After several you evil lovely readers yesterday commanded me to workout in the a.m. I went ahead and did it this morning.
I woke up at 6 a.m., an hour earlier than normal, after a friend called me to make sure I was up. (Funny story, she had to be up for work and someone called to make sure she was up. Wakeup calling tree, anyone?) I woke up, put contacts in my eyes and tennis shoes on my feet and was out the door a few minutes after my eyes first opened.
Let me tell you – 6 a.m. is the only time I will enjoy exercise outside during the summer. The expected temperature today is around 96, but in the morning it still felt pleasant even if a bit humid. The sky was still beautiful and birds were chirping and very few people were out or driving. I set out on a walk to the neighborhood park a mile away from my house.
When I reached the park I noticed something: people. People everywhere! I was so surprised to see all those cars and people at the park when I first got there I froze for a second. Apparently there is a whole world of people who wake up early to walk or run at my local park. They far outnumber the ones that hit the park up after work. “Early” morning workouts are all the rage. Who knew?
I walked a half mile at the park and then walked the mile back home. Admittedly I was sweating for the second half. I had wanted to walk 3 miles but didn’t want to be too late for work after showering, blogging, etc. Besides, 2.5 miles walked in the morning is more than I walked yesterday morning. I call that a win!
Everyone who encouraged the early morning exercise was right. I feel more alert, refreshed and happy. It is a nice feeling to get to work and already feel like I have accomplished something instead of just starting out my day. I have a feeling this will be a very good day thanks to that little bit of exercise.
Any of you these secret morning exercisers I knew nothing about? Have you been working out in the morning all this time without me knowing? Or are you like me and just starting (or wanting) to workout in the morning?
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Until this month, I was always a morning exerciser. I’ve been kind of lax about it this month because I have time in the afternoons, but I have found that I really do prefer the 6:00 a.m. workouts to anything else because it is such a great way to start the day and fills me with energy and motivation. I love morning workouts. I wish the park near me opened that early, but it doesn’t open until 7:30, so I must content myself with laps around the apartment complex.
Good for you for getting up!
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Ha ha! I just had a picture in my mind of when you froze for a sec. My prefer time to wake up for exercise is about 5:30, but if the kids sabotage me, I gotta resort to a lunchtime thing. No way I’ll do anything after work!
Stay in the zone! woo-haa!
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Yeah!!! CONGRATS to you!!!! Don’t you feel so much better?!
Me on the other hand.. struggled big time to wake up this morning.. I hit snooze (on cell and alarm clock) from 5 until 5:45.. Eek! I’ll be happy to get back to my normal schedule next week..
I’m an early morning exercise nut. I wake up at 4:00 a.m. M, W, F and strength train and then walk 2.0 miles to my train station to get to work. T/Thu, again up at 4:00 and take the bus/train downtown to run/walk along the river pathway. Then on the weekend I’m up early doing more home stuff.
I feel really energized almost all day when I workout that early but I have to admit, by 9:00 p.m., I am more than ready for bed. As it is, I only get about 6 hours of sleep during the weeknights and I know that isn’t enough, but with the summer daylight being so much longer, it is harder to get to bed any earlier than that.
I also try to walk the dog for half an hour each evening (if we don’t go out) so I’m getting lots of exercise in.. Now if the weight would just come off I’d be a happy camper.
Yaay! I knew you could do it…just like I *know* you can do it again! Maybe not every day, but we’re not shooting for perfection here. :) Way to go!
(I’ve been walking at Audobon in the a.m. (10 or so) and it’s actually crowded! It helps that most of it is in the shade. *G*)
YAY!!!
A couple mornings each week I wake up at 6am to go for a half hour run. And I walk to work each morning; it takes me 50 minutes, but I like that by the time I’ve arrived at work I’ve already walked a few miles.
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congrats! i could never do that! and wow it’s that hot out there? soo lucky! its 62 here in sf and everyone’s wearing jackets.
Congrats! fantastic work! Now, just keep it up till it becomes habit/routine :)
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lol @ early morning workout surprise! I work out in the morning but not EARLY. lol. love my lie ins too much. I might give it a try though…
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I take to the road early in the morning in summer, but in winter I stick to the gym… and it’s not that early!
Well done! I had a rest day yesterday and felt cranky all day without my exercise…
LOL … you made me laugh with your surprised reaction!
WHEN I exercise I absolutely prefer mornings over evenings. I love the freshness of the new day and let’s face it, it’s nice to “get it over with” some days.
I agree … it energizes you for the day ahead.
Way to go, kiddo!
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I work out in the afternoons. I (mostly) work from home until August or so at which time my new office will open. So for now, I wake up, eat breakfast, ride my exercise bike, work, go to the gym, shower then finish work. By that time I feel so accomplished and happy! At that point I have the rest of the late afternoon and evening to enjoy myself. Yay!
I know that many prefer the gym in the morning, but I prefer going when it’s less crowded so I’ll do it while I can. :)
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great job. lately I have been enjoying am workouts. summertime morning is best for me.
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Very nice Great efforts to wake up early in the morning.I think it will be interesting experience to you. Nice post.
Eff waking up early to work out. For me, that is. Not you.
I already wake up at 4:20 AM four days a week. And I hate it.
I’ll be working out around 7:30 AM when I start my new shift. And that’s after work. Bleh.
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I was so so so so glad to see your comment yesterday about this!
yeah it does suck some mornings :) but Im never sorry I did it when its done.
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I am really happy to see you did it. Now, I have to ask, did you do it again today?
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@Steve
No I didn’t. I’m not trying to do it every morning since I’m still working out at night. Its just an extra jumpstart to the day, probably stick with MWF.
I am up and out the door by 5 am. Walking in the morning is the best! Good for you!
You are one of those amazing people who works out in the morning…….I am always amazed at how much self discipline this must take. You go girl.
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