How I Wake Up Early to Workout

Are any of you getting enough sleep?

I’m definitely a girl who needs her 8 hours and could easily sleep in on the weekend (and take a nap too) if given the opportunity.  I’m realizing that, in order to get all my workouts in, some days I have to exercise before work.  Which means waking up around 5:00 to 5:15 a.m.  UG!  Not being a morning person, I can say opening my eyes at the crack of dawn is not fun.  But once I get going, I feel so great that I got up and got it done!
Here are my tips for waking up early and getting out the door. 
First and foremost, DECIDE before you get to bed, that you are waking up early and pick the appropriate time.   Think about why you are getting up early and what you want to accomplish.  I know I’m going to feel so bad if I plan to get up early to work out, but miss it because I slept too late to do it.  
1.  When my alarm goes off, I sit up and get my feet onto the floor.  If I don’t do this QUICK, I’m likely to talk myself out of getting out of bed.  I literally get up the second the alarm goes off and get moving before I have time to think how cozy it is in the bed.  Don’t think “cozy,” think “Get up NOW!”  And don’t hit snooze!
2.  Have coffee set to brew.  This is critical for me.  Knowing that my coffee is ready and waiting for me helps get me downstairs.  I pour mine into a thermos and drink it on the way to the gym.

3.   Get everything prepared the night before (gym clothes laid out, breakfast ready to go, water bottle filled).

4.  I’ve been eating oatmeal (with raisins, cinnamon, and almond slices topped with skim milk) which cooks in one minute in the microwave, before I head out since I can’t workout on an empty stomach.  

Having my workout over and done with for the day first thing is really rewarding.  And it frees the rest of the day for whatever else you have planned.

Now that I’ve had a few morning workouts, I realize I actually enjoy that quiet alone time.  Knowing that my son is soundly sleeping and I’m not interrupting his routine to get my workout in is great.

I will probably continue mixing it up, working out a couple mornings, couple evenings and on Saturday.

Are you a morning exerciser?  
How do you make yourself wake up early?

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Meet Megan

Hi! I’m Megan, mom to a thoughtful teenager and spunky young girl. We call Houston home and recently moved into our dream home. I traded my lawyer hat to become a full-time blogger in 2010. I love sharing my passion for affordable fashion, home decor, organization, & fitness to help inspire you to take care of you!

36 Comments

  1. THANK YOU for this! I'm realizing the only way I will get a workout in anymore is to get up early. Even something as simple as sitting up and putting your feet on the floor is genius! You are so inspiring…keep it up!

  2. I love exercising in the morning but I sound just like you– it's really hard to wake up sometimes! Once I get going, and especially when I'm done working out, I never regret getting up and am happy to have a free evening!

  3. I'm an early riser. I hit the floor at 4:30am six days a week to go for a run or weights, whichever workout day it is. I have a toddler that has inherited my "early to rise" internal alarm clock, so I have to thank my husband for being the trooper he is & letting me get a workout in. It is VERY hard to get up, in the beginning. But, the more consistent you are the easier it is. I live by most of your tips each day! Love, love, love your blog!

  4. These tips are really, really good – thank you!

    I am definitely NOT a morning person and I always hit snooze on my phone – and get up 40 (!!) minutes later than planned! Therefore I never work out before work and it is annoying as it takes soooo much time and effort after work! But you're right, if I do have an early workout, it makes me feel so good, so accomplished! I should definitely try and do it more often, thanks again for the tips! 🙂

  5. I have never ever been able to work out in the morning. But I do something almost every day; running, weights or stretching – in the evening. Now with my kids being older, it is easier to fit in your own schedule for sure.

  6. I really need to do this on the weekends! I will only workout in the morning during the week if I have kids someday. But anyway, I hate thinking about it all day–on the weekends–Always feel better if I go as soon as I wake up. I've done it a few times so I know how great it feels…

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  7. I don't love getting up really early, but I do love how I feel after I work out. That gets me out of bed. It seems the only way I consistently get my work out in is by doing it at the beginning of the day. If I wait too long, other things usually come up and then it just doesn't happen. So up I get at 5:45,home for 7:15 to get the kids going.

  8. I've found that I can be a morning or an evening person if I want to be. I just need to get my 8 hours of sleep. But if I start trying to skimp on sleep I no longer can get out of bed in the morning and the gym in the evening becomes harder to get to. I know Jillian Michaels even says she'll skip her workout if she doesn't get enough sleep. So I try to make sleep a priority for me because I want to make my workouts a priority. They go hand in hand. Love your blogs by the way! And the changes you're experiencing in Live Fit are incredibly inspiring!

  9. Love your tips! It's so easy to take yourself out of a workout, but so worth it when you don't! I had to get my cardio in last night after trick-or-treating and putting my kids to bed. I fought against the urge to just go to bed myself and realized my sneakers were in the car- uggh had to go out in the cold to get them, but I made it through and felt so much better that I did! Love your blogs and your inspiration!

  10. Early workout for me,too although I work out at home to videos. I lay out my sneakers, socks, etc. and the DVD with what ever equipment I may need to the video the night before.

  11. My blogpost title would be "How I wake up early to work out and then DON't" I've really fallen off of that wagon and need to get back on. Mornings don't work for me schedule wise. I have to be up early to get ready for work, and see my teenage daughter off to school. Evening have worked for me in the past, but lately those have been filling up with a bunch of "have to's" I definitely need to figure this thing out.

  12. My alarm goes off at 4:45 M-F. Like you I get up the second the alarm goes off! Once I'm up I'm ok. I love knowing that my workout is done before work.

  13. I totally agree that the hardest part is actually dragging yourself out of bed. Love the tip to physically get your feet on the floor. I do love the feeling of starting my day with a workout. I'll often sleep in my workout clothes so I literally only have to roll out of bed, put my contacts in, and hair in ponytail before being ready to go.

  14. Just started reading your blog and I'm really enjoying it! Plus all your tips are great.

    I've been getting up at 5:15 to go to the gym for the past 3 years, and it really does get easier. I feel so accomplished to make it to work and have already gotten in my workout for the day. Plus then I have time to enjoy my evenings.

    I do have to have my 8 hours of sleep though! So I make sure I get to bed on time. Also, what really helps me, is that I have my gym bag packed and ready to go. If it's all packed I have absolutely no excuses!

    I'm training for a half marathon (you know, bucket list sort of thing) but after that I can't wait to start to bodybuilding workout that you're in the midst of right now! It looks like such a great challenge!

  15. Im morning person. I get up 4:30am every morning except weekend but Its easier if you stick same sleep pattern for example go bed at 10:00 pm every day and weekend and get up same time. I have no problem with that time. I like to workout in the morning because It is easier to get done for the day and I like to take shower right after workout. I haven't workout in the evening and don't think I will ever do that!

  16. Im morning person. I get up 4:30am every morning except weekend but Its easier if you stick same sleep pattern for example go bed at 10:00 pm every day and weekend and get up same time. I have no problem with that time. I like to workout in the morning because It is easier to get done for the day and I like to take shower right after workout. I haven't workout in the evening and don't think I will ever do that!

  17. Im morning person. I go bed same time and get up same time everyday even I only sleep for 6 1/2 hours. Most of the time I sleep better and through the night if you stick same bedtime everyday. Getting up for morning workout is easy for me. I prefer to do it in morning because I don't have to think about it later in the day. I feel great after my workout. Everyone have different schedule but continue workout more often is good way to keep up no matter which day it is. Your healthy blog give me lot of inspiration and motivation! Thank you!

  18. These are fabulous tips! Thank you for sharing! I greatly admire you for waking up right when your alarm goes off. I've tried to incorporate this is my spiritual life– It's call the "Heroic Minute" (St. Josemaria Escraiva). I've really enjoyed your blog! Thank you so much for all the posts and tips that you share!!

  19. I'm on week 2 of cross-fit at 0530 🙂 The thing that gets me going is knowing that people are waiting for me. When I try to get up to run alone, I often talk myself out of it.

  20. I love your new blog and it has made me inspired to make a change. I have been getting up early 4:45 so I can get to work earlier (6:30), then go to the gym before picking kids up from daycare. Even though I still pick them up at the same time, I am struggling with "Mommy guilt" about leaving them while I workout.

  21. The timing of this post is perfect for me. I suck at getting up early to work out, and then I feel like there's no time at night. Your tip about putting your feet on the floor right away is great.

  22. Hi, I'm a relatively new reader of both your blogs, and I love them both! This is a great post. I especially like the first tip! I've been implementing it the past few days, and it has worked so well in actually getting me out of bed and not hitting snooze 37 times!!

    Keep up the great work 🙂

  23. I am gonna try and do this!! I have to be out the door with 3 kids by 6am M-F. I try to be up by 4:45 am , but usually snooze till 5:00 am. I work all day and end up home about 5:30pm. Then , it's time to cook and do homework and get everyone in bed to do it all over the next morning. I have been so discouraged lately that I never have time to exercise. I really need to do this!! Gonna try for 4:30am in the morning. 😉

  24. This is EXACTLY me and what has actually worked. When I plan ahead the night before and actually wake up and get my workout done I feel like a million bucks and that I've accomplished the most important task of the day. Everything after feels so easy! I NEED to get back into that routine. Knowing that I'm not the only one who this works for makes me feel better. I'm implementing this ASAP.

  25. Love your tips. I wake up each morning at 5.00 am to workout. I sleep in my workout clothes so I can just hop up and go to my home gym. Also, each night I lay out my kids clothes for school, my husband's clothes, and my work clothes. Knowing I have everyone else taken care allows me to truly focus for one hour on me and my workout.

  26. Hi Jamie I just found your blog and am so inspired!! My situation is that I would have to drive 45 minutes just to get to a gym to work out. I live out in the country close to a busy highway and have a 2 year old and tow kids in school. I am a stay at home mom among other things. I don't have time to be in the kitchen prepping and cooking very often If you where in my position what would you suggest? Thanks!!

  27. Great post! I have been implementing a 5:50am wakeup time to be out the door and exercising by 6am for almost a month now. Initially it was difficult, and i was driven by my determination to do it. I felt much more energy throughout the day and was able to last longer at night. As we have a lot of activity outside of the work day in our household, one mistake I've ended up making is studying/watching DVD's/reading until late at night, meaning my sleep time is around 11:00-11:30pm. Obviously, this doesn't put me in the prime position to wake up super early the next morning. Being naturally a 7am-8am riser (not that I get to do it any other time than the weekends), I need to ensure I'm getting my 8 hours sleep. Aside from that, if you can plan to succeed, early morning workouts are both efficient and give you a great start to the day! 🙂

  28. I have really been enjoying your blog! I came via Honey We're Home, which is awesome, but I love your honest approach to your weightloss/fitness/bikini contest goals. Go girl! My question is this: I wake up early and work out at home, so I'm always curious/worried about what to eat, if anything, before a workout. I'm basically working out within 10 minutes of waking. I can actually do an entire workout without eating, but I'm worried that I'm not doing myself any favors this way. But I'm not exactly sure what I should be eating. Banana? Oatmeal? Any advice?

  29. I'm thinking of getting a pass to a 24 hour gym that my friend was telling me about. I don't have enough time in my day to work out so it would have to be early in the morning. I am not a morning person at all and the thought of it makes me sleepy. I want to get in shape though and I know it's not going to be easy.

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