitting in exercise and a full time job. Mentioned getting up at 5 to exercise before getting ready for work. Surely people don't get up that early to exercise? If they do what time do they go to bed?
Is it unreasonable to think 5am is just too early?

Yes. 5.30 for me, at least 3 times a week. Gym or running. Sightly later the other days. It was bloody hard at first but I much rather do that than go out after work.

My alarm goes off at 4:45, I usually get up about 10 minutes later to leave the house at 5:30 to go to the gym.

It's really tough at first but you get into the swing if it after a while. I much prefer it to working out in the evening.

I'm often falling asleep on the sofa by about 9 though!

Yep - am out running at 5am most mornings. About 30% of the time I even enjoy it

I used to... spinning classes I loved it but can’t anymore as busy with dd!

When I was ultra fit I used to, yes. I would wake up around 6am, eat a banana, do some stretches then go for a run. I’d then get home and do a yoga work out as a cool down and have a smoothie or some oats, shower and go to work.

I try to do this. It wakes you up, the gymn/streets are much emptier, and the parking is free! Plus I can no longer be arsed by the time I finish work, so I can head home and just flop on the sofa.
That said, I'm a natural night owl, so I really struggle getting up, and I struggle even more with the concept of going to bed before midnight! (11pm is an early night for me).

I get up at 5.30 three days a week to exercise before work.

I'm in bed by 10.30. I love getting up and getting it done.

I get up 2 or 3 times a week at 5am to meet friends at 5.30am for a run, it really does make you feel good for the rest of the day

It’s swings and roundabouts isn’t it? These people are in bed by 9/10. I like to stay up late.

I don’t think it’s uncommon for people to get up crazy early for exercise. I do judge them a bit though. I imagine them to be exhaustingly bouncy and positive (Monica from Friends types) and keen to talk about avocados and split times.

Each to their own of course.

No feckin way could I do this. Hard enough getting up to go to work.

Yes. Up at 5.30am on weekdays 5 days a week and in the gym by 6am for 45 mins of HIIT 3x a week and 2 x 45 minute resistance classes. I get a lie in on Saturday and/or Sunday but still exercise.

Haha I don't go to bed later than 11.30 (usually 10.30) on a work night and I struggle to get up before 7. I exercise after work when I'm awake!

I really need to do this but I struggle getting out of bed and awake for 6am. I don’t know how I’d manage

It would’ve been about >40 yrs ago when I would go for a run at 5am. I had start work at 7am and had a toddler at the time to get ready for daycare.

I used to do this. It felt amazing and I was in amazing shape then!

My DH does. I could no sooner get up to exercise than I could fly to the moon

I used to do it - it didn't last and there's no way I could do it now when we've got the kids. Mind you since then our gym's scaled back their opening times anyway.

If I leave it any later than 5.30am, the day takes over and I don't end up exercising. So (term time, cause I'm a teacher), it's alarm at 5am, run at 5.30, back by 6.15. Out for work at 7.15am.

I try to go to bed really early; when my kids go down at 8.30ish, I head for bath then bed. Lights off ideally at 10pm but that takes a lot of discipline, I usually end up fiddling on phone. In term time I am def permanently sleep deprived, but that's more cause of faffing on phone rather than my early starts.

I find it harder to exercise in holidays cause of lack of structure. Easier to fit in during term time. If it's slotted early into the day, I don't spend half the day umm-ing and ah-ing about whether I can be bothered.

I often get up at 5 to run before work if I know I won’t have time in the evening. I’d prefer 6am, but that wouldn’t leave me enough time. There are perks though! That early on a summer morning the world is just so beautiful.

My DP is out of the house by half five to go to the gym, he then works for 9.5 hours often with no break, then goes to the gym again after work... I’m pretty sure I’m shacked up with a different breed.

I struggle to get to the gym 2/3 times a week (by struggle I mean fail).

Well not 5am, but I do go swimming before work three times a week, start at 7am so I get up about 6am to do a couple of chores and get ready.

I can only do this cos I start later than I used to. Sometimes I cycle to work and go for a run before, again, getting up 6-6.30, so not mega early.

5am is very early; what time do these people start work, or do they gave a long commute?

I do - regularly, even on Saturdays, I’m usually out for a run by 5.45am. I love it and sets me up for the day, plus it’s safer on the roads for cycling as less traffic.

I often start work at 7 and see several runners out as I drive into work so they will have been out around 6 to get started. I can't run with a empty stomach and feel sick if I run directly after eating so its not a good one for me.

I’m pretty hardcore, think ultra marathons, ironman etc and tbh no. I go on a club ride on a Sunday which starts at 6am but at no other point do I even attempt to exercise that early in the morning. Especially before work just because I have way too much hair to wash, dry and deal with and no time.