working out in morning?

i want to start working out, even if it is just walking/running or something light to start out.

my question is, when do you all work out?  i work 8-5 every day and am always really tired by the time i get home (mainly due to traffic).  i waste a lot of time showering and relaxing and then i eat dinner...sometimes go for a stroll but nothing vigorous.

i was considering getting up a little earlier, but is that too much??  i try to wake up at 6 every morning, and i could try getting up at 5...but i already feel like i need more sleep.  that means i will have to go to bed an hour earlier..?  there are not enough hours in the day :(

any suggestions, and what do you do?

I find on days I can manage to get up early and do my run are really good days..............i feel it just sets the day off right however I can't to it like that every morning so on the other ones i do them between classes usually around lunch time....................If u can get it to work int he morning at least a couple times a week i'd do it but its up to u............... :)

I found that finding time to work out per day rather than a set schedule is best for me. I look at my calendar for the next day and think about social activities, strain, work, etc. and decide when and what I'm going to do. Then it's something fun, different, and it doesn't feel like a chore. For example, this week I ran during my lunch hour on Monday so I could go out in the evening. Then on Tuesday I swam in the morning since I had a lunch meeting and work project that night. Then this evening I am going to do pilates between work and meeting up with friends. These are all different activities that fit my schedule per day. Then I can fit everything in!

What a good idea.. You just reminded me that you don't always have to workout after work- which is what I always do. Working out in the morning can really make you feel good. Getting up is the hard part- but once you're up and moving its such a great feeling. And, if you're up for it- you can workout some more after work. That might really help the scale move. You just inspired me!

I used to wake up at 6am in the morning when my day started at 9am. That usually gave me time to workout 30min, and get ready for work. Yes I went to bed earler.

I also had workout at night. Either before my dinner (in which case I would have late dinner) or after dinner (a late exercise).

I know that driving through rush hour is  tiring, but if you want to workout after work, may want to try having some snack along the drive home with coffee :) That would give you a boost for the workout.

I work 8:30-6 and there's no way I would have the energy to work out after work every day! I found a workout buddy and started working out in the mornings, and LOVED IT! I now work out from 5-6:30 M/T/Th/F, and have more energy all day. It's hard to get up at first, but once I got into the routine, I've found that I jump out of bed every morning! I try to go to bed by 10 most nights, so I get about 6.5 hours sleep. Every once in a while when I feel really tired I'll go to bed around 8 :D.

i would deffinatly work out in the morning. I get up about 6 every morning, run till i burn off about 425 cals which is about 2.25 miles then get ready for my day. i have SOO much more energy and deffinatly sleep better than if i run at night, but a walk a night neveer hurts:D

notalone: you are not really alone:) I am struggling with the same issue. I work out after work and am trying to get up early morning to go to the gym. Anyway,from my experience, and if youwant to work out in the morning, yes, you need to sleep more. that is the only solution. I have tried to force myself to wake up at 5 am. it was very tiring and I felt sleepy at work.

Good luck. PM me if you want a morning work-out buddy, maybe we can encourage each other. I feel we have the same lifestyle.

Hi,

I find it good for me to have my 6 miles (90 min) in by 8am.  The thing is though, I work in a home office.  I could theoretically work in my jammies.  I'm currently sitting here in my swimsuit...

Not everyone has that luxury.  Regardless, my real estate agent is always out on the trail before me.  She does the same 6 miles daily and is to her office by 8 every day. 

I think it is good to find something that works for you and then schedule it into your life like a commitment.  Then it will become habit and you'll miss it when skipped.

When I was working 8-5 I worked out as soon as I got home (I had an hour to myself before hubby got home)... I used it as a stress-reliever and transition from work to home-life.  It made me complain about work to my husband less.  It also made me eat a healthier dinner and not snack at night as much.

Now that I am no longer working, I find it easier to do it first thing in the morning.  If I put it off I just keep thinking "I need to do my workout sometime today" all day long.  Like running errands and doing housework isn't a workout. lol

wow...i'm all motivated now!  i guess it will be trial and error for a while to see what works for me.

i try to get to bed by 11 every night but it is usually more like 12.  maybe tonight i will try to be asleep a bit earlier...

plus i'm sure, like some of you said, it will give me some more energy.  should i start off easy?  should i try running or walking, and for how long?  should i eat before and after??

you guys are so helpful :)

safina1 - i will keep u in mind!!

I also work 8-4 and fight traffic.  I have 3 children ages 14, 6 and 7 months.  I have always been one to be in bed early and am not motivated to exercise after work especially with the kids and dinner to tend to.  So "my time" is in the morning.  (Except Wednesdays I go to a PIYO class after work). I am up at 4am at the gym at 4:30 - home by 5:45 so my husband can take his turn at the gym.  BUT - I will say that I am in my bed as soon as the baby and 6 year old are tucked in.  I am usually in lala land before 9:00pm.   Also - I find that gettting my workout in early gives me more energy throughout the day and I don't have to worry about fitting it in later.

Just to add.... I have a cup of coffee before leaving for the gym.  I do not eat until around 7 when I have a snack - usually toast or a vitatop muffin on my way to work.  Around 9am I eat another snack/breakfast. 

I workout in the morning as well.  I work from 8 - 5, so I get up at 5am everyday.  I have a protein shake immediately, and freshen up a bit.  I then head for the gym to be there when it opens at 6.  I weight train for 30 min. then cardio 30 min.  I shower at the gym and head to work. 

When I get home from work, I immediately pack my bag for the next morning, making sure to have it all ready.  Then I have dinner with my family, then I do the dishes.  The kiddos go to bed at 8pm, which then allows me some time to relax, before I am off to bed about 9:30 or 10.

I find that exercise in the morning really boosts my energy level for the day.  It was hard at first as I am a late person, but I was able to break that rut and get into a new routine of getting up early.  Most mornings I want to sleep in, but I know I need to get up and exercise, plus if I skip I always feel run down the rest of the day.

another "up at 4am" person here... I start work at 7AM, but since I AM a morning person, I just get up earlier - then it's DONE and I don't obsess as much...  also try to get to bed by by 9 - 10PM at the latest!

I've always heard that doing your cardio in the morning burns off the fat in the "storage tanks" (I picture my butt cheeks there !  LOL) because there is no new energy in your system that it has to pull from the pre-existing stuff LOL   I used to do the "Body for Life" system, but lost my weight machine in the divorce... just got a new one and will be re-starting an alternating day schedule of weights and cardio... I was in SUCH good shape when I did that !  I didn't have a six-pack, but I had a 4-pack LOL   I was *almost* there !  ahhhh the good ol' days LOL

I'm also up at 4. wow. I workout in the morning, and feel fantastic! My gym opens at six so i have a good long time to get there. my morning worout is actually split into 2. i go on a very light jog/speedwalk from about 6:45-7:50. Then I go home, and eat something, and get ready for the REAL workout. I have no clue when I leave, but I'm working out around 8:30. I do more cardio (bike, eliptical, stair-slimbing thing, etc) which is usually an hour. Today I did an hour and a half without realizing it. Then I do weights and stuff for about half an hour to an hour depending on my mood. Lastly I swim for about a half hour to an hour.  I'm aware that you can't do that. but I thought that I'd share :) I do also workout in the evenings sometimes or after lunch.

it isn't possible for me to get to bed before 10pm...i don't think i could get up at 4, probably 5 would be better.

for all the early risers, do you ever feel tired during the day, or does the workout energize you enought to last the whole day?

do-rey-me:  i commend you, that's great!!  i wish i could do that :(

LOLLLLL at "storage tanks"!!  same here!!!

If I DONT workout in the morning, I wont get it done. So, I make a point to get up at 5:00 am and have my coffee and workout to a video. Either walk away the pounds or tae be, or on my Gazelle. I feel SOOO much better and it also curbs my appetite for the whole day. If I dont do it I am grumpy and stressed. You should try it and see how much better you feel.

Hi, i'm new here, im an advocate of calorie counting (not including the petite brownie bites from costco that i have absolutely no sefl control to avoid) to aid in the weight loss effort, however it is the excersize thing i can't get a hold on.  i have two small children and work 3 days a week so working out ALWAYS falls to the wayside.  I've decided to try once again to get a morning in house routine going.  You all are so motivating, thank you so much just for being here. I wish the best to all of you. 

I have gotten up at 5:00, 5 days a week, for years.  If I work out in the morning, I already feel very accomplished, which just carries over into the rest my day!  Plus, I don't have to "dread" finding time to do it later in the day!

I did find that I have to go to bed earlier, but that's just me...if I don't have 8 hours of sleep, I fall off of whatever workout equipment I'm on!

I get up at 5, work out at 7, and start work around 9 am.