Working out in the AM?

[DMickey28]

I would post this on the WISH board but this one gets more traffic.

For all of you that work out in the AM, what time do you get up and how long do you work out? What time do you go to bed?

I would like to try and get up to do the FIRM video's but each day that the alarm is set earlier I turn it off. I get atleast 8 hours of sleep a night because after dinner I have nothing left to do but watch tv with DFiance. I have to get up at 6:40am now, so I have the time.... can't find the motivation...

Thanks!!!

 

[Melora]

Mornings on an empty stomach are definately the best times to work out.

I need about 20 minutes to do my treadmill..but probably should be doing a little more.

 

[oogieboogie]

It's tough for me cause I'm not a morning person, but I try to get up at 5am, do 40 minutes of pilates and then I'm done by 6am which is the time I normally wake up when I'm not working out.

 

[ScarlettO]

For years I worked out after work. But now I wake at 5:45am, drive to the gymn and do weights for 30 min ,3 times a week , before work. I much prefer doing this early.



After work I walk 2 miles daily.

 

[Pop Daddy]

I could never last in the morning, I am a 8 p/m guy now

 

[aprilgail2]

By DR. PAUL DONOHUE
Syndicated Columnist

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am a 58-year-old woman who needs to start jogging again. You said a few months ago that physical exertion early in the morning can cause a heart attack because the blood is thick then. I have to jog early, but I don't want to fall down dead. What can I do? -- S.S.

ANSWER: I don't want you to fall down dead, either, but it is true. More heart attacks occur in the morning than at any other time of the day. In the morning, there is often a surge in blood pressure, and that puts a burden on the heart.

In addition, blood platelets stick to each other with greater avidity in the morning, and, when they do, clots can form within arteries -- another reason for morning heart attacks. (The sticky platelets were the reason I said blood is thicker in the a.m.) Furthermore, the body's natural clot-busting apparatus is sluggish in the morning.

Plaque -- the mound of cholesterol, fats, platelets and protein clinging to the artery wall -- is at its most fragile state in the morning. The stress of exercise can rupture plaque. Pieces break off the mound and drift to smaller heart arteries where they occlude blood flow -- another reason for morning heart attacks.

All this needs to be put into perspective.

The number of heart attacks that occur each year during exercise is about one for every 15,000 exercising individuals. The majority happen in the morning.

So should everyone forgo morning exercise? No. If you have been seeing a doctor and if the doctor has declared you heart-healthy, then you can exercise any time of day you find convenient.

 

[Son of the Morning]

I work out at irregular times during the day, usually for anywhere between 30-40 minutes, doing rather intense routines on Dance Dance Revolution. Pure cardio. Granted, that link doesn't look very impressive, but check out some of the videos or even some of these step charts:

Twilight Zone
Rhythm and Police
So Deep (Perfect Sphere Remix)

You want a damn fun way to burn calories? There you go.

Even nicer is the fact that the game DDRMAX2 for PS2 has a 'Workout' mode where you can trace the number of calories you burn.

 

[newholiday]

DS & I are up at 6am to get him to the bus stop by 710
I dont need to leave for work till 920 (930-5)
I use that time in btwn to take a 1/2hr walk

When summer starts (June 24th) I can sleep a little later but would still like to get 1/2hr walk before leaving for work

When I return from work I try to get out for another 30-60mins

 

[danacara]

I admire all of your initiative! I absolutely cannot work out in the morning ... the temptation to stay in bed is just too strong!

 

[CamColt]

I wake up at 4:45 and am out of bed at 5:00. I ab crunch first and that takes about 12 minutes. I then go on a 3 mile jog. Im usually back in the house about 5:50-5:55. If its bad weather I jog on the treadmill. On weekends I do it all a little later, but I usually skip the crunches on Sunday.
I also like to walk about 3 miles, but I only get that in about 5 days a week.
Good luck!

 

[CarolDel]

Yes!

I love doing exercises in the morning - it gives me loads of energy for the rest of the day & it reminds me not to stray too much from healthy eating as it will counteract the exercise benefits.

I love using my dance mat, it is fun & music makes the time go faster too. I try n exercise 6 days a week and find that if I haven't done my routine I start flagging half way through the day. Every time I hear Kylie I think of my dance mat lol

I see the dance mat as my cardio day & do stepper, weights n stretches & ab trimmer the alternate days. also in the AM is best as I can get up before the rest of the family too, so it also gives me some "me time".

Carol

 

[JESW]

I am a morning exercising person as I love the way I feel for the rest of the day - very energized! Right now I got to Curves 3 mornings after I drop the kids off at school. I am a SAHM so that is easy for me. Once the kids are off for the summer I will need to get up early and go to Curves before DH leaves for work. Our Curves is open at 6 a.m. on mon., wed., & fri. Not sure what time I'll make it there but I'll need to get back home before 8.

Jill

 

[geffric]

Another morning person checking in..

I am up at 4:40, leave for the Y to be there at 4:55 when it opens. I do the cardio machines/ weights for an hour, routine varies by the day, then shower and off to catch a train into the city.. I add the 20 minutes walk from the train to my office in as part of the work out too.

 

[Tinks]

I get up around 5 - 5:30 5 days a week, depends on the day! I like my Spin class and that starts at 5:30 on Wednesday, so I'm up a at 5 those mornings. I do cardio for 1/2 hour - 1 hour and do weights on Tuesday and Thursday with less cardio. I love to workout in the morning! (but I hate to wake up!) I have much less energy during the day on the mornings I miss workout.

 

[browneyes]

I'm just thankful I can get dressed in the am. I wish I could convince myself to do something productive like a workout first thing in the am.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

On weekdays that DH doesn't work (Monday and Tuesday) I get up at 5:00, take my main shower, get dressed and head to the gym. I go to work stright from the gym.

On the days that DH works, I am up at 4:00 AM (that is what time he gets up) and I jump in the shower after he leaves around 4:30, get dressed and head to the gym.

I have to work out in the mornings or I won't do it. I work our for about an hour, either all cardio, or mixture of weights and cardio. Or if for some reason I am running late, just weights but without many breaks to still elevate my heart rate.

 

[niks81]

I have found that the mornings are best for me. I don't mind getting up at the crack of dawn! It's also convenient because you don't have to worry about making time for it later! And, as someone else noted, it gives you energy to get through the rest of the day!

 

[leahannpen]

Well, if you give the FIRM tapes a try for say, 3 weeks, when you put back on your clothes and they fit better, you may find some motovation!! That's what happened to me anyway.

I get up at 5:30, I work out for an hour, and I shower at 6:30. That way I'm ready by 7 or 7:15 and can see my son for a while before I leave at 7:30. I usually "go" to bed to snuggle/read with my son at 8:30 or 9. I'm usually asleep by about 10 or so. That's 7 1/2 hours of sleep, but almost 9 of "rest". That's working for me right now. I admit to being tired some days, but others, I've got more energy, just for the exercise.

The days that I'm on break from the FIRM, I'm going to start doing an hour long yoga tape to increase my flexability. I figure, I may as well get up and work out, since my alarm is set anyways.

Some days when I'm not feeling well, or my son had a rough night, or I have a late night, I hit snooze and skip it. Doing that once in a while won't hurt. I also try to eat well during the week. I usually indulge on the weekends, but within reason.

I know if I don't do my tapes in the morning, I just won't do them. That's not an option for me as I need to slim down. I have found I finally want it bad enough. I'm seeing result...finally...and loving it!

Good luck to you. Give it a try...why not? It's only and hour and then you are done for the whole day! What a good feeling!