AM workouts - yeah! Yeah?

Usually I prefer to hit the gym about 5:30, 6 pm. That's optimum Leslie-opens-a-can-of-whoopass-on-the-Stepmill time. I've been eating throughout the day so I've got energy, maybe a a lil' caffeine is still coursing through my veins, and then I can shower and head home for dinner fairly ravenous and just in time for Gossip Girl (lay off.)

But about a week ago I woke from a bad dream at 6am and was all sweaty and gross and didn't want to fall back asleep. I thought, "I can either lie here like a perimenopausal insomniac or I can do something productive with my time."

So I hit the gym.

OK, first of all, am I the only one who had no idea a whole other world exists comprised of people who rise and shine and run and Spin? I mean, I know some women workout before going to work but I thought they were some sort of ultra-dedicated, extra perky minority. No, no. As I pushed my bleary-eyed butt through the door to the locker room, I was shocked to see women who had already worked out, showered and were blowdyring their hair. It was like discovering the 7-1/2 floor in Being John Malkovitch. So much living going on while I had previously tossed and turned in my bed! (I should note that I have nasty sleep problems, which makes popping out of bed early in the morning a bit more appealing for me than the average gal who enjoys her slumber.)

My workout that a.m. was hard...felt a bit like, oh, don't know, pushing a baby jogging stroller uphill with the break on. But afterwards, I left the gym and the parking lot, which was dark and cold when I arrived, was flodded with early morning sunshine. It dawned on me that I had the whole day ahead of me...I felt so full of potential, I practically whipped my gym shoes up in the air and twirled around like Mary Tyler Moore in a Nike commercial.

For the next few days, I set my alarm at 6am (sorry, hubby!) and was back in the house by 8am, so Dan could have the car for the day and I could hit the 'bucks across the street to write. Now, one week later, I find myself actually waking up on my own (Saturday and I saw the clock flash "6:38 am" with no prodding other than my own body. I felt mildly geeky driving to the gym so early on a weekend but guess what? Packed. PACKED! Freaks, all of us.

So, I think this may be it for me. Get my cardio groove on early, work during the day and relax/cuddle/prank call my brother at night. Love it!

And yes, this does mean you can feel free to email me at the butt crack of dawn...you just might get a peppy response ;-)

Comments

Just worked out this morning! I find that if I don't go in the a.m., I invent more excuses not to go in the evening (e.g. my day at work sucked, I'd rather watch Grey's, I'm so tired). In the morning, the only battle is more sleep and instead, I just go to bed earlier to compensate.
I love it and plus, the gym is less crowded in the morning esp. after New Year's when everyone joins the gym!!

"But afterwards, I left the gym and the parking lot, which was dark and cold whe I arrived, was flodded with early morning sunshine"

The number one reason why I survived so many 430am swim practices and now hopefully spinning classes :) BTW I'm a Gossip Girl Fan too (shhh!)

Oh and MR - I totally agree. If I wait until evening to work out I have a million and one excuses in my head.

So jealous. I have to wake up at 5:30 am just to barely make it to work in the morning. I'm NOT getting up any earlier than that to go to the gym. I've done it before, when my commute didn't take as long, and my work day started later. The morning gym people are a whole different breed, way more hard core. But I definitely struggle with evening workouts and all the excuses that come to mind after 10 hours at the office.

A year ago I started taking a 6 am pilates class, feeling all virtuous 'cause I was up even before my kids.
Until I got to the gym, which was already packed. Then I saw the folks swimming in the outdoor pool, in the dark, and felt like a schlub.

Plus, our Saturday 8 am class is SO CROWDED! We ARE freaks. Pod people. (Sorry. I watched "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" again last night.)

I am a morning person in the summer when the sun rises at 6:00. Then I love to run in the mornings. These days it is dark when I can exercise. So it is me, my hand weights and the elliptical at 9 pm.

Hi Leslie,

I've never gotten into working out in the morning. Working out in the evening is great for me because that's when I would be more apt to overeat. So, my nighttime workouts accomplish 2 things - gives me a workout, but also pumps me up to take my mind off of eating just to eat.

I'd be willing to experiment with morning workouts, just to see how it would feel, but if it would make me hungrier during the day, I'd go right back to the evening schedule. ;)

I was up at 5:30am this morning to workout before my 8:30am class haha

I used to hate mornings and workout in the afternoon before dinner but once I started working out in the mornings I realized how much easier it made the rest of the day feel. None of this "When will I run after class?" or "ugh this day sucks I don't wanna have to change and go to the gym!" cause it was always done with =D

Working out in the morning is a great feeling, but only after you're done with it. I give props to all the members I see in the gym working out at 6 AM. I've tried it too, but I'm not a morning person (even though I train clients in the morning, go figure). I really like afternoon workouts around 1. That's when I'm at my best, but it does split my day up, so that kind of stinks. If you do work out in the morning, make sure you eat some carbs before. W/o eating before, you body will resort to burning off muscle for energy, which isn't good. Plus, you have a greater chance of becoming dizzy during your workout, which is no fun.

I split up my workouts.

I am a morning Cardio person. Running, biking etc.. that really gets my day started and I feel great.

Weights are strictly a nighttime activity for me. If I've done it properly, I am very tired and just want to rest. Plus I sleep like a baby.

I have tried doing the opposite and the results were not good.

I don't work out if I don't do it first thing in the morning. Too long of a commute, and way too many excuses!!! I go to sleep at 9 most nights so that I get a full 8 hours for my 5 am wake up.

I am impressed at the dedication of all of you morning exercisers. I have always been a night person, although the comment about the sun is a good point-I'm fine waking up early if there's some sun.

I wish I could be more of a morning person, but I just don't have it in me. When I do work out early in the day I find it much more difficult to warm up and the workout itself seems more arduous.