To get up at 530 to exercise?

[orangejuicer]

This would be half an hour before DS gets up so not much difference. I don't find it easy to find time to exercise and I'm really struggling with the lockdown weight.

AIBU to think getting up at 530 to exercise is a good idea?

YABU - you are demented. Why even consider such a thing
YANBU - that's a great use of time!

@Mia184

I have a question for those who exercise early in the morning: Do you exercise on an empty stomach or do you eat something before? I am thinking about running at about 5:30 but am a bit worried about running on an empty stomach. But eating a muesli before running might be too much?

I get up at 4am when the gyms are open, I usually have a banana to give me some kind of fuel, but I also do take pre workout roughly 3 days in the week.. that's powering me through 😂

Do it! You’ll feel great for the rest of the day.

@Mia184 no I workout or run on an empty stomach. I've done this for years and need to leave at least 4 hours between eating anything and exercising otherwise I get stitch.

Same for when I was marathon training. Some runs I started at 3.30am, I took gels with me and ate those around 7-8 miles.

Some people can eat before exercise but I'm not one of them!

Ugh no thanks but respect to people who actually do this. My sleep pattern is incompatible.

Huge respect to anyone who is capable of doing this, but there is only one 5.30 in my world :o

toI do this regularly. It’s the only time of day I can carve out just for me, without feeling like I should be doing something else (work or family).

I get up at 5.20, and have a shot of coffee pre-workout. Am home just after 7, and then have breakfast when I get to work at 8.30.

It’s tough to get up some mornings, but it’s surprisingly addictive. And I feel great for the rest of the day - and definitely makes me more conscious about my food choices for the day too.

No I would change my eating habits & keep my sleep in

Weight gain is food. If you don’t fix the food issue you will not see results.

Hello OP NRTFT

my male colleagues all do this. Sets them up for the day. Sounds great. Makes you feel great.

I'm not an early bird and I get up at the very last minute but if it suits you then go for it.

One of my workmates gets up at 4 and does loads of shit. Walks dog. Exercise
Gets kids up. Makes packed lunch for wife and kid. Takes kid to nursery. Back in time to start work at 830.

I drag myself upright 5 mins before my first meeting :/

If you like it go for it.

If you're not getting any time from other adults in the household... Different story.

Through the summer I get up and run at 4.45 before the sun comes up three or four times a week. I never used to get up early when I was younger but love it now as I can have done my exercise, washing and other jobs and still be sitting in the garden with a coffee for 8 am!

I used to do this (lockdown, WFH and a new baby have all rather got in the way this last year!) It's great, it sets you up for the day IME. Once baby is bigger and I'm back in work I'm hoping I can go back to doing it.

@Mia184 I always run fasted and have breakfast when I get home after a shower. I find this is fine up to about 15k. I grab some water with a scoop of BCAA before I go. No problems at all.

I used to get up at 530 to do a gym class at 6am ish and loved it - set me up for the day and I had so much more energy

I woke up earlier today, I think its because I’m worried about school starting as my son is not best pleases about it. I’ve already been for my 5k run 🏃🏽‍♂️

@NiceGerbil

Hello OP NRTFT

my male colleagues all do this. Sets them up for the day. Sounds great. Makes you feel great.

I'm not an early bird and I get up at the very last minute but if it suits you then go for it.

One of my workmates gets up at 4 and does loads of shit. Walks dog. Exercise
Gets kids up. Makes packed lunch for wife and kid. Takes kid to nursery. Back in time to start work at 830.

I drag myself upright 5 mins before my first meeting :/

If you like it go for it.

If you're not getting any time from other adults in the household... Different story.

Thanks Gerbil. Getting up at 4am sounds like hell!

I do get some time from DP around looking after DS (we share it equally) and house stuff, but generally by then I'm shattered, so thought morning might be an option. I'll give it a go! (didn't happen this morning lol).

@SimonJT

I woke up earlier today, I think its because I’m worried about school starting as my son is not best pleases about it. I’ve already been for my 5k run 🏃🏽‍♂️

Well done Simon. Hope your DS enjoys being back.

I generally sleep 10 - 5 have coffee in bed then do a 2 mile run and spin class before work. Best time of day for me. Shower and go to work

I do this and am surprised by how I am actually energised in the day sometimes... but having a decent amount of sleep beforehand is essential. I don’t mean just on that night as usually I get about 6.5 If I am getting up at 6.15 to workout. I try and do this twice a week but the other week I was in a terrible routine and getting about 6 hours every night and less on these nights and I started to fall apart completely!

So my routine is generally 7-8 hours on the days I’m not getting up to workout then I can afford 2 nights at 6 hours sleep. This really works for me and I feel great exercising before work and feeling smug the rest of the day.

I have to leave for work at 7.20 so get up 6.15 sit with a coffee for half an hour to wake up 😂 Do workout 5.45-6.20 and shower and have enough time for one more coffee before I leave for work lol.

No thanks for me too. I need to eat (and more particularly, drink) before I go for a run and then leave an hour for it to go down.

I know some people can exercise well on an empty stomach but I don't know how you do so when you've not drunk anything all night.

@Mia184 I have a banana

I used to do it when marathon training, and I felt fucking amazing for it.

Now I can't seem to drag my arse out of bed before 8am...I'd like to get back to it though, it's a brilliant feeling to have nailed your 10,000 steps before breakfast time.

@sociallydistained I totally agree. My sleep sort of averages out over the week - I don’t mind only getting 5 or 6 hours for a few nights a week, but I do need a few nights with a solid 7 or 8, and usually have one night about once a fortnight where I crash out at 9 and get 10 hours or so!

My dh has done 5 or 5.30am for exercise, meditation and lying on a bed of nails for a year now.
I'm jealous and now I'm back to work and the mornings are light I am setting my alarm for 5.30 tomorrow I love early mornings and am in bed by 9, asleep by 9.30.
If my run is over 4 miles I need a little something to eat first but otherwise a quick mint tea, glass of water and I'm off.
I guess there's no right or wrong, some people like mornings, some like nights. I'm def a morning person.

@Subeccoo bed of nails?! Bit of an extreme way to get up early!

@MarshaBradyo I run at that time in the morning - steady and fasted. I'll do speed work etc later when I have eaten.

The real question is WHEN can you exercise?

if 5:30 is the only time, then there's no question, you just have to do it. It's a question of priority.

It's harder to motivate yourself to be consistent when you are alone. Have you looked in your area if there are any virtual classes?

I find it hard at 5am, because I often work late so when I can't go to bed before midnight, I am shattered at 5am, and then have a full day to do.

If you can have an early night and just can't be bothered to exercise then, go for it. Remember that being over-tired tend to make you eat crap during the day, that's all.