How do you guys do it?

[cakebaker]

Working out early will help you wake up

For those of you that get up early and work out. How do you do it? How do you get up early, work out, and function for the rest of the day?

I get up every weekday morning at 4 a.m. and don't get home till a little after 2 p.m. I come home, work out, take my shower and then I'm done. I have no energy left to do anything for the rest of the evening. My body aches, it's like I had all the energy just zapped right out of me.

Does anyone else feel like this?

Working out early makes me feel better for the rest of the day, whereas working out later makes me feel better later. I'd rather feel good and awake ALL day! Once you get into the habit of working out early, it's not so bad, and you'll love getting it over with early. Nothing will get in the way for the rest of the day like it does sometimes when you work out later.

 

[crazystepr]

I feel the same way as cakebaker. Working out in the morning is like my coffee now. I honestly can't function during the day if I don't do it. I never, ever sleep very much or very well so it is harder than hard for me to get out of bed, but once I do, I never, ever regret it. I always lay out my clothes next to my bed the night before and have everything all set up for my workout. All I do is roll out of bed, blindly put on my workout clothes, brush my teeth, put in my contacts and I'm good to go.

Yesterday I didn't get up to workout. I just couldn't do it. And I swear to you not only was I beyond exhausted all day but I felt so icky. It's amazing to me how much working out in the morning affects my day. I HAVE to be downstairs by 5:30am (at the absolute LATEST) to get my workout in on time and some days it's harder than others to get up and get down there (today and Tuesday it wasn't too bad) but when my alarm goes off at the butt-crack of dawn I open my eyes and think about how is how awful I'll feel all day if I don't get my workout in. Like another poster said, I'm usually still half asleep and yawing like crazy through the warmup but then my mind and body kick in and I get down to business and have a great time.

I don't get home from work until 6pm so it's hard to fit in a workout at night. Yesterday when I got home I sat on my couch for a few minutes debating whether or not to work out and I finally convinced myself to get changed and do it. Working out for me has such an affect on my mood, it's ridiculous. I'm crabby, exhausted, anxious, and in a general bad mood if I don't. I felt SOOOOOOOOO much better last night after I worked out.

So, anyway, that's how I do it. It's a constant, daily mind game with myself. I'm always telling myself how good I'll feel when I'm done. Since the day I started working out (I was 15 years old) that feeling of accomplishment and contentment has been so powerful and uplifting. I feel like I can take on the world once I've spent my time with Cathe (or Grace ).

Hang in there. Dial down your workouts for now--either shorten the time or lower the intensity. Working out is all about making yourself feel BETTER--not worse.

 

[celestialtimes]

Deana, there's a lot of horse country in Florida...I have a Good friend that lives in Varo Beach...she wants me to come down come horse sales...I can't leave my babies...are you kidding.

My mom is a TB trainer and I used to board at the track...Free...I would get up at 4, drive to Bowie, half hour, spend about 2 hours...go to my full time job...come home...workout...then pass out...but I only did that 2 days a week and on weekends...I couldn't pull it off more than that...OH yeah...and I sailed 2 nights a week.

I gave up sailing when I moved my horse to a farm...then...met my husband...and the rest is history...Now I live on the farm...I have 2 horses and I think 10 others at the moment live there...sometimes we have up to 24 horses...gets kind of crazy.

Many folks say I was conceived on a horse...My mom was the first women to be a Owner, jockey and a trainer. Now, she's just a trainer...sometimes an owner...

When I tell you I'm tired...I'm seriously tired and you should make me go home and go to bed. Which is what I'd like to do if Hubby weren't home painting and tearing up my house...but I want to ride tonight...weather allowing.

 

[celestialtimes]

OMG...me too! My DH calls it my coffee. I don't drink coffee...but my days off are Saturdays and he really notices the difference if I don't workout. So, I at least go for a walk with the dogs on Saturday...to make it better for him.

 

[celestialtimes]

That's exactly how I feel!

I think I would be exhausted in the evening whether I worked out in the evening or not. I know that if I tried to work out in the evening, it'd have a pretty good chance of not happening. Who knows, maybe try to switch to mornings for a while (a solid week or so, enough to get over the initial shock) and see if you feel different after a morning workout.

I think I'm physically exhausted after a workout, but mentally I'm pumped for the rest of the day and that takes over. I think I'm sort of emotionally dependent on getting that natural high first thing in the morning.

Of course depression and sleep meds are powerful things- who knows what else they're affecting in your brain. When you said Ambien I admit I thought 'bingo'. Of course I'm not a doctor or an insomniac, and if you turn into a total zombie without it obviously that's no good. Do you think it's a permanent condition, or do you think it'll ever be possible for you to wean yourself off of it?

I worked first shift (5 am) for years, so I understand what it's like when your 5 pm feels like everybody else's 9 pm. I don't blame you for feeling exhausted after working out that "late".

Oh my on the depression Meds...I've been there...I got off them as soon as I could, but I do know that sometimes you just have to give in to taking the meds.

I was divorced a few years ago...and just the upheaval and change was tough...it took a while.

I've learned that when things are tough I make sure I do workouts I really really really enjoy...I get so much out of punching the air. I pretend I see co workers faces...family member faces...or darn near anyone that ticks me off...smile.

 

[celestialtimes]

I feel the same way as cakebaker. Working out in the morning is like my coffee now. I honestly can't function during the day


Working out for me has such an affect on my mood, it's ridiculous. I'm crabby, exhausted, anxious, and in a general bad mood if I don't. I felt SOOOOOOOOO much better last night after I worked out.

So, anyway, that's how I do it. It's a constant, daily mind game with myself. I'm always telling myself how good I'll feel when I'm done. Since the day I started working out (I was 15 years old) that feeling of accomplishment and contentment has been so powerful and uplifting. I feel like I can take on the world once I've spent my time with Cathe (or Grace ).



Very big DITTO here!

 

[JennieR]

I work out for about an hour to an hour and ten minutes every day. I never thought about only doing 30 minutes. I know if I do that I'll feel like I really haven't worked out. I guess I feel like I have to torture myself in order to get a good work out.

By doing less intense work outs does that mean not doing Cathe work outs? I have a couple of work outs from Tracey and Amy, but I don't enjoy them as much as I do Cathe.

I'm going to give the 30 minutes of working out a try and see how I feel. I hope it gives me more energy.

 

[JennieR]

Of course depression and sleep meds are powerful things- who knows what else they're affecting in your brain. When you said Ambien I admit I thought 'bingo'. Of course I'm not a doctor or an insomniac, and if you turn into a total zombie without it obviously that's no good. Do you think it's a permanent condition, or do you think it'll ever be possible for you to wean yourself off of it?

No, I don't think that's an option. I went for a couple of years dealing with insomnia before the Dr.'s found out exactly what my problem was. I'm pretty sure it's a permanent condition.

 

[crazystepr]

Jennie--Cathe has a lot of workouts that aren't killer. Her Supersets/PP workout is great, and CTX might really work well for you. Each workout is under an hour and they're not crazy intense but they leave you feeling really satisfied and like you accomplished a lot.

Some of her older, steady state step workouts are great too. Cardio Hits is a great one, as are The Classics. You can also tone down a lot of her harder workouts by not doing so much high impact or not using as heavy weights, or cutting the workouts short. I really like Rhythmic Step for a nice steady state workout and Imax 3 has a step combos-only premix so you're not killing yourself on the blasts.

Just a few thoughts for ya...

 

[JennieR]

Allison, I just did RS yesterday. I was exhausted after that work out. I feel like such a wuss.

My next work out I'm going to go lighter with my weights and see how I feel afterwards. And for cardio, I'll only do half the work out.

 

[crazystepr]

Allison, I just did RS yesterday. I was exhausted after that work out. I feel like such a wuss.

quote]

Don't feel like a wuss, Jennie! That's a long, hard workout! If I were you, I'd do the warmup and only the first and/or second combos. Even I'm pooped after that one!

 

[celestialtimes]

Allison, I just did RS yesterday. I was exhausted after that work out. I feel like such a wuss.

My next work out I'm going to go lighter with my weights and see how I feel afterwards. And for cardio, I'll only do half the work out.

Maybe you need a rest week. An hour of Yoga or something on your weight days. I had to take a rest week last week. I was feeling tired and run down...my shoulder was hurting a little too! Rest week did it for me. I was feeling pretty good till I stayed up too late on Monday watching Country star. Ugh.

My rest week was full of kickboxing...

 

[JennieR]

Allison, I just did RS yesterday. I was exhausted after that work out. I feel like such a wuss.

quote]

Don't feel like a wuss, Jennie! That's a long, hard workout! If I were you, I'd do the warmup and only the first and/or second combos. Even I'm pooped after that one!

While I was doing that work out I kept thinking to myself FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, WHEN IS IT GOING TO BE OVER.

 

[crazystepr]

I think the same way about ALL my workouts! "WHEN IS THIS GONNA BE OVER?!?!?!?" haha

But the feeling I have when I'm done--specifically that feeling of accomplishment--is what keeps me going until the end.

Also, I agree with the above poster. It sounds like you need a rest week desperately, darlin'. You sound exhausted both physically and emotionally. Remember--working out should be at least a little bit fun and enjoyable, right?

 

[JennieR]

Maybe you need a rest week. An hour of Yoga or something on your weight days. I had to take a rest week last week. I was feeling tired and run down...my shoulder was hurting a little too! Rest week did it for me. I was feeling pretty good till I stayed up too late on Monday watching Country star. Ugh.

My rest week was full of kickboxing...

That does sound like a good idea. The only problem with that is I can't "afford" a rest week. Since I quit smoking I've gained back all the weight I lost since 2004. Maybe Yoga is the answer. I do have one tape that has 3 different yoga segments on it. I could give that a try.

 

[intensityjunkie]

I would get up at 4, drive to Bowie, half hour, spend about 2 hours...go to my full time job...come home...workout...then pass out...but I only did that 2 days a week and on weekends...I couldn't pull it off more than that...OH yeah...and I sailed 2 nights a week.

I gave up sailing when I moved my horse to a farm...then...met my husband...and the rest is history...Now I live on the farm...I have 2 horses and I think 10 others at the moment live there...sometimes we have up to 24 horses...gets kind of crazy.

You know I always thought I'd get horses one day... now I'm not so sure if it requires waking up super early! lol.

I'm starting to think maybe I'll try mornings for a week or so and see how it goes. I think it may be nice to get it knocked out and not think about it the rest of the day. Instead of thinking all day "I need to workout tonight". I've gotten used to it though and DH has the kids for me.

 

[celestialtimes]

You know I always thought I'd get horses one day... now I'm not so sure if it requires waking up super early! lol.

I'm starting to think maybe I'll try mornings for a week or so and see how it goes. I think it may be nice to get it knocked out and not think about it the rest of the day. Instead of thinking all day "I need to workout tonight". I've gotten used to it though and DH has the kids for me.

Ahh, but see if you board your horses with a sucker like me...you don't have to get up early...someone sucker "like Me" takes care of your horse for you...

I wouldn't give it up for the world. The girl that boards here comes in the evening...sometimes as late as 8 or 9 pm.