Why do I find it hard to go to the gym first thing in the morning?

[grl]

Hi there, I really like going to the gym and think that it would be a great way to start the day by going to the gym early in the morning say about 7am. But the problem is that I have tried this a couple of times and find that I can't do as much as if I do it later in the day. I feel like my body isn't fully with it. Other people seem to be able to go to the gym in the morning and it annoys me that I can't. Any advice?

[Amadeus]

Going to gym is very difficult at first because it goes against the law of survival. Think about the motivation. Back in the day when we all had to hump all day just to grow and make the food we were in great shape. It was natural because if we didn't we would die. Your only motivation to work out in a gym is to look good and to be healthy, which actually is not a great motivation because it doesn't really help you survive that day, week, or year. You'll survive fine for now without exercizing. So, I would use deep meditation and think of all the great things that will come out of exercizing. Give your self a routine and complete it no matter what. Tell yourself that if you don't do the routine at the gym you plan to do, you can't eat for that day.

[mlc82]

I love working out, and I hate morning workouts as well. I just don't feel all there yet (I'm just NOT a morning person), don't have as much energy cause I haven't eaten much (maybe once, as opposed to working out in the afternoon after a good 3-4 meals- I eat like a bodybuilder), and so I stick with afternoon workouts now. Lifting weights in the morning didn't pump me up at all, it just left me feeling tired, weak, and angry for the day.

[Sam988]

I also have very low energy in the morning. I think that the body has to get used to waking up early and doing physical activities. I would suggest that try waking up early and going to the gym for 1 month and see how you will be responding after that.

[Rose of Cairo]

I love exercising/moving in the afternoon, or evening, or even night. I'm much more powerful then than in the morning. In the morning I love to sit at my desk and use my brain. I'm much more concentrated and productive intellectually in the early morning, whereas I have a strong need to move and use my muscles in the afternoon. So for me personally working out in the morning would be suboptimal, for both muscles and brain.

If you feel better with going to the gym later, why force yourself to go in the morning, just because in theory you think it would be good? That may work for other people, but you're not other people.

[grl]

Thank you for your replies. I think that I am going to stick to going in the afternoon. It works so I may as well stick with it

[Matthew Shea]

Morning workouts took some getting used to for me, but I'm fine with them now. If I had to work out in the afternoon or evening, it couldn't happen anymore due to my time commitments.

Personally, 15 minutes with a cup of coffee makes a huge difference in getting me going in the morning.

[C0282736]

Your body typically peaks in energy 4 and 10 hours after you wake. I find that those times are consistent with my motivation to work out.

[Master X]

Well people are weird. Were all just human beings and we all have our gym times just like we have our favorite food (if we have one).

[VacMan]

Here's an interesting article on CNN regarding the best time to workout:

CNN.com - Experts disagree on ideal time of day to exercise - Jan. 13, 2004

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by grl

Any advice?

You might be asking yourself the wrong question. The question you should probably ask is "How can I get myself to go to the gym in the morning?", not "Why can't I?". Huge difference.

[YazKMan]

I think it's because you are just starting your day and it takes a while for your brain activity to get pumping and for your body to get out of that sleep mode.

It also has to do with your mind, personal motivation, and willpower. I know how you feel since I went through that myself.

[ahimel]

You can do it, it just takes practice.

When I started working out first thing in the mornings, I found the same thing: I sucked. My muscles would not work, my body would not move, and I ran out of breath more-or-less instantly.

The trick is to ignore all that. Do the best workout you can, even though its not as good as you are used to. After a few weeks, your body realizes that you are serious, and gets into gear.

Or just keep working out in the afternoon. Just because morning workouts are best for me doesnt mean they are best for you.