The a.m. struggle

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9/7/12 1:52 P

I love my morning workouts, even if they are short. Since going back to work (P.E. assistant, so when school starts, so do I!), I have to get up early, and now don't have time for a full workout, so I either walk for a short time or do a bootcamp DVD--it keeps me going all day!

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9/7/12 1:37 P

Though I'd LOVE to be able to hold down a job again, it's not possible... and maybe it's a good thing, considering the changes I've gone through. I had a "split cycle" most of my life. I love early morning hours, fade into twilight around 3pm, and hit my stride again around 11p-m... My medical issues have completely disrupted any semblance of normalcy... I've been trying to skip the afternoon drowsy time and go to bed earlier... with mediocre results.

LOL


We all have our own little thing, I guess...

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8/31/12 10:49 P

I have 4 alarms, and a light that comes on in the morning, and I use snooze, it is pathetic. Today I did a moriing walk instead of evening and it went pretty well, I'm going to see if I can keep doing it

Edited by: CTHOMURE at: 8/31/2012 (22:51)

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8/31/12 7:10 P

I have started working out in the morning. One thing that helps me is when I hear myself saying " I can't get up". I ask myself CAN'T or "WON'T?". Also I remind myself that the hardest part is getting the heck out of bed. I know that I'll actually enjoy the workout...it gives me energy through-out the day and best of all, I can relax after work, or just take my dog for a leisurely walk. good luck, you can do it!

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8/31/12 8:29 A

I was never a morning person either, and have been becoming more of one (once I am actually out of the bed!) since I had my son, 3 years ago. It's amazing how your schedule can change!

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8/31/12 8:27 A

i have never been a morning person noon was still to early for me but i just recently had a baby today was my first day using a jogging stoller i got it as a baby shower gift it came in handy while she was awake at 7 am that i took my 20 min walked that later turned into 22 min didnt realize how many hills there were i think im going to change to evenings tho since ive learned when i walk at night i tend to sleep better but maybe when i get the exercising down pat i can do it am and pm

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8/30/12 5:34 P

Great motivation!!

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8/30/12 3:59 P

My new work schedule will be 6-5, 4 days a week. My plan is to get up at 4:30, do my meds, eat overnight oatmeal and hit the gym by 5. Treadmill for 3 miles. Shower, and by at work by 6, or 6;15.. I have to turn on the computer by 6:30. This will give me a full day off during the week to get other things done, and do some volunteering for my church. THe problem will be getting up and into the routine. It will reguire sleeping in my work out clothes, packing the night before, setting out breakfast and tea, going to be by 9:00. I cant hit the snooze button because it irritates the husband greatly. My work schedule changes 9/4, so I am going to do a practice get into the routine every day until then. I am going to make it one of my goals. Get up on Time, Go to Gym.

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8/30/12 3:52 P

It is HARD to get up in the morning...

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8/30/12 3:48 P

I have 4 kids and can't remember when I wasn't in the shower by 5a (the youngest is now 16) so now I do the same for moi! I tell myself if I did it for them certainly I'm worth it too!

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8/30/12 3:32 P

I go to Curves every day but not in the morning. Usually after work around 5:30.

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8/30/12 1:45 P

I didn't used to be a morning person--I had to learn that! I used to set my phone alarms to go off at 6:00, 6:14, 6:17 so that if I snoozed (5 min snooze) twice, then I would have alarms every minute or two.

Annoying as **** and it sure got me out of bed.

Once awake, I vedge in front of a computer with a bowl of cereal and two cups of unsweetened tea for thirty to forty minutes. By then, I feel awake enough to get dressed and go running.

The time it takes me to do these things is dwindling. I don't snooze anymore, and I'm starting to wake up a little better.

Plus, I feel SO MUCH BETTER on days where I have a morning workout than on days where I might skip, so that helps to keep me motivated!

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8/30/12 9:17 A

These messages are great. Now you have all pushed me to get out for a morning hike.

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8/30/12 7:32 A

I am a morning person, but I work a compressed schedule, so it's early to work, early off work and every 2nd Monday off. However, it seems that my husband is not liking my working out after work, so I'm going to have to adjust my schedule. I just don't want to feel rushed working out. I go to a gym and I like to do weights for about 45 minutes and then 30 minutes of cardio....something's going to have to change - I may have to split it up.

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8/29/12 10:54 P

I enjoy working out in the morning, but after EVERY workout, I have a migraine. I don't know what it going on. The headache last for hours. It's awful b/c I enjoy this time to myself in the mornings.

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8/29/12 7:11 P

I'm so glad I came across this topic, I'm a morning person but alot happened and I fell off the band wagon for a few weeks. I'm glad because there's a whole lot of motivation and handy hints in this thread to get back to it. Morning workouts are ME time away from my sleeping toddler and husband. And goodness my little one has been difficult of late (terrible two's perhaps). So thanks a bundle.

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8/29/12 6:03 P

I get up to run at 5:15 am. What keeps me getting up is that my friend is waiting for me. There have been a few occasions where I have overslept or she has but it is only once in a while. We keep each other in line. It works!

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8/29/12 4:30 P

I have been running out of time in the afternoons to workout so set my alarm early the last 2 days and slept right through it.

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8/29/12 1:18 P

For the last month I have been getting up in the morning to go to the gym and exercise but for some reason I am in a funk this week so I have been doing my exercising in the afternoon/evenings. Definatly not the same. I feel so much better when I get up and start the day active.

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8/29/12 11:52 A

Great Job! I enjoyed reading your story. I am trying to get up in the mornings. I am still hitting that snooze button. Your story gave me a little more "I really can do this." Thanks for sharing.

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8/29/12 10:55 A

I HATE getting up early, but I work 12 hour shifts and I'm too exhausted to go to the gym after work so I have to run before work. I get everything prepped the night before, including workout clothes set out, work clothes in my gym back, breakfast lunch and snacks packed, and water bottle filled. That way I wake up, put on my clothes, and I'm out the door. I eat breakfast (yogurt or overnight oatmeal) at work since we have a 10 minute meeting between clocking in and starting work. I try to save as much time as possible in the morning so I can sleep as late as possible and still have enough time for a 30 minute workout.

Getting up early is just one of those things that sucks, but when I'm consistently exercising I have more energy throughout the day. Even if I feel comatose when I wake up, I just focus on putting one foot in front of the other and remember that my run will wake me up.

One thing that helps me get to the gym on my days off is to pick a class to go to. That gives me a set time that I HAVE to be there. My gym offers some surprisingly early classes that start as early as 5:15 am. That might be a solution for you.

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8/29/12 10:00 A

I definitely was never, ever a morning person, but when I decided that I absolutely had to exercise to get all my weight off, I forced myself into one! I quickly found that by getting up early it was almost impossible to stay up super late all the time.

Over time I came to love morning exercise and wouldn't trade that time for the world.

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8/29/12 9:44 A

I am also not a morning person, but since I don't have to be to work till 9:30 I have been making myself get up at least by 7:00 and go for 1.5 mile walk. I did this for about a week now. Since I started doing that if I miss a morning then that night I forced myself to go for a walk. I just don't have time to walk at night since I work till 6 then have to come home and make supper and before I know it, its 8:30 and the night is gone. Starting in a couple weeks one of my friends and I are going to start going to the gym to workout before work. I am hoping this works to have someone push me, because I have slacked off in the past. Hopefully since I have been getting up in the morning and then going to workout with my friend hopefully it will last longer than two weeks.

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8/29/12 9:18 A

One of my biggest motivators to exercise in the morning, is (1) it is ME time - house is quiet, etc., and (2) I won't have to do it later in the day. :)

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8/29/12 9:09 A

I am a teacher and am looking forward to starting this school year. I would really like to try to start exercising at least for 30-45 mins in the a.m. before my day starts (Monday-Friday). Then, if there's extra time later in the day to add some more exercise, do that as well. I definitely need to make it part of my routine. I always start off great and then after a week or two get too tired and sleep longer. Then I say, "Oh I'll work out later" and sometimes it doesn't happen. I am doing this "Bridalicious Bootcamp" DVD series now so I am definitely trying to stay on track with that, which helps. Thanks for any tips or advice about working out in the morning!

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8/29/12 7:49 A

I get up at 4 a.m. Exercise is not in the works for me at that time. I do a 1/2 hr yoga but that sometimes runs me late. I really have no way to exercise but in the evenings.

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8/29/12 7:30 A

I like waking up early but I also have to be at work very early. It's hard for me to get enough sleep and still get up and out the door in time for work. So, I have to exercise in the evening on work days. I do get up and out early on weekends.

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8/29/12 6:41 A

Hello all,

I am starting my AM exercise ragime on monday 3rd September (Due to awaiting wages to pay for new monthly membership).

I will be going 4 times in the week a and once on a weekend.

Plan is be there at 7am for when opens, have 75 minute workout then shower and head to work 10 minutes down the road.

the pounds should shed i hope when start fitness with healthy eating.

lets hope the doctors sort my medication out for my non existent thoriod,.

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8/29/12 6:10 A

Thumbs up to all those who replied that they workout in the AM!! What an accomplishment.

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8/28/12 7:02 P

For me, it was depression and hypothyroidism that kept me from bouncing out of bed like I used to. I echo what others have suggested: You may want to consider talking to your doctor.

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8/28/12 4:46 P

I plan everything the night before: from the outfits, the breakfast, the lunch, the coffee pot. I know for a fact I will never be able to get up to fit in an am work out, so it goes on after work. I teach HS, so my day starts at 7:10 when those kids walk in the door. Also, my students are half-asleep themselves, so I know I must be in a positive, energetic mood when they see me. But planning helps, and having everything ready the night before settles my mind.

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8/28/12 12:36 P

I am a total morning person but I have recently started a new schedule at work that has made it too hard to excersice in the morning and that is my downfall... I just don't make time in the evenings the same as when I had time in the morning! I need some new motivation

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8/28/12 12:34 P

I hear you and somehow relate, My daughter is 4 months old and i'm getting used to feeling tired all the time. I'm not a morning workout person, so it hasn't affected my exercise but I still have to motivate myself to workout later in the day when hubby gets home to watch the baby. I think not resting well is contributing to my gaining weight instead of loosing it.

Also I used to work before the baby and had to get to up by 5am, now its a struggle and staying home is making staying active even worse but I enjoy spending time with my girl.
I'm open to any advice.

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8/28/12 11:36 A

I'm so happy to have found this topic! It lets me know that I'm not the only one struggling with this! I am SOOOO not a morning person! I don't care what time I go to bed, I just HATE getting out of bed in the morning! I need to get up at 5:30...I set my cell alarm for 5:30, then I wake up at 6. I'm a night owl, I go to sleep between 11 - 12:30am (watching the Golden Girls every night). I really would like to go to sleep no later than 10:30, so I'm working on that now. I used to work out in the evenings since I'm not a morning person, but after a few months of that I realized that I was neglecting my home. So for the first time ever I work out in the mornings and I'm so proud of myself! I started 2 weeks ago when my son started school. His bus comes at 6:50, after dropping him off at his bus stop I go straight to the gym. I walk the treadmill on a 3 incline @ 3 mph for 20 -25 min and it burns 200 calories. I have to be at work at 8am so I leave the gym at 7:45 to make it to work on time. I do this Monday through Friday, then on Saturday I do Zumba (I LOVE ZUMBA!). I've only been following this schedule for 2 weeks and I've lost 3 lbs so far! I'm really proud of myself for working out in the morning, I never thought I could do it!

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8/28/12 9:19 A

I found it... http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/05/how-to-become-an-early-riser/ I believe I actually found this on the SparkPeople website :) I keep telling myself I'm going to practice this and get myself into a morning routine. Maybe I'll put this as one of my goals!

Edited by: SHAETBD1 at: 8/28/2012 (09:19)

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8/28/12 8:59 A

I have a love/hate relationship with the morning. I love watching the day break, but I HATE getting out of bed. I love when I can wake up, get to the gym and then get ready for work. I feel great after I've had my morning work out. The problem...is that I'm a habitual "snoozer". I actually have 4 alarms set now - 3 on my cell phone and 1 on my clock that is on the other side of the room. I snooze all 4 of them. My alarm is actually set for 5:00 am...which is when I need to get out of bed to be able to hit the gym. Unfortunately, lately...for the past 3 months since I moved, I'm not getting out of bed until 6:00. So, I snooze for an HOUR. I hate it. I know that I would feel so much better if I just got out of bed with the first alarm and get my butt to the gym. It's not like it's difficult for me to do once I'm awake. It's very simple, the gym is about 4 minutes away from my house. I'm just not conscious enough in the morning to think straight about getting up. I need to retrain myself. I read a great article - and for the life of me I can't remember where I saw it at - that gave ideas on how to retrain yourself for your morning habits. I'll see if I can find it again and share it!

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8/28/12 12:08 A

I agree with FRENCHIFAL. I get up early enough, but I'm not ready to workout till mid-afternoon.

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8/27/12 9:44 P

I spent years trying to make myself a morning person and a morning exerciser. In my case, it just wasn't meant to be. But I did find that I always had time for one of Coach Nicole's 10 minute workouts, and/or a 20 min yoga video. Those were easy to fit in and woke me up and got me going...but more than that, and I could never do it!

Good luck!

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8/27/12 1:35 P

I love when I can myself out of bed in the morning to exercise.. I dont have the guilt of excersing in the am but later in the day I always do.... I am hoping to start doing this again starting in the morning.

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8/27/12 12:42 P

I'm not a morning person at all. I've tried working out in the morning and it just doesn't work for me. Exercising does not invigorate and energize me, it makes me tired, just like showers. Everyone tells me they love showers in the morning because it wakes them up, but when I finish a shower, I want to lay down and go back to sleep. I know, I'm a weirdo. But I know what works for me, so I work out at night. That way I'm good and exhausted, then I take my shower and crash out for the night. Everyone's different.

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8/27/12 9:10 A

I think it gives extra motivation to us "morning haters" to get up a bit earlier and exercise in the morning. You get the feeling of "YES! I MADE myself do it, and now I feel good!"

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8/26/12 10:33 P

I loathe waking up in the morning but once I hit the gym and am done with my workout, I feel brand new. Especially after a shower, I feel like I'm floating and alert.

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8/26/12 5:47 P

I STRUGGLE EVERY MORNING WITH IT. I HAVE TO BE TO WORK BY 0645. I CANT SEEM TO WAKE UP EARLY ENOUGH LIKE I USE TO, AND I HATE TO EXCERCISE AT THE END OF THE DAY

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8/26/12 3:49 P

I have problems with sleeping, so often I struggle to get up. I bought a Lumie bodyclock, which lights up to help you wake up without an alarm. This helps me quite a lot, even when I have to get up really early for a flight.
Once I'm up, I'm good to go, especially when I fire up my computer to do a Sparkpeople fitness videos :)

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8/26/12 3:30 P

Great suggestions, I especially like the idea of bringing a flask, and having cup of tea in bed! Happy thoughts, I need to tell myself something good to look forwards to during the day, and then I get up no problem, every time :)

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8/26/12 8:31 A

I haven't read all of the posts, so I don't know if anyone has mentioned this idea, but here is something that really works for me. Morning stretching in bed. I take about 5 minutes or more each morning to stretch my whole body as soon as I wake up. It really gets the blood flowing, wakes up your body and your mind. Here is an example that is similar to what I do.

www.livestrong.com/article/14392-3-wake-up
-stretches-to-do-in-bed/

Make sure to breath deeply during and between each exercise to get lots of wake-up oxgen into your bloodstream.

Good Luck,
Jenny

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8/26/12 3:51 A

Do you drink? I am trying to cut it out at least during the week because I get out of bed so much happier when I haven't been drinking! My other options are put the alarm clock way out of reach so that I have to get out of bed to shut it off, or my phone has an app where you have to solve a math problem to turn it off. It is horrible initially but in the end, once I am up and out of bed digging for the calculator, I am not likely to go back to bed.

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8/26/12 3:45 A

Well i have come up with a couple of ideas..to start my day right. I used to be slack with my thyroid medication and not take this straight away when i wake. So now i keep it by my bed with a glass of water and take it when i go to the toilet really early morning. I also have longed for a cup of tea made for me to help me wake up..no chance of that ever happening..so i thought today i will make a small thermos of it and enjoy with pleasure! Before the rush hour!

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8/25/12 5:52 P

I am so not a day person. When I'm on day shift, my alarm is set for 5:10, 5:20, and 5:30. Yes, 3 alarms. I've been known to sleep through all 3!! And I'm a snoozer. I think this would be a great goal to aim for. I'm glad I saw the post. I get so frustrated with myself when I finally get up and find myself rushing to leave on time, especially in the winter. When I work the night shift, no problem. I'm up when the alarm goes off.

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8/25/12 4:33 P

The A.M. is something I have always struggled with. I used to have to get up at 5:30 in the morning for school and would stay in bed till the last minute. I still find myself doing it as an adult. I set my alarm 15-30 minutes earlier than I need to get up to hopefully get a brisk walk in and I continuously hit the snooze button instead. Even though I know hitting the snooze button doesn't really do anything, you can't fall into a nice peaceful sleep in 5 minutes. I know I should just drag my butt out of bed, but I just can't do it yet. It's one of my fastbreak goals that I REALLY need to work on!

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8/25/12 11:14 A

I have a rough time every morning - it's a fight. Lately I have been trying to get up without the snooze button but it has been tough. It has been one of my fastbreak goals but it has been harder to do than I thought it would be. I am going to keep trying though - I know this one is more mind over matter than anything...

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8/24/12 7:21 P

I have trouble in the morning, if I put off bed time too long. The trick is just to have a set time to go to sleep and waking up is automatic.

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8/24/12 6:42 P

It's really had for me to get up in the morning. I never used to hit the snooze, but i got into the habit of it. So now, if I want to get up at 7:30, I set it for 7, snooze, and get up on time. It works for the time being, and it gives me time and required sleep to get in a workout in the morning.

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8/24/12 8:14 A

Well...during summer I need less sleep, during the winter or stormy days I tend to stay in bed longer because it's dark! I find that things like allergy season, barometric pressure, hormones, and daily stress (or lack of planning) does weird things to me so that I never know if it will be a high energy day or a low energy one.

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8/23/12 11:08 P

I also used to have no problem getting up early in the AM and now I struggle. I'm slowly but surely training my body to get up earlier and earlier so I have more time in the AM to do things, including workout. I still find myself hitting the snooze button, but I only hit it once now instead of like 3 times

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8/23/12 10:04 P

I am hopeless in the morning, and I have decided to embrace that - I get up when I feel like I've had enough rest and I get going slowly, I end strong though, and that seems to work for me!

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8/23/12 6:12 P

I hate to say it, but "just do it" is my solution. I fight it the whole way. Snooze button the whole inner self saying "you really need your sleep". But if I get my tush up and out, I am so much happier for it. When I get up early, I'm ready to go to bed early. It is a daily struggle, I'm not going to lie, but if my walk or run win, I feel so proud!

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8/23/12 3:08 P

Minilover1 ..... OMG...you are an inspiration with your list of activities & what you do before most of us even get out of bed. I'll definitely have to remember you and what you wrote tomorrow morning when I want to pull the covers over my head instead of getting out of bed and exercising like I should. Tx for sharing.

Edited by: DPSALERNO at: 8/23/2012 (15:12)

current weight: 141.0

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8/23/12 11:44 A

I wish that I could workout in the mornings. It gives me so much energy, I get it out of the way, and I feel like I make better decisions throughout the day. However, I get up at 4:30am to get to work on time. I also go to school in the afternoon and night and I am never home before 5pm (Monday nights I don't get home until 10pm). There is no way for me to do homework, chores, make dinner, etc and get to bed any earlier than I do. Most nights I only get 6 hours of sleep as it is. But, this is my last semester. Yay!!!! And after I graduate, I believe my work schedule will change to 9-7ish and I will have no problem working out in the morning, making a healthy breakfast, and get more sleep at night. I just need to make it a few more weeks.

Posts: 90
8/23/12 11:39 A

I have no excuses because I work 10:30-7(I hate that bc I eat late, but Id never make it to the gym that late), so I wake 6:30-7:30 (depending on DH or my am sched., what we need to get done) and either hit the gym or walk or find a new workout on pinterest. I love it tho cuz then I have my bag packed, outfit set out, and a nice shower to wake up and have coffee before work. Or if I have errands or a crazy am, I work out on lunch or walk. Good job!

current weight: 134.8

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8/23/12 7:43 A

Sorry I don't have a picture up yet. I just opened my account and need to find a way to upload one. When I was in college I noticed that all of a sudden I felt more tired than usual. It was hard to explain to people, but I knew something was off. Finally, after a visit to the doctor, I found out I had a thyroid problem. Since I was only 25 and had always been within normal weight range, thyroid problems were a bit of a shock. All I had to do to fix my condition was get more sleep and eat more smaller meals throughout the day. Without even realizing it, due to my hectic schedule, I was practically starving myself and then binge eating when I finally did sit down for a meal. I also had very erratic sleep patterns. I fixed those bad habits and my thyroid problem completely went away:)

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8/23/12 7:35 A

I'm trying to structure my day also by getting up earlier. My starting point has to be going to bed earlier because I know I'm trying to burn the candle on both ends.

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8/23/12 6:27 A

I have to be a morning person due to having a farm plus a full time job. My schedule is up at 5:00 when the alarm goes off. Do not stay in bed and watch the news because then I am behind schedule. Feed my inside dogs (plus 5 puppies now with one being bottle fed), get on SparkPeople and do my exercising (I may not want to but I know I have to.) Six thirty I am out to the outside dog kennel feeding the two dogs then out to the barn to feed 6 horses, clean stalls and do waters. Seven o'clock take my shower and get ready for work. Throw a load of laundry in and put the dishes from the night before in the dishwasher then I am out the door to drive an hour to work. I just suggest that you get yourself into a schedule and soon it will become a habit and you won't have to think about doing it. You just do.

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8/23/12 1:59 A

Hmm--yes the a.m. is a struggle for me. I have found that waking up without an alarm has made a world of difference. In order to get this to work without missing important things, I have really been working on resetting my internal bedtime clock. So it's off to bed I go. Wishing everyone a good morning tomorrow. Enjoy a sunrise, read something inspirational, eat a good breakfast or whatever else gets you off to a good start. Aim to make it on time for your first morning engagement, but do something that will make you happy and feel good about starting that new day!

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8/21/12 3:59 P

If I don't make it to the gym by 5:15 a.m., exercise isn't happening that day. So, I've just been committed to getting out of bed at 5. Period. To do it, I've started going to bed an hour earlier. That's really helped. Also, the commitment to jump out of bed without hitting the snooze button has been invaluable.

current weight: 199.0

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8/21/12 11:26 A

I think any major change in energy levels is always worth a visit to the doc. I've never been able to get up before 7 without being a disastrous psycho, but could never sleep past 8 or 9 at the very latest. For the past year, I've been struggling to get out of bed before 7:30 and i can sleep as late as noon some days. I went to my doc and found that my stress level was high and my iron was low. I've been supplementing since, and am doing much better now.

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8/21/12 7:29 A

I used to go to the gym after work, since it's just up the road. However, because I have a varying schedule and don't work the usual 9 to 5, it would be difficult to force myself to go after work, especially later at night ESPECIALLY after a long day. In all honesty, the only think I want to do when I get out of work is go home, make myself something for dinner, and just unwind after a long stressful day (I work in the mental health field, so any one who's with me, you know how stressful it can be!) I stopped going to the gym for awhile, even though I had a gym buddy, simply because I had such a hard time going after work. My buddy said to me, "why don't you try going before work?" And I suppose it had never really dawned on me because I really like my warm snuggly bed in the morning. But, I've switched to mornings and, for the most part, I don't even need my morning coffee anymore. I force myself to go, get my workout on, take my shower at the gym, and then head straight to work...since again, it's only a few miles away. Some mornings my body still fights getting up extra early, and some mornings I give in when sleep is literately the only thing on my mind; but for the most part I've developed a work out routine that works for me. Which is pretty much my advice to anyone. Honestly, if I had to be up at 4AM for work, I probably wouldn't work out before work, either. On the days I work 7 to 3, I go directly after work, not before. So again, I think it really depends on developing a routine that fits into your schedule...and sticking to it as much as possible :)

Posts: 171
8/20/12 9:31 P

I know that a lot of people like to work out in the morning. You get your blood pumping early, you get it over with and so that it's not hanging over you for the rest of the day, it's cooler outside. Lots of good reasons. However, I already get up at 4 AM, fighting it the entire time, to go to work so getting up earlier to work out just doesn't seem like it's going to happen.
I wish you the best of luck!

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8/20/12 6:02 P

You have to set-up a routine for yourself. My husband and I go do Crossfit everyday after work...it's become part of our lifestyle but him being an exercise freak he wants to go do cardio in the mornings. We have a gym membership through work so at first he would encourage me to go twice a week. I stretched and used the sauna. Then slowly I started using the cardio machines (which I hate but did them for 20 minutes). When I got used to going early in the morning we increased the amount of days we went in the morning. We now go everyday (m-f) and I do 20 minutes of cardio and then stretch. For me it's a good balance of Crossfit and cardio. So my advice is to start slow to get your body used to getting up so early in the morning. It worked for me and now I don't even question it anymore.

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8/20/12 3:26 P

I can relate, I am trying to get up in the morning to exercise also, but have had a hard time getting motivated. I talked to my neighbor and she is up every morning at 6:00 heading to the gym. She says she pretty much sleeps in what she will work out in the morning so she just has to get up, change a little and head out. I am trying that with my work out clothes in the bathroom so when I get up I see them and put them on. I did set my alarm clock earlier so I can work out in the morning. Sometimes it is just move when the alarm goes off, I have moved my clock so I have to get out of bed in order to turn it off, that way I am less likely to hit the snooze. Good luck and know that you are not alone.

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8/20/12 3:14 P

It sounds like you should see your MD. They can help you pin point what is causing your fatigue. It seems odd that you use to be a morning person and now are not. Trying to get up in the a.m. is a waste of time if it is an underlying health issue (like anemia, sleep apnia, throid issue, etc) Get that checked out and if all those checks out then you know you know you can try going to bed earlier, getting ready in the P.M. so you have extra time to workout, work on motivating yourself to get an a.m. work out. Good luck!

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8/20/12 11:29 A

JUST DO IT. Get out of bed and start your day--that way life does not get in the way and then you realize you do not have the time or energy to exercise (work, laundry, the kids, the husband, etc, etc). I am a nurse and when my kids were younger I worked 7AM to 7PM--it was my responsibility to get my two young children to day care by 6:45 AM--there were days I wound get up at 5:00 AM so I could get a 30 minute walk in before starting getting my kids ready for daycare, 30 minute commute and my 12 hour work day. It can be done but it takes alot of discipline.

current weight: 180.0

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8/20/12 5:12 A

I'm not an early morning exercise person, usually later morning or early afternoon is best for me. I have osteoarthritis and it takes a good 90 minutes for me to get breakfast and for my anti-inflammitories/painkillers to kick in. Getting out of bed hurts.

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8/20/12 1:43 A

I have never been a morning person. In my last post I indicated that I am trying hard to be because after work is usually a challenge with so much to do. I have been trying to cut down on alcohol and I must say am getting there. Today, I was up at 5am and walked for 50minutes. I just feel great. Must make this routine.

All things are possible with God and I will keep him right by my side!

current weight: 143.0

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8/19/12 6:02 P

If I could move faster in the morning, I could hit the streets for a quick run or walk, but I am so golly gosh slow in the mornings, I can barely get myself out the door without a last minute rush.

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8/19/12 1:14 P

I agree . JUST DO IT!!!!!! I have never regretted doing my daily routine. Sometimes I dont feel like it,BUT I DO IT. The earlier the better because asthe day goes on for me, I am less interested.

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8/19/12 11:24 A

Just get up & DO IT....exercise first thing. Do it for YOU--not anyone else....even if that means running or walking alone. It's your ME TIME...enjoy it!

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8/18/12 9:10 P

I am an a.m. person, DH is a p.m. person. Lots less time for debates...I recommend it.

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8/18/12 5:12 P

What time are you going to bed? That might seem like a strange question but it is an important one in regards to your a.m. struggle. I too hate getting up early. However I find if I get enough sleep it isn't that bad. Not only that but it is a great way to get going and wake-up. It is even better than a cup of coffee. I find that if you stick to a schedule it gets easier and easier. That means you have to get up at the same time each day and no excuses. Before you know it you will be back to a morning person in no time :)

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8/18/12 12:15 A

If I tried to exercise within the first hour of waking up, I would definitely injure myself in a major sort of way. Around 3 PM, I hit my groove and coast at warp speed until day's end. Earlier in the day, please don't ask me for my home telephone number or my zip code. LOL

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