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!

I do a 1 hour weights class at 645am Thursday to Sunday and then I do a 5 mile walk on Mondays and Tuesdays with weighted vest. I also do about an hours dog walk each day on Mon to Weds.

I get up at 530am as a terrible sleeper so I empty dishwasher and put washing load on so when I get back, it can be hung up. I have a shower then there's not .I have else to do on my days off so I sometimes pop into work or meet friends

I can’t hang around like that drinking coffee or I wouldn’t go out, I’m up, straight into gym clothes, everything except stuff in the fridge is packed the night before, grab breakfast and lunch out of the fridge and out of the door in about 20minutes.

Oh that’s inspiring… I feel like I need some yoga or something for more flexibility but I’m struggling with a rotator cuff injury at the moment so I’m a bit limited, hence the walking everywhere instead lol

It's not hanging around for me though- it is moving through start of day in a mindful easy way.

I have a busy and often stressful life, having this calm easy wake up helps me cope with life.

Well done OP a fantastic start and the sunrise was gorgeous this am so it always feels special to see that.

I'm a half in early day exerciser ... I run once a week (would love more but my knees can't cope anymore) and Friday is my day.

Up until the last few weeks I've been struggling massively with shit sleep thanks to peri menopause and DH snoring. He has been trying those nose strips and I've started taking magnesium before bed and having a cup or valerian tea in the evenings. Also using a silk eye mask which seems to help me get back off more quickly when I do wake.

Well.

I'm currently on Day 6 of almost uninterrupted sleep (apart from pee x 2). I haven't had this much quality sleep in the same time period for years. Bloody years. I can't believe how much better I feel. Actually I also feel a bit cross DH didn't take ownership and do his bit before. But hey ho

But the real proof? Today's run was the first I've really enjoyed in forever. Got into a rhythm almost immediately. Hardly any rest stops except for traffic lights. And genuinely enjoyed every minute. Felt actually exhilarated. Now enjoining porridge and proper coffee from my stove pot.

There's something magical about being out early on a beautiful crisp chilly morning, seeing other runners and walkers, fussing dogs, seeing mad squirrels.

Welcome to the club OP

❤️ing hearing other posters early morning exercise examples too

I exercise four mornings a week and leave for the gym at 5:50. These are the days I work
from home so it is doable.
I am definitely struggling atm because of the dark mornings but I am still persevering.
I love the fact that I don’t have to exercise later on in the day.

Genuine question. Why is early morning exercise better than later exercise after a longer sleep. I have the problem that I wake up too early and am often tired throughout the day so seems weird to try to do it rather than get a good night's sleep.

I go to bed early enough that I still get a decent sleep.

I’m useless after 3pm so there’s no chance of any exercise then and I’m falling asleep in front of the TV by 8.30 9pm

I feel like I can also justify an early morning as I go to bed quite early (between 9/10pm) and thankfully I sleep quite well and DC now sleep well too.

I really do love getting outside in the crisp cold air while the world seems like it is still asleep! Very refreshing!

I hope the weekend doesn't ruin my flow ... I might get up earlyish and still get out for a little walk to keep up the momentum.

I run three times a week and two of those involve a 5am start, out by about 5.30. In the summer it’s absolutely gorgeous.

In the winter it takes a bit of self discipline but I always always feel incredible afterwards. It sets you up for the day like nothing else. And it does become a habit. The first winter I did it my OH had to shove me out of bed. Now it just seems second nature.

I find it easiest if I 1) wake up before everyone else and 2) skip coffee and any routine and DO NOT SIT DOWN. If I sit down for a coffee, I'm not making it out the house 😂

You are me. Don’t sit down. Don’t look at your phone. Or it ain’t happening! 😂

Yup, early exerciser here 👋
Daily success and consistency starts the day before!
Getting up early is really easy if you ate at a reasonable time and went to sleep early the previous night! It’s bloody hard if you sat up late watching a film eating chocolate and drinking wine… so the choices you today determine how tomorrow will pan out ime.

I'm working on building a daily meditation habit right now and I think the fundamentals are the same. If I waited to feel like doing it, I'd never do it; I just had to make a decision that I was doing it most days, come rain or come shine, and doggedly stick to that until it becomes something I miss if I stop.

Don’t overthink it. Just keep your workout clothes handy. In fact I’d put them on first thing before you have coffee while you’re still 1/2 asleep. Many a workout happened for me because I was changing into my work clothes out of sleepy habit. By the time I realized what I had done I would just shrug and say might as well I’m already dressed.

No real secret here, except that growing up on a farm everything starts early! I'd never know anything different, and now I use that early start for exercise. Luckily DH is from a similar background, so we've always had that in common.

I’m up at 6 and do HIIT on apple fitness M,W,F or out for a 45 minute walk the other days. I’ve done it for about 15 years now. Still a fat bastard though.

My mum is up at 5 and runs 7 miles every single day. She’s in her 70s.

This is such a great thread!

I have not been a ‘seasoned’ early morning person BUT for the last few weeks I’ve been helping my son with his paper round every day.

I cover 4k running whilst he walks with the bag. It’s like a relay. I take it very seriously and yesterday we achieved a new PB 😂

Its A 630 start with no time for faffing. I’m really enjoying it. I will then do a gym class in the evening and long run at the weekends but my Mon-Fri paper round runs are now my new favourite regime!

Would love to join the early exercisers and have booked on to a yoga class next Weds at 6.45.
Usually I do a class on Fridays (day off) at 11ish but this does eat into other things I might want to do in the day.
I like the idea of getting exercise done early and not allowing yourself to make excuses not to go.
My favourite exercise is swimming but I often struggle to slot that around work and child commitments.

one of the barriers for me going out early to exercise is that my family are all light sleepers and I worry about waking them early. I think my husband would be woken up and get very grumpy about it.
Im also somebody who has to eat breakfast soon after getting up. So it would take some planning but not impossible I suppose!
Will try the early yoga class and see…

Are these live on an online platform @Crushed23?

I like the quiet, I'm much more likely to do it if I get on with it - there's no opportunity to make excuses. As a runner my experience has always been better at 6 am, fewer people means less potential for harassment. You usually see the same few people out and about.

It means I start my day doing something just because I want to, everything else is work in one way or another. There's always a to-do list when I get from work and by the time that's done I can't be arsed going out again.

@Breakingthrough No, these are in-person classes at various studios in Central London.

@Breakingthrough my local bog standard non-London gym has classes at 6am every weekday morning. I don’t go to them but I imagine the people that do have a real feeling of community among themselves.

I have a PT at 7:30 am. That’s ludicrously early for me (night owl) but because it’s booked, I go. Rest of the week I aim to be at the gym at 7:45 latest. I whine and whinge about it but truth be told it’s just what I do now and don’t really overthink it.

LOVE this thread! I've been getting up between 3-5am for more than 20 years to practice yoga. Believe me, it's worth it. You create health and competency beyond what you believed was possible, so long as you just find a way to keep going.

Well done everyone and keep going!