How Can I Start Getting Up Earlier to Train?

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4/21/13 10:07 P

I am gone for 12 hours a day for work & commuting to & from downtown. I am going to start going to bed @ 9:15 tonight and getting up at 5:30 tomorrow morning. My gym buddy moved many states over, so I have not been to the gym in a while. I have running buddies, but only one day each weekend. Got the go ahead to run/walk the dog, so starting tomorrow we'll have our first Monday morning workout.

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4/16/13 12:17 P

When I first started my morning workouts I had many alarms, go off every 10 minutes. It doesn't work well if you share a room with someone, but it really helped me.

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4/16/13 2:38 A

thanks!!!

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4/16/13 2:37 A

great idea. a few weeks until the birds arrive, so this will get me ready for spring. Still a lot of snow on the ground. Hard to make it to the Y.

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4/15/13 11:19 P

Set the alarm and just go...no excuses!

Personally, I'm skeptical about the wisdom of relying on workout buddies, just as I am about people who see a Personal Trainer every week for months, if not years, on end.

It builds a reliance on something we don't actually need...sure; get a new programme from a PT once in a while, workout with a buddy when you can, but don't let it dictate when and how you exercise.

"if it is to be, it's up to me"...

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4/15/13 2:44 P

I have a workout buddy, too--it REALLY helps. We have a sort of unusual deal: If one of us has to cancel at the last minute, we CANNOT text the other one until after she has gotten to the gym. We both know that if we learn in advance that the other one can't make it, there's no way we'll drag ourselves to the gym! LOL Once we're there, we'll work out alone, though--and can check for a text if we're worried about the other one. By FAR the hardest part is deciding to JUST DO IT.

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4/15/13 11:18 A

I had to go to bed earier

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4/15/13 10:21 A

1. Decide what you are going to do for your work out the next day. Be specific. Are you going to run or walk for 30 minutes? Do a circuit training session for an hour? Get whatever gear you need ready- and I mean everything. Earbuds, iPod, hat, mittens, yoga ball, dumbells. I even fill my water bottle the night before. I need to get going before I waste too much time and all of a sudden I have a reason not to work out. Planning will be your friend.
2. Get your gym clothes out and ready the night before- socks, bra, everything.
3. Go to bed early. Make yourself.
4. You need a "Why". It has to be a clear & strong reason why you want to work out. Write it down or put something near your bed to remind you. When the alarm goes off, sit up in bed, put your feet on the floor, and look at your "Why". Ask yourself which is more important to get you to your "Why"- another hour of sleep or an hour working out? If you go back to sleep, your "Why" isn't strong enough, or you don't want it badly enough. Get a new one and try again the next day.

Yup, it's hard the first week or so, but it will get easier. Planning and getting things ready the night before is not just for saving time. By doing this, you are getting your brain fixed that this is GOING to happen- everything is ready. It is a foregone conclusion that you will be up to work out. And I think of something Michelle Obama said (I'm not quoting directly). She's obviously a very busy woman and she said "If I had to get up early for my kids, or for work, I would. I had to make myself just as important." I think, too, that if I had to get up to catch a flight to go on vacation, I would! You CAN get up. PLAN and DO.

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4/15/13 12:39 A

The thing that makes me get up early to train is the heat. If I know it will be a hot day, I am up at daylight to get done before the sun starts warming things up. I work out longer if I am cooler. On dreary days it is a lot harder for me. I work at home, so dreary days seem to be sleep in days.

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4/12/13 6:04 P

Basically, I had to decide to get up 2 days a week at 4:30 AM to go the class at my gym that starts at 5:15 AM because the hours at my stupid job changed again. I miss my friends at the evening classes A LOT but I am getting my exercise in.

What I am saying is you need to decide to do is set the alarm and get out of bed.

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4/12/13 6:01 P

Phillips Daylight Alarm clock put across my bedroom; the light slowly comes on over a half an hour and the soft sounds of the birds chirping alarm wakes me up. It has literally changed my life.

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4/11/13 10:19 P

It is very difficult to get your exercise in when working full time and raising a family. I would suggest if u can't get up any earlier than try doing some exercise during a break at work or even lunch time. 10 minutes is better than nothing. Good luck!

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4/11/13 10:05 P

I am a mother of 3 boys who are very active in sports. We try to get them to bed by 830 but sometimes it's impossible. I work full time also so I get up at 530 already just to get ready and have them to school on time. I am exhausted all the time and just don't have the energy what can I do to get the energy I need.

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4/11/13 10:45 A

For me, the most important thing is getting a good night's sleep. I can do all the other wonderful things that people suggest (and I do!) but without a good night's sleep, it's not happening! And that means getting in bed and going to sleep at a reasonable hour. That being said, I almost always wake at 5 and get my workouts in before work.

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4/11/13 9:43 A

Now that im back at work I have to get to the gym by 7:30 I wake up have a cup of coffee and big glass of water....a piece of fruit than head out for my cardio...breakfast is when I get back after my shower

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4/10/13 6:39 P

It's one thing to say you're going to start getting up earlier, and then there's actually doing it. I read an article about it and I've woken up three times a week at 5am to get to the gym now 4 weeks in a row without missing a workout. Here's what he said:

-Have everything you need already put together before you go.

-Practice. I now this sounds strange but hear me out. In the afternoon sometime get into bed like you're going to sleep and have the alarm set for two minutes later and practice getting out of your bed immediately when the alarm goes off.

Now that's the idea. For a more in dept explanation here's the article:

www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2006/04/how-to-g
et-up-right-away-when-your-alarm-goes-
off/

Good luck!

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4/10/13 4:38 P

Plan A: I make a decision - very important: DO NOT THINK ABOUT IT WHEN YOU WAKE UP. Decide to just get up as soon as the alarm goes off.

Plan B: put your alarm across the room so you HAVE to get up!

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4/10/13 11:07 A

I think having things prepared and ready to go would be the best thing you could do. When I get up in the morning with good intentions, all that time quickly gets sucked up into making lunches, getting my clothes together, getting my work stuff together- if it were all ready to go and in as few spots as possible, I could just grab it and run!

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4/9/13 11:24 P

I started watching Revenge on Netflix but only watch while working out. I do cardio while watching - walking and jogging in place, jumping jacks, squats, etc. I also wear a FitBit so I'm always working to up my steps. "Perfect" days are when I workout in the morning and again at night. The episode tonight ended in such way that I'm looking forward to working out again tomorrow morning at 5:00AM!! I ended the day at 20,000+ steps!!
I bought a GymBoss and would like to start including some tabata to my workout.
I feel some much better, physically and mentally, when I get up at 5:00AM to workout.
Some mornings, it is so hard not to hit the snooze button but so worth it when I don't!
Looking forward to beautiful Spring mornings when I can walk outdoors and watch the sunrise.

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4/9/13 4:19 P

Just do it! I get up at 5 AM to work out. I might fix my lunch and drink water first so I wake up a little. It is MUCH easier than coming home after work contemplating whether or not I feel like working out. That early in the morning, my brain is barely functioning let alone telling me how I feel

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4/9/13 12:24 P

I am going to try that tonight.....go to bed with my workout clothes on.....great idea!! I have been searching for ways to get moving in the morning. I would much rather work out first thing....start my day off right!!

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4/9/13 10:29 A

I like the idea about going to bed wearing your workout clothes so you're ready to go immediatedly in the morning. I think that will help motivate me to not skip exercising before work.

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4/8/13 3:54 P

The music idea sounds good! It will have to be soothing instrumental music, though...anything with lyrics keeps me awake singing in my head! Thanks, Jasmille

I have really gotten some great ideas from this thread! Let me see if I can straighten myself out!!!! Go Team Sparkpeople!! Thanks for all of the encouragement, too. I joined a long time ago but didn't participate, and reading all of your motivational slogans really lifted me up!! Thanks again.

I found this link online www.innerhealthstudio.com/visualization-scripts.html for free directed relaxation visualization scripts. According to the site, you can print them and read them to learn how to relax or print them and record yourself reading them and burn to cd to listen to and relax.

Edited by: CHUBBYNOMORE3 at: 4/9/2013 (23:14)

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4/8/13 3:43 P

Dear Friend, just to let you know that you are not the only one. I have to hit the gym at 10 am and I can not make it....LOL..this is crazy , I know!!! But I am trying to use simple steps to get up from bed as I know that when I train in the morning , I am very active during the day and I feel good about myself.

So these are the things which you can try :

Put the alarm far away from your bedside so that when it rings you have to get up to switch it off.

Then by the alarm put a note such as GYM so that you know you have to go to gym . the notes can vary such as : U R NOT LAZY TODAY ...I used to do that myself

Then I used to put stuff next to me on the floor so that we get up I will be knocking them to create some noise etc.. I know it might be very funny but I just could not get up from bed early morning. Even though I put 5 alarms next to my head.

These are the things I tried and I don't know if they will help you but better give it a go n
and see .....

P. S when you are on bed at night if you can put some relaxing music and you will fall asleep very fast and that way you will be able to wake up fresh for the day. Put the music on for 15-30 mins and then your mind wil feel relax and this will help you doze up physically.

Thank you
Jasmille

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4/8/13 2:19 P

I am a night owl and have tried a dozen times to "just get up" very early hoping that that night I will be exhausted. I don't know if you will be like me, but I stay up all day dead-dog tired and still can't sleep that night. I have bad habits, though; I sleep with the tv on low, but the light is bright, and I know that is a very bad habit. The times I have cut off the tv it seemed like I lay there for an eternity and couldn't sleep, till I finally turned it back on......
Tonight I will eat supper early, no tv after that, go to bed by 9 with a boring book, and sleep in the restful, quiet darkness (hopefully)! Thank everyone for the wonderful suggestions.
About 10 years ago I was hitting the gym 17 miles from home at 7 am for an hour workout 3x a week and 5 miles on the treadmill every day, and I did it every day, for 6 months. Amazing for me! But I had no trouble sleeping at night or getting up in the morning.....oh, the good old days!! Gonna do it again.

I have found, though, that I have to back up gradually on my workout, too. It is hard for me to do it without 24 hours between the last treadmill and 48 between the weight training; my body has to recover.

Edited by: CHUBBYNOMORE3 at: 4/8/2013 (14:26)

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4/8/13 10:08 A

I would say YES...get up at 5 & be worn out that night! I LOVE having a workout buddy that makes me accountable!! I always feel more guilty about letting them down than I feel tired...LOL! Also, I go to bed as ready for my morning workout as possible...that way, it doesn't take me long to get out the door in the mornings!!

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4/8/13 7:38 A

Here's what I do:
1. Get things ready the night before. I pack lunches, and set out both my work clothes and exercise clothes for the morning. I also shower at night (I don't get very sweaty). Set out my yoga mat/weights/whatever I need for that day's workout. Before I go to sleep, I also make sure that my computer is set to the page with my workout video on it so all I have to do in the morning is press play

2. Make sure I go to bed early enough to get 8 hours sleep. Right now I workout from 6:20-7am, so I make sure that I'm in bed by 10:20 pm.

3. Use my snooze button! I love my sleep so I actually set 4 alarms at 15,30,45,and 60 minutes before I have to get up.

4. Get up, just do it, and don't worry about finishing. If the kids get up early or if I am dying of thirst, I just pause. I stop at 7 am no matter what.

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4/8/13 5:59 A

Just do it! Remind yourself that the only one you are hurting if you don't get up is yourself!

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4/8/13 2:36 A

Gym buddies and food buddies keep you honest and focused.

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4/7/13 11:56 P

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4/7/13 11:21 P

I've read recently that they now say exercising in the afternoon is really best for you. Maybe you can fit it in then and not have to get up so early.
I'm a "morning person" since I grew up on a farm where we had to get on the school bus at 6:15 a.m. to be at school by 7:30 a.m. when it started so I never have a problem with getting up early, but I know lots of people who do.

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4/7/13 7:48 P

Great topic. If I do not get up early and get my mileage in I will not do it. Life always gets in the way and I find myself skipping the workout. I am better on the weekends but still must do it before I do anything else. I am a morning person and the job I start next month will start at 08:30 instead of 06:00, so it should be easier.
My daughter has a difficult time getting up and will silence several alarms. I am considering getting her an alarm I found that you must step on to silence. If she puts it across the room she would at least have to get up.

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4/7/13 10:53 A

I am a mom of two boys aged 3 and 1 year old. I have areally hard time getting things done during the day when they are awake, playin, crying, wanting to be fed , have their diapers changed, cook, clean....did I forget anything...? So, what I try to do is to stop myself from jumping back in bed when I wake up to feed or breastfeed ( depending on which one is crying) . I am weaning the little one off from breastmilk so I am hoping he will be sleeping on a fuller tummy with his bottled milk. Anyway, my problem is that there I days I hardly have time to go to the loo or have adecent shower- I have it the night before when they are asleep, right before I go to bed. How will I manage to fit a decent exercise schedule ?? I can do a 20 min workout at about 5 in the morning- but my brain is not fully functional, if you know what I mean- and then again at night, maybe. I love the ideas I read here so I will try to modify my schedu;e a bit and hopefully manage to squeeze a few more body planks in :)

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4/7/13 10:15 A

Read through the tips and looks like the people who are serious prepare for it by either laying out their workout clothes or wearing them to bed. I will do that, but I need to get myself to bed before midnight.

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4/7/13 12:12 A

I have classes at 5:30am so I set my alarm for 4:45am and have to get out of bed to shut it off. I also have gym buddies who save my spin bike for me (a no-no) or a spot for Body Pump so I have to get to the gym before the instructor. Gym buddies rock; they hold me accountable and have turned out to be some of my very best friends.

The night before I put my gear in the gym bag and prepare my lunch. When I get back from the gym I want to have time to leisurely enjoy my first cup of coffee with DH before heading to work.

I love working out in the morning because I can check it off my "to do" list before anything can interfere. I get a high from the endorphins and also from accomplishing a daily goal. Plus it's fun adding the minutes and calories burned to the Fitness Tracker in SparkPeople.

Edited by: MOINSDEMOI at: 4/7/2013 (00:26)

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4/6/13 5:37 P

Physically prepare your workout gear or wear it to bed. Go to bed early, stay away from caffeine late in the day. Use visual imagery to see yourself go througgh what you want to happen with the positive outcome such as as high that lasts all day, a sense of pride that you did it, decreased appetite with increased metabolism and bragging rights. The more you do this more it becomes a habit and you don't really think about it.

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4/6/13 4:31 P

Find a buddy!

I find that having someone else who is willing to get up for morning exercise can really motivate me. I've done this with real people here and I've also done it with SparkPeople friends (if you'll do it, I'll do it).

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4/5/13 1:47 P

What a good question! I have two teens, and am out quite a few evenings rehearsing (I sing and act), so rarely get to bed before 10:30 or 11:00. My son has to get up at 6:30 for school, and I get up in time to help him get organized (he's mildly autistic so does need a little help); then get my daughter up, take a shower, have breakfast, take her to school, and start work.

If I were to get up earlier than I do, I'd have to go to bed much earlier -- since I don't typically get 8 hours even now!

I do work at home, and can take some time for exercise, but not serious hourlong workout time!

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4/4/13 7:23 P

My alarms are Lady Will Power & Big Girls Don't Cry..........and I have the volume up really high! I also lay all my clothes out the night before....shoes and all! Water bottle filed and right in front in the fridge!

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4/4/13 5:34 P

Prepare your kit the night before. Set your alarm 30 mins before you need to actually get up that way you feel like you've had a lie in and can ease yourself into your day.

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4/4/13 2:06 P

My failsafe alarm clock is my cat. She demands breakfast at the same time every morning. It's Saturday? A snow day? You've got the flu? She doesn't care. Breakfast is at 6 a.m. sharp, no exceptions. Between her and a coffee pot with an automatic timer, I know I'll be up and about with plenty of time to fit in a morning workout.

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4/4/13 1:22 P

i am an early riser, many years of waking early every single day of my life; schooling, then working for 30 years, it is an automatic. the problem is that waking early is not such a good thing if you don't have any plans and haven't set any goals for the day. at night i go to bed with plans to get out of bed in the morning and go straight to stretching exercises and 30 mins on the stationary bike, while watching the news. i'm still working on accomplishing those goals. i am confident i'll get there soon. joined March 31st, this year. feeling i need some support, but i know i sometimes have to support myself mentally. GOOD DAY TO ALL, WE ARE BLESSED!

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4/4/13 11:09 A

I wake up early and sleep in my work out clothes and don't get up to exercise. I take care of my 5 month old grandson during the night and don't have the energy to exercise.

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4/4/13 10:55 A

I desperately need to get up earlier. I have my sister call me to make sure I'm out of bed... but sometimes I just lie to her and tell her I'm up. Or I ignore the phone entirely. Then I'm late to work, unprepared, and have inconvenienced her. UGH!

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4/4/13 10:11 A

For me the key is going to bed a little earlier so it's not so hard getting up in the morning.

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4/4/13 5:01 A

I snoozed twice today! Might have to try putting the alarm out of reach so I have to get out bed to turn it off.

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4/3/13 5:05 P

Text Message accountability! I recruited a few friends who were also looking to get up earlier. I text a "Good Morning" or snap a pic of my coffee cup around 6AM, and they do the same to let each other know we are in fact up and about.

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4/3/13 1:44 P

I sleep in my workout clothes and use nature's alarm clock: drink at least 1 full glass of water right before going to sleep. That way, I'm sure to be out of bed by 6:00 am instead of 7.

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4/3/13 1:30 P

I absolutely love sleeping!!! but I was just saying to myself the other day that I would reach my goal weight for this month if I did a little more. The weather is starting to get better and I want to get a new Spring/Summer wardrobe, but refuse to buy the size that I'm in now. Anyway, I work out in the evening, which really helps me to relax and sleep well contrary to what a person may think. I do my 10-40 minutes (depending on the time and how I feel) take a nice hot bath or shower, get in the bed and I'm relaxed and sleep within a half hour. So, now I'm committed to try to work out in the morning. I'm going to set my clock for 5:30 instead of 6:00 that way by the time I finish my snooze ritual I can get up and have enough time to work out.

Here's the logic:
Normally I set my clock for 6:00 and snooze until 6:30 - just enough time to get to work
Now, I will set my clock for 5:30 snooze until 6:00 - that way I'm up the time I supposed to be anyway and will have at least 10-20 minutes to work out.

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4/3/13 11:33 A

I got on a lax winter schedule, and eventually want to be up and exercised (the purposeful stuff) by 7 am, and I'm now working on increasing exercise and getting up earlier. As far as getting up, I'm setting the alarm for 10 minutes earlier each week (so I don't get overwhelmed--and I include weekends). Started going from 6:45am to where I now get up at 5:55 am this week, and I just wear my pj's with a pair of socks and my tennis shoes. I shoot out of bed right away, get my shoes on, use the restroom and turn on the news. I try to start exercising within 10 minutes of waking up so I don't talk myself out of it. Things will change more as I go into a warm weather routine but this is working for now.

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4/3/13 10:12 A

Some days are just so hard, but once you get into a routine it gets easier. I find that if I read 30 minutes before bed, I get much better quality sleep and it's easier to wake up in the morning. Also have a plan already laid out once you do get up. Have your clothes set out, ipod, etc. all ready to go.

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4/3/13 12:12 A

Sleep in your workout clothes, and have everything else laid out!

I would like to try an alarm clock that turns on a light, but haven't done so yet ...

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4/2/13 9:54 P

Thanks for the suggestions. My husband and I were just talking about this today.

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4/2/13 5:36 P

Just make yourself do it. That is what I do and afterwards I will think I glad I did that.

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4/2/13 4:43 P

Try getting better quality sleep (and if you can, go to bed 30-60minutes earlier). Quality is much better than quantity when it comes to sleeping. Turn off your TV 30-60 minutes before going to bed. Turn most of the lights off at the same time (you can keep a lamp on if you wish). Try some relaxing techniques as you get into bed (such as relaxing your heart-rate and taking slow deep breathes). All these things will improve your sleep.

In the morning you can help give yourself a kick-start by drinking a nutritional supplement along with your breakfast (I drink carnation breakfast essentials). Chug down a few cups of water before and after as well, as hydration will help keep you awake.

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4/2/13 2:42 P

I tend to work out after work myself, but in the event I know I have something going on before work, I make sure to lay out all work out clothes the night before and set my alarm extra early to allow for a couple hits of the snooze button!

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4/2/13 1:12 P

I don't know what can really work, I never could get up in the morning to train. Always felt motivated at night, but when morning came it was.... oh I will train later or start tomorrow. Which never came! Now, I take my step father to work everyday at 5 am. So I have to get up, so I make sure I have all my workout stuff ready the night before and bring it with me. I have no excuse, because he has to get to work and I will be up!

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4/2/13 9:37 A

Everyone has such great ideas!!! I need to start getting up in the a.m. to workout but I love sleeping!! But I will start using some of these ideas they should help.

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4/2/13 7:03 A

A lot of good suggestions here. Just one thing to add to the sleep hygiene idea:

Avoid exercise AND computer or television for the last hour or two each day. Vigorous exercise too close to bedtime can cause wakefulness, and any computer/television activities that involve light plus movement of the eyes stimulates a portion of the brain that interferes with sleep as well.

If you must exercise that close to bedtime it should be something like yoga or tai chi, to relax.

This is according to my sleep specialist neurologist... I have a sleep disorder, so this is something I have to really pay attention to.

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4/1/13 7:30 P

Get a dog that thinks he has to pee at 4:30 am. It works for me,..... Of course sometimes I lay back down!

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4/1/13 12:29 P

I have to do early morning workouts otherwise its hard to find the time in the busy day and with a toddler. I relish the time to myself! I'm in no way a morning person and have to talk myself into getting up everyday. I set two alarms and when I am laying there debating whether or not to get my butt out of bed, I visualize the me I want and the 5km I want to complete and it works like a charm!

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3/31/13 10:53 P

Try using your gym membership early in the morning a couple of times a week. You will probably find that the same people are there each time - it will give you more incentive to get moving when you know you will 'meeting up with gym-buddies'. Good luck!!

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3/31/13 9:59 P

You could use a combination of the 2 things you are considering. Go ahead and bite the bullet and get up at 5:00am, and also go to bed at 9pm. If you feel like you'll "lie awake", try taking an allergy pill (or half of one) to lull you to sleep. Good luck!

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3/31/13 1:04 P

I am getting back into my morning workouts! My plan is to start going to bed earlier and wake up at 6 am no matter what. Then with my extra time in the morning, I will do at least 20 mins of exercise.

Looking to use some of these suggestions... I think I'll start with going to sleep in my exercise clothes. I have a gym membership and a home gym so I'll probably just do my AM workouts at home.

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3/31/13 9:01 A

Thanks for all the great ideas! Tonight I will "prime" and put my phone in another room to get my rear out of the bed. As the weather gets warmer and the sun rises earlier, I'll be able to make my DS walk himself to school so I can go to the gym before work.

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3/29/13 1:04 P

i set my cell phone on highest "loud' level ringtone: 'old phone',which is super loud and leave it on the kitchem table...so that I have to get out of bed and walk down the hall and into kitchen to turn it off.
when i make it there, coffee is aready brewed...yay! so by then, i am up.

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3/29/13 9:54 A

I need to get back to mornings, this DST change has thrown me completely off for the last 2 weeks.

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3/29/13 6:42 A

I'm SUCH a morning person! I jump out of bed each day, wondering what wonderful things the day has in store for me. My best time is the morning, so it's hard for me to decide what I want to spend my "best time" doing. Exercise tires me out, so if I do that first, I've got nothing left to practise piano with, or plan meals, or clean the house.

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3/29/13 2:31 A

I work nights, so really any time I can get in a workout works for me!

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3/28/13 10:01 P

Jessica, Coach Nicole has some great advice for getting in exercise while doing other things and in very short amounts of time. If you can look up some of her articles and videos, you may find ways you can start working out during time periods that are best for you. Good luck and good health!!

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3/28/13 8:18 P

I have never been a morning person. I hate getting out of my warm, cozy bed and when I finally make it out, it takes me a good 30-45 minutes before I'm able to really function. In addition, I always wake up stiff and have a hard time moving.

In the past (college, law school, and post bar exam unemployment) I had great success with working out in the middle of the day. Now that I've got a real job I have to get up at 7:00 to get ready for work and leave by 8:00. I don't get home until 7:30 and by that time I'm starving and just too exhausted from work and my commute to workout.

Since starting my job I have completely given up exercise and I feel terrible. I sit at a desk all day and have developed more aches and pains. I know I have to find a way to squeeze in the exercise and it looks like the morning is my only choice...

There have been a lot of great suggestions in this thread. I think I will start gradually increasing my wake-up time and prepare my workout gear and my breakfast/lunch and work items in the evening. Since I'm so out of it in the morning, I think I'm going to have to take some time to wake up before diving right into exercise. Jumping right in first thing seems like a good way to injure myself and despise morning workouts.

Thanks everyone for the great suggestions!

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3/28/13 4:14 P

Great advice!

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3/28/13 2:36 P

I have the same problem and look forward to testing some of these methods.

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3/28/13 1:30 P

what a great idea.. I am going to try this. It is so hard to exercise after I make supper..

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3/28/13 10:17 A

It was hard for me to get up at 5:30am, I gradually set my alarm for 10 minutes earlier each day until I made it to the time I needed to get up and now I wake up before my alarm goes off. It took me a few weeks to get my body adjusted to it, but now I feel great when I do it. I now set a bedtime for myself to make sure I get 7-8 hours of sleep and I have no trouble going to bed early since I am tired. I feel so much better working out on a regular basis. It is SO worth it! You can do it!!!!!!

Edited by: MSOMAMA2 at: 3/28/2013 (10:18)

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3/28/13 9:15 A

dont hit snooze. Studies show that hitting snooze actually makes it harder to get out of bed. so set your alarm for the very last min taht way when it goes off you have to get up no matter what.

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3/28/13 3:36 A

SAME HERE....IT'S SO HARD FOR ME TO WAKE UP AND GET ON UP AND GET MY EXERCISE DONE FIRST THING IN THE MORNING.

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3/27/13 9:53 P

These are such good ideas! Thanks everyone. Cant wait to try some and begin to be a "morning person"!!!

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3/27/13 7:37 P

I agree with another previous post. With time it will eventually get easier. I used to work out every night before bed because that was the only time I had. I didn't want to wake up at 5:30 am to work out. And who truly wants to? I would bribe myself with my favorite pre-workout snack: banana dipped in nonfat yogurt and rolled in nuts and stuck in the freezer. I'd get out of bed grab my snack and get going. After a week it was easy and now I don't have to bribe myself!

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3/27/13 7:35 P

ZENGODDSS7 haha yea mine is the same, i have coffee waiting for me every morning, infact he makes me a coffee and then comes to wake me up, just the smell of it on my bed side table gets me moving ;) I have tried the whole keeping the alarm clock far enough from my bed so I have to get up un turn it off, but half the time he turns it off or i just sleep trough it. Not a morning person at all ;)

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3/27/13 7:09 P

I am, by nature, a night owl, but unfortunately school doesn't coincide, so if I want to get up early to hit gym I set 3 alarms, 10 min apart, phone, nook and little travel alarm clock and space them further and further away in the room. By the time I get to the travel clock I am tripping over my gym bag. I am the snooze button queen. I luck out 3 days out of the week because my boyfriend wakes me. He prefers to wake me because the 3 alarm think drives him crazy. But by the first alarm he's up and I have coffee waiting when I finally surface.

Posts: 9
3/27/13 5:42 P

I think I am lucky in this case because i need to take my partner to work every morning and he gets me out of bed around 5.30 am so that helps a lot and I do not have choice :) but seriously I do not know how he manages to get up that early, if i had to do it ..... I probably wouldn't

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3/27/13 5:41 P

I have a calendar entry on my phone that sets an alarm. The title of the calendar entry is "Get up and DO IT, You ARE NOT GOING BACK TO BED"

Sometimes I tell my phone to go to you know where, and turn it off. Most times it's enough to remind me that this is something that I want, and my sleepyhead self doesn't get to make decisions for me.

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3/27/13 4:25 P

"You will never change your life until you change something you do daily" Can't remember who said that but I remind myself while lying in bed listening to the radio that I really do want to change my life so I get up.

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3/27/13 8:43 A

My schedule permits me to hit the gym around 10. It's not tragic that I get there at earlier times. I'm thankful I get there then!

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3/26/13 6:48 P

I can't tell you how to convince yourself to get up and get going, but I can sure tell you that after not too long, your body will do it on it's own and it won't be such a struggle anymore!

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3/26/13 1:58 P

You are going to laugh at this one. I am a single mom of 2 active boys 9 & 7. When I finally made the decision I am all in on getting back into shape, I realized that the only time I could work out would before they got up for school and I went to work. I took pictures of myself in my underwear with my fat hanging out. I have those pictures taped on the wall across from my bed so when I wake up I have to look at them. That motivates me to get my butt out of bed because I know I need to work out to get rid of the fat. Those pictures work.

You state you a training for a marathon so the fat pictures will not work, however, how about the finish line of a runner that has finished a marathon and put your face on it so it motivates you to meet one of your life's goals?

Good Luck

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3/25/13 5:58 P

Get everything ready the night before and sleep in your clothes to wear. Reward yourself with a star or some other tangible award. Make sure to go to bed early and warm up so it isn't visualized as a bad experience.

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3/25/13 5:17 P

I don't know where I heard it, but someone said say to yourself, "Don't think just get up!" when your alarm goes off. I really does work! I read someone else's post which said if you want to you will and I think that is so true too.

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3/25/13 2:05 P

Whatever you do, you must still get enough sleep, at least the 8 hours. To me that means go to bed earlier.

And since you are running more and more each day, you might need even more sleep-recovery time for your body to heal for the next work out.

Have you taken the sleep challenge to help you get to sleep quickly, earlier?

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3/24/13 6:31 P

Morning workouts eliminates the excuses that creeps up during the day

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3/24/13 5:20 P

If it is the darkness which makes it difficult to wake up, you may want to put a timer on a bedside lamp to simulate daylight. I do this in the mornings for work-the light snaps on before my alarm clock.

In the end, if it is truly something you want, then you will just DO it.

The following quote was posted at my gym "The only thing that stands between you and what you want out of life is the will to try and the faith to believe it is possible."

Good luck to you.

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3/24/13 1:21 P

I haven't read the other responses (yet) so I am probably echoing what others have said, but it all starts the day before. Cutting down (or out) afternoon caffeine, setting an alarm to remember to go to bed earlier, setting out ALL exercise gear including shoes socks and underwear, and then, as you are going to sleep, picture yourself getting up and dressed and on the treadmill or out the door. Having exercise buddies is really helpful. Not listening to all the excuses your sleepy brain will start coming up with is essential. I find that the less thinking I do, the better - I have to go into "auto" mode - just do what needs to be done to get myself on the move. Hope some of this helps! Spark on!