Mar 10

Mar 10 6 tips for becoming a morning workout person

When I tell people I wake up at 5-5:30am every day to go to the gym before work their first response is typically “Why?!?” followed by “I could never do that!” Believe me, I used to feel the same way and despite how much I loved the feeling after a good morning workout, I constantly struggled with creating a routine I could actually stick to. Now, 5+ years into my fitness journey, I’ve finally figured out a system that gets me to the gym consistently 4-5 days a week, and I’ve never felt healthier or happier! For me, working out in the morning improves so many other aspects of my life; I make healthier eating decisions, it gives me an incredible energy boost, and I just overall feel happier on the days where I get a good pre-work sweat in. So, I thought I would share some tricks I’ve learned throughout the years that have helped create consistency in my morning workout routine.

Pack your bag the night before
When you start challenging yourself to wake up earlier, the last thing you want to do is waste precious minutes (aka minutes you could be sleeping) trying to figure out what to wear or make sure you have everything you need for the day. I shower at the gym and head straight to work, so for me, this means I pick out my entire outfit the night before, pack it in my gym bag and make sure my work bag is ready to go. I have a small locker at the gym where I keep my makeup, hair tools and toiletries, but if you don’t have a locker and you plan on getting ready at the gym - make sure those are packed as well!
I put everything in my Lululemon duffel (shown above). I love their bags for the thoughtful design (lots of well-placed pockets) and durability! I’ve used mine everyday for over 2 years and it hasn’t shown the slightest bit of wear.
Keep a similar sleep schedule (if you can) on most weekends
One of the most difficult things about waking up early during the week is the effect it can have on your weekend sleep schedule (and vice versa). Since moving to a consistent early rise during the week, I have a hard time staying up late on weekends and I naturally wake up by pretty much 6am. I’ve concluded that I’m just going to be a brunch getter, adventure seeker, and couch resident on the weekends, and for special occasions or the rare weekend night I actually go out, I’ll use a little extra caffeine to keep me going. On most weekends, my sleep schedule only shifts back by an hour or so, which makes Monday mornings so much easier.
Find a morning drink/shake/meal that works for you
I won’t be able to tell you what pre workout breakfast will work best for you, as it’s definitely a very individual thing, but I can tell you what I do in the morning and give you a few things to try. For me, I don’t to eat anything before I work out in the mornings, because there’s a pretty short window between when I wake up & when I hit the weights. I like to drink pre-workout in the morning, which is a type of supplement geared towards preparing your muscles for a workout (with a decent dose of caffeine). I drink this on an empty stomach mixed with a large bottle of water on the drive to the gym. Here are some pre workout supplements I like: Alani Nu Pre Workout & Jim Stoppani’s Pre Jym.

After my workout, I drink a protein shake on my walk to work - my favorite is RivalUS Promasil, it has BEST chocolate flavor I’ve ever tried and a nice blend of proteins that break down at different rates, so I stay full longer than I would with a pure whey protein. For those who need a little something in their stomach before a workout, I’d suggest eating a light snack at least 30 minutes before your workout like a banana with peanut butter or greek yogurt topped with granola.
Start with a scalable warmup
When I first get to the gym, I have a hard time jumping straight into the weight room, so I like to warm up on the bike for 10 minutes. I can start out pretty easy while I’m still waking up and then as my pre-workout starts to kick in and I’m ready to go, I turn up the intensity to get me ready for the rest of my workout. I often use this time on the bike to plan my workout for the day so that I have a game plan when I hit the weight room. If cardio machines are your jam, great! If not, try doing some active stretching, a few laps around the track or some body weight movements to warm up.
Buddy up to hold yourself accountable
This is probably the most frequently given tip for getting into a gym routine, but that’s because it works! Sean (my fiancé) and I go to the gym together, so we’re great at holding each other accountable. When one person is having a groggy morning and can’t seem to stop hitting snooze, the other one will get up and turn the lights on (brutal, but it works). If he were to go without me and I didn’t have a legit excuse for not joining him (i.e. being sick/having an unusually late night) I would likely wake up with him anyways and then just feel guilty for not going. So whether its your SO, your BFF, or a new friend you meet at the gym, use each other to hold yourselves accountable! You also don’t have to do the same workout as the other person either, just their presence alone will make a huge difference in getting yourself out of bed!
Just go, even if you wake up late
As you’re getting into a routine, it’s so easy to fall into the trap of waking up a few minutes later than your alarm and saying “Well if I go now, I’ll only have 30 minutes so it’s not worth it.. I’ll just go tomorrow.” Don’t do this! Even if you wake up late and you’ll only have time for 10 minutes of cardio and 10 minutes of circuit training, that’s still 20 minutes at the gym you wouldn’t get otherwise. It can be frustrating to not have enough time to get a good workout in, but even 10-15 minutes is better than nothing and it will do wonders to help you build the self-discipline it takes to be an early bird gym goer!