To see if any seasoned early morning exercisers are about?

[liveforeva]

I have decided to wake up a 5am every weekday and either be at the gym for 6 or be outside for a walk.

Today is day 1. I am drinking my coffee and my workout clothes are on the table ready for me to get changed.

Any one here awake ready for their morning exercise to give me some motivation and reasons why I'll learn to love this ?!

I do go to the gym and after each session I'm in such a good mood but getting there is a struggle especially after a day of work and kids stuff!

Me - I find it hard at this time of year to adjust - yesterday I ran at 06:30 am and sometimes I get to the gym for that slot too.
I do go to beef early through and frontload my day

Gah. Bed. I go to bed early - not 'beef' 😀

I woke up at 5am to spend an hour on my mini step climber. I've been doing it for about 6 months now and I feel I am so much more productive and energised throughout the day.

Good morning!

I wake up at 6am and work out 6.30-7 in my pjs (except from Fridays). Always before eating but after a coffee.

It's really hard on these dark cold mornings but it's so ingrained in me now my brain doesn't protest too much and it's worth the end results.

I like that I can roll out of bed and exercise, no need to go out or get changed. It's a habit now,. In the early days I would just get out of bed as soon as my alarm went off and not give myself time to deliberate and talk myself out of it.

Im up at 515, twice a week for a PT session at 6. I find that im absolutely buzzing for the rest of the day... however I will admit that yesterday after a particularly hard session, I was ready for bed at about 7pm!

I'm starting back into my morning exercises next week. Stopped because pregnancy/non sleeping baby 😁

Bit i loved most was middle of the day at work where you are getting tired was ' at least i dont have to exercise after work 🤣. It gave me a little boost at least.

It does get you ready for the day.
If your gym does small personal training groups it might be an idea. Keeps you motivated.

I get up at 5 and go for a run before work, never more than 5 or 6k at that time though. I actually love the cold and dark, hate running in the the summer! I love seeing the sunrise and the world waking up.

I agree early bed time is essential. No point in getting up early if sleep deprived. Exercise is important but sleep is too for healthy functioning.
I get up early because I love a slow start. I have my routine and rituals.
First coffee, pee and feed cats. I check emails and weather forecast while I sip coffee, put my clean clothes on the radiator then jump in the shower- using a shower fizzer or essential oils for a burst of pick me up fragrance. I light a scented candle, dress, all the while listening to morning affirmations or music.
I do my skin, hair, then meditation for 10 minutes. I leave the house at 8.30 or so and head to my local gym ( 5 minutes drive) and do a 1 hour yoga class- 6 mornings a week.
My early mornings are important to me- really sets the tone for the rest of my day. I am in a deep self nurturing phase right now, part of my healing journey.

I started getting up with the sun when I was 16. I used to do some yoga, kickboxing and meditation before school and felt on top of the world. There is something magic in it, if it suits your chromosome, of course.

I’m 43 now and the perils of perimenopause sleep-deprivation, weight gain and aches have put paid to that outlet for me. I now struggle to get up on time for the school run, let alone exercise first thing, and it feels like something is missing and “wrong” with my daily rhythm. I’m out of touch with my body.

Deep down I know that it’s probably the reset I need. If I push through waking up and exercising again, I will probably sleep better etc. etc. I know it’s the hardest time of year to do it, but this thread has made me want to try.

This sounds amazing!

Definitely inspired to change up my morning routine now.

Doing a class isn't a bad shout if you're just starting out. I find booking a place on a class makes me more accountable and I actually make an effort to go, even if the weather is shit.

I seen an interesting video a little while ago about creating habits like new exercise regimes.

I think it said it takes 2 months (or maybe 3) to create a new habit so you just do it. So its best to mark it off on a calendar to visualise. Makes you not want to miss a day. And also to have a goal. Something to keep in mind anyway.

I'm positively a sluggard compared to some of you 😎 Three days a week I get up at 0630, put on exercise kit, cycle to the office and hit the gym there at 0700. Overall I love it. I've managed to get hooked on exercise endorphins and I feel crappy if I don't exercise. And when I finish my workday it's a great feeling knowing that I've already knocked out the workout and the only thing left to do is tend the DC. But I think the secret is also a) being completely prepped the night before, with kit laid out I can just step into and my bag packed, b) I never let myself question if I "want" to go. When I'm tired and it's dark and raining, no I don't want to, but I've committed to it and made it just What I Do. So I go. Discipline beats motivation any day of the week.

Good luck!

What’s a shower fizzer?

I get up at 5.15 everyday to exercise Mon to Friday I however work out at home as my kids are too young to be left and I'm a single parent.

It's just habit now and I really enjoy the peace and knowing I don't have to do this after work as I don't get in til six.

I enjoy the peace and quiet too no instructions from kids and by the time they are up at half six I've sorted my head out for the day and my body too.

I did it! Feeling great, glad that I went. It's crazy the difference in mood before and after exercise is like night and day!
This thread is motivating me!

It's like a bath bomb, but for a shower. Throw one in at your feet, it dissolves as you wash sending up fragrance. There are lots on etsy. I use essential oil ( on a cloth) too.

I usually do a Tarot or Oracle card pull too- or even some journalling too- but that is usually done at the twilight end of the day.

You'll love it once you get used to it and your body will adjust to an early wake. It's a great feeling to have achieved something that makes you feel good before most are out of bed or before reaching work. I used to be at the gym or running every morning by 6.30 (baby put a stop to that). I always thought the mornings felt unspoiled at that time before everyone else wakes up and it gets busy.

Me too 😊 I allow myself to rot in bed for half an hour with a coffee then either bike or run before work.
i work in a stressful job and find it is the only thing that calms stress and my temper. I used to be so tightly wound but now I can shrug off something stressful within 20mins and carry on with my day.

Class done!

I've got a quiet morning at work so I'm going to do another class (barre) in a couple of hours.

Exercise is addictive 😅

I love first thing exercise, I don't usually have a drink, I get up, dressed and straight to the gym with my water bottle only, I'm 52 now, but started this in my early 20's with swimming, then in my 30's I used to do classes like body pump, and would try to swim too. I loved swimming in the outside pool at my gym in winter, beautiful when it's raining or better still when it's snowing, dark outside and in a warm pool alone - amazing!

Not able to do much at the moment as knee problems and I miss it a lot

Enjoy!

Yes to the day feeling unspoiled! Evening exercise just doesn't work for me, too easy to get detailed by work emergencies or childcare dramas, worn down by the stresses of the day or having eaten too heavy a lunch.

This thread is very inspiring although I am still in bed drinking coffee while reading it. There's always tomorrow though and I might try some shower fizzers. Any recommendations?

Morning everyone! I get up at 6 every weekday to exercise, alternating between running and weights and having Friday as an easy day with just a long yoga practice. Welcome to the club, OP! I find that the secret is to get up and out before you’re awake enough to think too much about whether you want to. And whether you enjoy it or not in the moment, it’s over quickly, and you never regret having done it later.