Need Help Getting out of bed in the morning to workout

I go to bed early like 11pm-set my alarm for 8am, but still cant manage to get out of bed to exercise. I would rather just sleep until I have to get up.  How can I get motivated to get out of my wonderful bed in the morning to workout?

I spent 36 years with the same attitude.

You make up your mind to do it and then.........you do it.  There is no magic, just the simplicity of a decision.

I am the same. I love my bed in the mornings. What works for me is to get out of bed and do it anyway, even though I am unmotivated and don't feel like it.

Of course this method isn't perfect, but I end up getting up to exercise more regularly than if I only did it when motivated.

What helps me the most is having kids with early classes at school and a dog that needs to be walked, but not everyone has access to these motivation aids.

Well think about it this way, if you work out rigorously for half an hour every morning, you probably lose around 200-250 calories. That's almost half a pound extra week (1 lb = 3500 calories)!

Another thing you might try is putting a favorite snack where you work out or on your machine so you have  reason to go there first thing in the morning!

Do you go to a gym? Having a gym buddie/partner is great motivation. Knowing you are accountable for not only yourself but someone else.

Most people, myself included, and mind you...I am a gym owner, personal trainer and athlete....HATE getting up early to work out [or for me, getting up early, for anything! But, it's just the getting up part...bc once completed, you will feel energized and accomplished AND have your workout done for the day!

Establish the habit and it will be hard to break!

I am the same way. What I do to get out of bed is pretty simple. I put my alarm clock as far away from my bed as possible. That will force you to get up right away!

I've been trying to get up and run in the mornings. First of all, I like it because so far I don't feel too much more hungry during the day... so I don't feel like I'm just eating the amount of calories I burned anyway.

I've been getting a cup of cereal (or something else easy) and putting it in my bedroom at night so that I can wake up and eat something before I run. This helps me because I need to eat something, give it some time to digest (20 mins or so), get dressed, stretch, run and get ready in the morning ... so I feel like having that food close gets me going a little faster and I can munch on some cheerios while I'm still barely waking up (I like waking up slowly).

*chuckles to self* early...11pm? :)

Just do it!  Find the time that is right for you and get it done. No one wants to get up and bust their A$% but if you want results that is what it takes.

Original Post by katieedge:

I am the same way. What I do to get out of bed is pretty simple. I put my alarm clock as far away from my bed as possible. That will force you to get up right away!

x2. 

This concept is so foreign to me. I set my alarm for 6:30, get up, have a yogurt, let it settle then work out. I'm showered and ready for work by 8am. You just kick yourself in the butt and do it

Try sleeping less, 8 hours should be plenty.  If you go to bed at 11 get up at 7.  Surprising it is probably too much sleep that is making you feel tired in the morning.

Original Post by spirochete:

This concept is so foreign to me. I set my alarm for 6:30, get up, have a yogurt, let it settle then work out. I'm showered and ready for work by 8am. You just kick yourself in the butt and do it

 Me too  I love it that I get it done and don't have to think about doing when I get home from work at night mentally exhausted. It gives you energy for the day! Nothing with diet and exercise is done without will power and determination.

I hate getting up in the morning and cling to my pillow until I absolutely have to (or be late to work).  However, even on the weekends morning workouts make me feel like hell.  My workouts are weak and make me feel drained (with only half the "work" of my regular workout).  My blood sugar gets out of whack and I end up tired, cranky, and hungry the rest of the day. 

My solution.  Workout when I feel good about it.  I work out late afternoon or early evening and I feel great.  I have lots of energy then, it relieves the tensions of the day from work, and when I'm done I can drink my post-workout shake, shower and then have dinner.  Then I can spend the rest of the evening relaxing and feeling virtuous about what a good workout I got.  

I generally set my alarm and then end up snoozing for another 15. Not a big deal. But after that first snooze of 15, I am up. I generally get up because I'm hungry, haha. I want to eat breakfast and be able to take a nice walk in the morning then head to the gym for a serious workout. Try getting up early to do your workout. Won't have to try and fit it in for the rest of the day. 

To me, trying to get up early to exercise was a problem.  I was setting myself up for failure.  I would get so discouraged when I made an excuse not to do it and then I would blow off my diet that day as well. 

I switched to exercising in the evening and am doing so much better.  It may be the least desireable time for some, or to reap all the benefits of exercise (increased metabolism all day) by doing it after work but I can at least do it consistently and I am 12 pounds lighter.

My advise would be to exercise when it is convenient for you, when you're not fighting with yourself to get it done.  Just as long as you do it!

I'm with you 150%. I work graveyard and I have children in school. They don't get to bed untill 7 pm which leaves me with no sleep. I'm willing to chuck them into bed to get some exercise in but my problem is do I do it before bed or haul my sorry self out of bed with only 4 hours sleep. Hmmmm...................

I have the same issue - I've tried to arrange a workout in the afternoon, but it doesn't seem to work ... always something comes up; I'm too busy, too tired, it's too hot, or the wife has dinner ready (and I don't want to mess with that!), and I tell myself that I'll work out later when it's cooler ... but then, I'm even more tired, and now I'm stuffed like a boa constrictor which has just eaten a mid-sized goat.

So, here's what I did ... I resolved (yes, there's no magic to this part -- you've simply got to make up your mind) to get up in the morning. To deal with the complaint (I had long conversations with myself about this) that I just wasn't a morning person, I told myself that I wouldn't require a lot ... just fifteen minutes of even moderate exercise. So, I got out of bed and got on the machine for 15 minutes ... (even if you want to start with 5 minutes ... surely, you can do something for that short a time!) ... and you know what? Before I could even wake up fully, I was done!

I'm gradually increasing the time I spend on the workout but keeping it within my comfort zone.

Do you have to do it in the morning? I always do mine in the evening after my husband gets home from work. That way, he is there to encourage me, and I don't have to wrench myself out of my snuggly bed at the buttcrack of dawn.

I do 30 minutes of moderate exercise (enough to make me sweat!) and then I get off the machine and straight into the shower. The hot shower relaxes my muscles quite a bit, and then I am tired out and ready for relaxation.

Probably this wouldn't work for someone who is pepped up after heavy exercise, but I tend to be more relaxed afterwards.

hope this helps! xoxo ari

I actually never work out in the morning.  I've tried it, and it makes me nauseated, headache-y and tends to sap my energy for the day (I'm just not a morning person, apparently).  But I have ample time right after work for all the exercise I want, so that's not a problem for me.  However, when I have to or want to get up early for any reason, I agree with the people who mentioned food/snacks as a motivator.

If I have to get up or want to get up earlier than usual, I set the coffeepot on delay brew with my very favourite coffee in it, set for a few minutes before I should be out of bed, as well as setting my alarm.  The sound and smell of the delicious brewing coffee will make me want to get up, and I'll often find myself wide awake five minutes before it turns on, waiting eagerly for it to start, and then I don't even have to listen to the screech of my alarm that day.

The same would be true of a favourite snack: "If I get up by 8, I can have that [insert favourite snack here] and work out after, but if I don't get up in time, then I can't have it."  Kind of a self-reward programme that you remind and convince yourself of before you go to bed.

Original Post by airee:

Do you have to do it in the morning? I always do mine in the evening after my husband gets home from work. That way, he is there to encourage me, and I don't have to wrench myself out of my snuggly bed at the buttcrack of dawn.

I do 30 minutes of moderate exercise (enough to make me sweat!) and then I get off the machine and straight into the shower. The hot shower relaxes my muscles quite a bit, and then I am tired out and ready for relaxation.

Probably this wouldn't work for someone who is pepped up after heavy exercise, but I tend to be more relaxed afterwards.

hope this helps! xoxo ari

It's so nice that your husband is encouraging.    So often I come across people on this site posting about their sabotaging spouses, that it can get a bit depressing.  It's nice to know that there are husbands out there who know love = encouragement!