become a morning workout person

BeWell.Active

Not a Morning Workout Person? You Can Be!
Adapted from Women’s Health Magazine, January 2013

Getting up before the sun to go sweat your butt off can be seriously daunting, even if you’re already an early bird. These six steps can help you make sure your early morning sweat session happens!

#1 – Get it ready.
When you finish your daily workout and throw your sweaty clothes in the hamper, set aside a new exercise outfit…including socks, sports bra, ponytail holder, everything you need. Digging through your dresser drawers in the pre-dawn hours is no fun. It’s much easier to have an outfit ready to go.

#2 – Force yourself out of bed.
Move your alarm clock across the room. By forcing yourself to jump out of bed to silence the dreaded buzzer, you’re forcing yourself to wake up quicker. And once you’re already up you might as well go work out, right?

#3 – Hydrate.
A glass of wine (or two) at dinner can be a great way to unwind at the end of a long day, but even a small amount of alcohol can make your sluggish the next morning. If you do end up having a drink the night before, make sure to drink extra water before you go to bed so you’re not dehydrated during your morning workout.

#4 – Go to bed.
Once you’re in the routine of waking up early, you will start going to bed earlier. But if you need a little coaxing, try Sleepytime Extra tea from Celestial Seasonings – it contains valerian, a mild sedative and trusted as a natural sleep aid since the days of the Greeks and Romans.

#5 – Make friends.
After the first couple months of keeping up a morning workout routine, it can be easy to slip up and “forget” to go to the gym for a week. Making friends at the gym can help keep you motivated and help you stick to your routine. Set regular gym dates with a friend, or get to know another gym-goer who will be looking for you in the morning.

#6 – Make a plan.

Early morning workouts are much easier when you make a plan the night before. Sign up for a spin class the night before, or bring a printable workout guide for inspiration.