Morning Exercise

[bananagrama]

I need a bit of help with pushing myself to exercise more. I’m active and like exercise, but I’m a bit random with it.

I’d just like to know, especially for those who are motivated to start their day with early morning exercise, what actually goes through your head in order to do it?

Is it - for example - “I really need to do this so that I feel good all day” or “I really don’t want to but I have to” or “I’m training for x event so need to do it” or is it just automatic and you don’t even think about it?

What about when you feel tired. Do you push yourself anyway or not stress about having a day off? I’m pretty sure I underestimate my capability, and often when I’m tired, if I do push myself, it’s usually fine, I get into it and can do it anyway (even if not full energy).

I don’t think about anything, at 5:30 my brain isn’t making good decisions. The thinking happens the night before when I decide what I’m doing and sort out what I need for it. Then it’s just autopilot.

I will only run or swim first thing though so I can just zone out. Anything that needs me to pay attention has to happen later.

I know I feel better for it afterwards, it’s as much about mental as physical health. Habit is everything, so I try to always go. Even if in the winter I sometimes turn round after 10 minutes 😆. It’s not making me feel better if I beat myself up over it.

I have to put it in my calendar ahead of time so I see it every time I add anything to my week - really cements that it’s something I am definitely going to do. If I wake up and still don’t feel like it, I just push through - it’s only 30 minutes of my life, I’ll feel really satisfied when I’m done. I also give myself permission to only go for a very short run if I’m not feeling it, and more often than not find that once I’m out and going I just carry on as planned anyway.

The only times I don’t push myself to go is if I’ve woken up feeling ill or have had a particularly bad night’s sleep.

I always want to exercise first thing to ‘get it over with’ then I can shower and get on with my day. If I don’t then it just doesn’t happen.

When I exercised regularly (not anymore as I've lost the motivation unfortunately) I made sure I did something I enjoyed. At first you have to push yourself but if you enjoy it I found after a while you want to do it and I think that's the key. It made me feel good to and if I didn't do it I knew I'd feel shit later. That also motivated me.

For me it’s routine and consistency and that all adage “the only workout you regret is the one you didn’t do” eg on Thursdays I usually run but I was tired so instead I walked - I still moved my body so I take that as a win. Makes me feel great to know anything extra I do that day is a bonus, means I’m consistently hitting my 10k steps and smashing my move ring on my watch every day. And the difference to my body and mind is absolutely immense.

and I say this as someone who literally never exercised before and thought people who said this kind of stuff above were deranged, sad, obsessive and had some gene that I didn’t have. I was wrong!

Planning.
Know what/ where you're doing it.
Get the stuff ready the night before.
For running, I used guided run podcasts that keep me timed and know what routes fit with my time allowence.

It's not easy for me, and my body prefers moving when it's fed and warmed up, but it's good to get it done and not have to psych up after work when I'm tired.

It is much easier in the lighter half of the year though!

I set myself up the night before so I would be prepared - early night, bag packed, clothes out. Then when my alarm went off I would just get in the car and go to the pool.

However, I discovered that lots of people had the same idea and the pool was really busy - people not using the lanes properly and the large communal bit busy with people walking lengths (😡) or swimming with their pal. I gave up - now I swim at night when it's v quiet! The dog is happy though, he gets an extra long walk early on.

It’s partly ‘I pay for the gym so I’m going to use it’ and partly that if I go I reward myself with coffee & a flapjack at my favourite coffee shop afterwards. I sometimes tell myself that I’ll go & just do bit then see how I feel, but I usually end up doing a full workout.

Like PPs say though, autopilot works best.

Swimming in the morning was good because I really didn't wake up until after I finished, lol. I couldn't do a conversation at all at that point in the day but would manage hello to the other early morning regulars. I just focused on getting into the pool at a target time and then getting out in time to go do the rest of my life. Swam lengths inbetween. Tried but failed to count the lengths correctly.

I book it into my diary for the week. If it’s an appointment, I’m more likely to go.
Exercise is now a habit for me - three times a week. I even go to the gym on holiday now!
Even if I don’t feel like it, that discipline kicks in. I’m always fine once I’m there and I feel amazing afterwards.

I tell myself future me will be better off for it. Like a pp said - if I’m ill or haven’t slept well then it doesn’t happen. I’m trying to be better at actually scheduling rest days too.

I can only do so much without breakfast so it has to be fairly short then home for overnight oats and coffee before starting the day.

kit needs to be out the night before too.

I'm a runner. I work mornings, get home at 1.30 and have to leave at 2.30 to collect DS. If I don't go at 6.30am I know I'll either have to stress about fitting it into that hour or go at 5/6pm when it's been too hot at that time for weeks.

This morning's motivation was Parkrun but I went at 8am on my own last Saturday. If I'm honest I enjoy it so I get up feeling quite happy to go out.

I don’t think about it. Just as much a part of my routine as brushing my teeth or getting dressed.

At 5am my brain is fairly unengaged so I just…don’t think about it. I lay out my workout clothes the night before, roll out of bed straight into them. Drink one coffee (nothing is happening without that) then crack on. By the time I’ve hit play and done the first 5 minutes, I’m more awake and think I might as well finish. I HAVE to do it first thing because I am entirely unable to motivate myself later in the day.

I dont exercise super early as I prioritise sleep. So forcing myself to do early exercise would be setting myself up to fail. Considering that consistency is the absolute key, find the x2 or x3 slots per week that you are most likely to be able to fulfil. Diarise them. Ideally make them something that is 3rd party organised (e.g. a set class or something you do with a friend). For me I never actively WANT to exercise, I actively override feelings of tiredness or lack of enthusiasm. I get changed into kit and get it done. My overall motivator is knowing for sure that I'm someone who is keeping fit. I like that part of myself, I like how it makes me feel and I know I am healthier and stronger for it. That's my motivation, it is a mindset.

I wake up naturally. Chuck gym clothes on and go out the door. I don’t give my brain chance to think of excuses and by the time I’ve woken up I’m already at the gym so may as well get on with it.

I go to small group PT sessions, 6am, M, W, F in a small gym. There is no alternative if I don’t go. I have a deal with myself that I will always go unless I am ill, injured or away. I just don’t think about it anymore. I just get up and go. By 7am, it’s done!

Agree with this! Make it as easy as possible to go - clothes prepped, gym bag packed etc the night before…. And then it’s about forming a habit.

I exercise a few mornings during the week before work. I’m naturally quite lazy and don’t really enjoy going, I’d rather have a lie in.
What helps me -
Signing in to classes. I need that accountability.
My gym is expensive which means there’s zero chance of me not bothering going and still
paying for it - again, accountability.
Get to bed/ sleep early so I’m not over tired when my alarm goes off at 5.30.
Pack my work and gym bag the night before - the less I have to think in the morning, the better.

This is absolutely true - if you are not a natural early riser and you find it difficult to get up at 5 or 6am then I think you will struggle to keep it going. Play to your strengths 😊

Like most others have said, autopilot.

I also have a strict routine. So Monday is weights day, Tuesday is my circuits with press ups n sandbag lunges, Wednesday is my shorter run etc.

I think the variety helps, as if you have say a 10km run or a 45min swim every day, it's easier to think "ah missing just one won't hurt".

My workouts all fit together/ complement each other, but they are all a bit different, so if I miss my Thurs workout or my Sat long run, I've missed it for the week. I'm also less likely to get bored.

But mostly yeah, lay everything out/ pack bags night before, roll out of bed at 0540, roll into kit, coffee and roll out door.

Before my brsin can register I'm about to make my body do mountain climbers 😆

I always remember my friend telling me "You never regret exercising".

You never get home from the gym or pool and think 'I wish I'd stayed at home and sat on the couch eating crisps and drinking wine'.

When that alarm goes off in the morning, you've got 30 seconds to make a decision. Snooze it or jump out of bed 🙃

I see it as an appointment that I have to keep.

I get everything ready the night before and so I’m ready to go when I get up. Sometimes I don’t feel like it but I go anyway because I feel better for it afterwards.

I have a personal trainer. So on the two days I train with him, I am mentally prepared to get up on time. No excuses because that would mean losing money too.

If I'm feeling low or really tired, I tell myself "well you already feel like shit, it won't make you feel worse and there's a chance it will make you feel better."
If I'm feeling ok then I remind myself that I've never got to the end of a workout and wished I had spent the hour in bed! I always push to achieve something new, and I record my weights/reps, so I can see how each workout is a stepping stone. It helps me see each single session as important.

I guess I basically talk to myself as if I am my late no-nonsense grandmother!