Wake up at 4:30am for Cardio?

Would You Do It?

I leave for work at 6:30am and usually can't tear myself outa bed until 6:00. But I've been having a hard time being motivated enough to workout when I get home from work, being as I'm usually hungry for dinner around that time (5:00) and after I eat, I don't feel like working out... I'm tired. So I want to try to wake up uber early and run for about 20 minutes. The last time I lost a bunch of weight, I was running in the a.m. (but closer to 8:00) and lifting in the afternoons.

I would have to set my alarm for 4:30. What do you think? Would YOU do it if you thought it was the only way?

i wouldn't do it today.

but i'm in the job hunt (have been in grad school) and once i start working, i'll have no choice but to go before work.  like you, i know that it just won't happen after work.

i won't be looking at a 4:30 wake-up, but probably 5 or 5:15.

i have a dog, though, so it's not really optional.  the way i see it, i'll get up and get dressed for running, while telling myself that it's okay if i just walk.  once i get outside, i'll run, because--you know--i'd feel stupid walking in tights and running shoes .

*I* wouldn't do it.  But morning workouts don't work for me.  I cling to my pillow until the last possbile minute in the mornings.

Plus when I try to workout in the mornings I feel weak and unmotivated -- and it makes me feel tired and out-of-whack the whole day.  It has something to do with me sugar levels getting messed up. 

But for me I look forward to going home and getting in a good workout.  It helps relieve my stresses from the day. 

Have you tried getting in a light snack on your way home?  That might help with the hunger. 

True. But I bet I could wake up at 5:00am like you, make a protein shake, get 20 minutes in, shower and be out the door at 6:30...

....if I really, really, really tried... every week day.

Yeah, I could try getting a snack at the gas station on my way home... like a granola bar or something. Maybe that would help.

Thanks! :)

i'm a morning person.  i understand that not everybody is.  problem is, i usually get up early and do nothing for an hour ;)

in a lot of ways, i'm looking forward to having to get up and get moving, because for the last two years i've had way too much flexibility.  it's so easy to just keep saying, "later," and then pretty soon it's too late.

Uh-huh... and usually "later" turns out to be an HOUR later. <--- I need to stop that!

It is so funny that you posted this.  I commute 75 miles each day to work which means that 4:30 would be when I need to get up and run...walk...jog my 2 mile jaunt...approx 30 minutes for my fat ass at this point.  I normally use the gym after work, which means I get home around 7-8pm.

I just posted in another thread that in order to reach my goal by the end of the month that I was going to need to step up my cardio and I had seen a few articles about cardio on an empty stomach being very beneficial.  If this is something you choose to start doing, I would suggest the cardio first, then the protein shake.  I want to start this on Monday, but I may do it over the weekend and have the morning and after work sessions starting Monday.

I will keep you in the loop as to my results and would be very interested to hear how you are doing as well.

Cheers,

JTH

i know i won't be eating before i run, because i'd probably barf.

Yes.  Actually, my normal wakeup time is 4:50 for my daily treadmill appointment.  I've experimented with eating first and it doesn't seem to work for me, I'm better if I wait till after.  I do make sure to drink before and during however.

This is just the best time for me in terms of my energy levels, being a morning person anyway, and when it fits into my workday anyway.

I am so not a morning person, but I've started getting up earlier to get in at least 30 minutes of Wii Fit time. It's not an intense workout, but it's more than I used to do. Gym time comes after work and before dinner, which makes for late meals. I tried getting up super early to swim before work, but that didn't last long - needed more sleep.

My rule of thumb is if it is never light at that time of day during any time of the year, then it is night time.  And I only wake up during the night for emergencies and to catch planes (and to potty).

I am not a morning person though.  I'm forced to wake up at 5:45 because they moved my job to a little town 65 miles from where I live and the people I carpool with want to leave at 6:45 in the morning so we can get to work at 8:00.

lol.  You need coworkers that drive faster.

My alarm goes off at 4 AM - after a few snoozes I'm usually up at 4:30 AM.  I have to be out of the house by 6:30 to make it to work on time.

The idea is to do 30 mins of cardio before I leave for work - that's only happened a couple of times.  I find it extremely difficult to motivate myself into dressing to run before anything else.  (especially coffee or breakfast!)

After work is sometimes hard because after 12 hour days, 40 mins commute, crowded gym - who feels like it then? - but I usually press past all that and go after work and before dinner.

I'd rather get it all out of the way in the morning - but I can't seem to find that divine motivation.

Getting up any earlier is out of the question - I might as well stay up all night if I had to do that.

I've recently just realized I am not an early morning person.  6 or 6:30 is ok, but any earlier isn't.  I joined a gym with a 24/7 access.  My husband normally gets up in the mornings between 2:30 - 3:30 to get ready for work.  My intentions were to just leave the house when he does to get my butt to the gym (being that I'm already up because I make his lunch for him).  This plan did NOT work!  I found myself too tired for work.  So, I just leave work and go straight to the gym.  I'm not typically hungry, but if I were, I'd eat something small before I went.

On days when I have stuff to do that night, I do get up and make myself go because I know if I don't, I'll never lose this weight!

Good luck with the early morning plan!!!

If you can handle it, I would do it in the morning.  I love working out in the morning because then I know when I get off work I can just go home and not still have to go somewhere.

The summer before I started undergrad, I had no job and nothing to do.  I used to get up at 4 am every morning to make it to a 5:15 spin class that was 25 minutes away.  My dad was the instructor and is still to this day the hardest spin instructor I have ever had. I would get home around 7 am, take a shower and either go back to bed or lay in the hammock outside and get some sun.  I lost 12lbs that summer. 

Sleeping in is overrated.

I am not a morning person either, so I bring a protein bar to work with me to eat before I go home.  I also make sure I eat a pretty good lunch.  That allows me to get through my workout without being too hungry.  I am really hungry about 1/2 an hour after the workout though.

You know, back when I used to wake up at 6:30 every morning, I was convinced 5:30 was an ungodly hour to wake up.

Then I started waking up at 5:30 every morning to exercise (5:15 some mornings).  I've adjusted without a problem.

I think once you force yourself to do something consistently for a few weeks, your body gets used to it.  You'll also find yourself exhausted and ready for bed at 8:00, but such is life!

I haven't seen 5 AM in a long time, but I don't think I like it much. Isn't it still dark at 5 AM? I like morning air, but morning to me starts at 7 AM.

5 PM is a pretty early time to be getting home. I have a second lunch around 3, usually get home around 5. Normally, I change and work out as soon as I get home, and never later than 6.

I do it all the time. Actually,  I set my alarm for 4AM but I am pretty lame and go to bed at around 8:30 or 9 everynight.

Original Post by melindastl:

I do it all the time. Actually,  I set my alarm for 4AM but I am pretty lame and go to bed at around 8:30 or 9 everynight.

Same here, I am definatley a morning girl!  I say go for it if it's your only option.