I am one of those weird people who love to work out. It is a habit that I developed in my early 20’s, and it has carried through to present day. While this is my reality, I understand that working out before work and staying consistent is not always the easiest thing to do.
The key to working out and achieving your fitness goals is developing a routine and sticking to it. Working out in the mornings is the most optimal time because it increases your metabolism and enhances your overall energy level.
It may not seem like it when the alarm clock goes off, but in time your body will begin to adjust and look forward to the morning workout routine.
How Do You Start Working Out Before Work?
For a long time, I was one of those people who woke up at 5 am and went to the gym. It felt great, but then life happened. I changed jobs, planned a wedding, and started a blog. Basically, things got real in a very short period of time, and all of my routines were shaken up. I found myself getting more and more out of my morning workout routine, but, I did not give up on working out (I had a wedding dress to fit into). Instead, I switched to working out in the evenings, but I quickly realized that evening work outs are not easy for me. They feel forced, and to be honest by the time I am done, I am just plain exhausted. So much for that rush of endorphins after hitting the gym.
As I write this post, I am slowly transitioning back into working out before work and doing home workouts some mornings. I have realized how much I dislike my alarm clock because I am still not a morning person. I have to remind myself of the reasons why I am doing this.
How do I do it? There is no time to procrastinate when you want to start working out before going to work. Because of this, I get up as soon as the alarm goes off, brush my teeth, get my clothes on, and get to it.
Goals of Working Out Before Work
- Improved health
- Continue to tone my body
- Increase my energy level
- Get more out of the day because working out in the morning means I am as free as a bird after the workday (insert summer drinks here)
- Get back in the habit of working out in the morning
- Continue to become a better morning person
- Other than looking good, exercise has many positive effects on the body. A good morning routine can help to improve the quality of sleep you get; it can also help you develop a sense of self-discipline because if you can successfully avoid hitting the snooze button, you can do ANYTHING!
More Benefits of Morning Workouts
- Helps to reduce stress
- Gives you more energy throughout the day
- Enables you to get fit and lose weight
- Makes you feel good
Working Out Before Work- How To Get Started
The key to any routine is consistency. Trust me; once you get consistent with this routine, you will be glad you did.
- Set your alarm to 30 – 35 minutes earlier than your usual wake up time
- Lay out your workout clothes the night before
- When the alarm goes off, get right out of bed, get dressed and get to it
- Plan your workouts the day before so that you are not wasting time figuring out what you are going to do
For the most part, when I do morning workouts, I do them at home, but my goal is to start back getting to the gym in the mornings because it is less crowded, and I can get the machines I want, score!
Setting Yourself Up for Success
Do not eat late at night and avoid the late night snack. Also, try not to drink heavily when you are planning to do a morning workout.
Get up 30 – 35 minutes earlier than your normal wake-up time. Do not hit the snooze button. If possible, go to bed 30 minutes early to offset your earlier wake-up time.
Plan your workouts. Create a workout plan to map out the days you are planning to work out and the routines you plan to do each morning for the week. If you are wondering how to create a workout plan, check out this guide to get started on creating your plan.
Be sure to eat after your workout.
I do not like to eat before I workout, especially when I am operating on limited time. Fasted workouts are better for my body, and I see results faster when I do this. However, I highly recommend that you eat a quick meal after your workout. In the spirit of preparation, try making some overnight oats.
Key Takeaways
- Plan your workout
- Get up early
- Complete your workout
- Do a happy dance because you did you, you prepared, woke up early, and crushed your workout.
And finally, the real reason you are here, the morning workouts
I have tried all of the workouts that I am suggesting here, and I can truthfully say that they work.
One disclaimer I would like to add about my fitness journey is that if I do four home workouts, I add at minimum two days in the gym that include heavy weight lifting sessions.
I think that it is very important for those of us who talk about fitness and give fitness tips to be truthful about the steps we take to achieve the bodies we have.
And finally, another disclaimer. If you are new to working out and have not had a routine, be sure to consult a physician before beginning any new routines. I do not want you to hurt yourself; I want you to be the healthy, strong, beautiful babe you are!
Always remember to stretch before and after each workout.
If you are more comfortable with beginner workouts, check out this post for a full week’s worth of exercises that you can do at home.
Don’t forget to leave a comment below and let me know how your routine is going.
Here are some of my favorite things to use when I workout at home.
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