For those of you who wake up every morning and have enough energy to actually start cardio rather than using that hour for more sleep - what do you do mentally to get up and do it? I can't do it!!

I've been trying for 2 or 3 weeks now. ill go to bed at 10, wake up at 6, and then go back to sleep until 7 or 8. lack of sleep isnt my problem - its a lack of motivation.

During the day i have plenty of energy and motivation - just no time.

Maybe if someone wants to start a challenge with me, i dunno...

ideas?

As much as I'd like to help you, I can't do it either... Maybe once I get our new treadmill I'll have more motivation, at least at first (try out the new toy), then maybe I'll get into the habit of it.

Maybe put a loud annoying alarm in the room you do cardio in, lol... then you HAVE TO get up and go there.

I found the best help is the support of someone else. My fiance and I both want to get into shape. There are days she doesnt want to go and I push her. Today I didnt want to go but she pushed me. I'd seriously probably be in the same boat if I didnt have her. I guess you just got to want it. So ask yourself... do you?

Lucky - do a challenge with me!

i have a very addictive personality for compitition, so i'll go all out if there's a challenge.


[Putting my alarm clock across the room might help also.]



As much as I'd like to help you, I can't do it either... Maybe once I get our new treadmill I'll have more motivation, at least at first (try out the new toy), then maybe I'll get into the habit of it.

Maybe put a loud annoying alarm in the room you do cardio in, lol... then you HAVE TO get up and go there.

Lucky - do a challenge with me!

Tell you what, as soon as I get our treadmill I will do a challenge with you. Each morning we'll race to see who posts first, or at least to see if both of us post.

I only do cardio on Tues and Thurs though...

I definatly want to do it! (right now that is)

When i wake up though - here is my thought process every morning...

"whoa! alarm... shut off alarm... why did i have alarm? ok, i should put on my long underwear and go running... maybe i should make my bed so i can wake up a little first... wait - a free hour? maybe i should just get another hour of sleep and eat healthy during the day!... zzzzz....."


I found the best help is the support of someone else. My fiance and I both want to get into shape. There are days she doesnt want to go and I push her. Today I didnt want to go but she pushed me. I'd seriously probably be in the same boat if I didnt have her. I guess you just got to want it. So ask yourself... do you?

This is why one of the best pieces of advice I've heard/read was "the best time to do it is when you will do it!"

Of course the best time to do cardio is probably fasted state first thing in the morning. But doing it later in the day is probably better than not doing it at all.

Since I'm bulking I rarely do cardio now anyway. I do it when I am able to get my butt out of bed in the morning, and I take the dog for a long, fast-walk in the neighborhood. Then I do my weight lifting in the early evening. To make up for it I often find myself doing cardio on the weekends (no weights for me on Saturday and Sunday unless I missed a day during the week).

Tell you what, as soon as I get our treadmill I will do a challenge with you. Each morning we'll race to see who posts first, or at least to see if both of us post.

I only do cardio on Tues and Thurs though...
Not a bad idea there.

Getting out of bed is harder than anything I do in the morning. It's harder than 45 minutes of cardio. Harder than going outside into the cold. Harder than prepping my food. It is the single biggest obstacle I face.

As you're laying there, the alarm on "snooze"... try this. Think of your biggest problem area. Grab as much as you can of that trouble spot. Remember this:

Every day I don't get out of bed is another day I have to carry this with me.

If I have trouble getting out of bed, that's what I remind myself of. It works.

-R

This is going to sound harsh, however I am not saying it to be rude. YOU have to want it. When the alarm goes off you have a choice to make. You can either choose to lay in bed and sleep another hour and stay fat and unhealthy or you can choose that you are going to workout to improve you health and weight.

From the sound of it you may want to workout and get healthy, but you are putting more value in your sleep and not your workout. Remember, only you can get up and do it. People on this board can say all they want about how to help you, but only you can actually get up an do it.

I definatly agree with everything you said.

20 or 30 lbs ago - it was all about "i need to look like brad pitt" and i was very very very dedicated. but when when i got down to 12% bodyfat - i already looked so much better, and being motivated to go further instead of getting more sleep is alot tougher.

This is going to sound harsh, however I am not saying it to be rude. YOU have to want it. When the alarm goes off you have a choice to make. You can either choose to lay in bed and sleep another hour and stay fat and unhealthy or you can choose that you are going to workout to improve you health and weight.

From the sound of it you may want to workout and get healthy, but you are putting more value in your sleep and not your workout. Remember, only you can get up and do it. People on this board can say all they want about how to help you, but only you can actually get up an do it.

I'm a morning person, so I have zero troubles getting out of bed and into the gym for my morning cardio. I'd rather do something productive than sit on my ass getting fatter :)

Lucky - sounds good! from looking at your media galary pix, it looks like we're in about the same position right now. we could do something like.. by march 1st, whoever's drop in fat% is lower, etc.

When do you anticipate getting a treadmill?

i think this idea will really help both of us! :nod:


Tell you what, as soon as I get our treadmill I will do a challenge with you. Each morning we'll race to see who posts first, or at least to see if both of us post.

I only do cardio on Tues and Thurs though...

i need to look like your avator


I'm a morning person, so I have zero troubles getting out of bed and into the gym for my morning cardio. I'd rather do something productive than sit on my ass getting fatter :)

Right now my goal is to pretty much maintain my current BF% and get big muscle gains.

First goal is to go from cold flexed 14" arms to 16" arms, and eventually to 18" arms :D

I'm up for a 'challenge' or just some motivation... what are you goals?

Get a dog to push you! That has helped me alot.
Also, going to sleep earlier is going to help in the long run by changing the sleeping rhytm. Imagine a situation in which you can't get more sleep at 6am because your inner clock says it's day already and the time to be all active and sporty! :)
Just go to sleep one or two hours earlier than now and you'll notice the difference in a week or so.

Lucky:
My goal right now is just to get down to 8% body fat. After that, i'll start bulking.

Jasd:
Right now going to bed earlier than 10pm isnt quite possible. I have class mon/wed until 9:45. Im graduating feb 26, so anything's possible then.

I think a simple challenge would be enough to get me running in the morning.

Right now my goal is to pretty much maintain my current BF% and get big muscle gains.

First goal is to go from cold flexed 14" arms to 16" arms, and eventually to 18" arms :D

I'm up for a 'challenge' or just some motivation... what are you goals?

How about this for a challenge?

Figure out the number of morning cardio sessions you want to do from the time the challenge starts (when lucky gets his machine) til the time it ends (march 1st, i guess).

Make a post at the start of the challenge saying which days you are planning on doing your morning cardio (for lucky, every tues and thurs, for you maybe more).

Then every morning you are supposed to do your cardio, get up, do it, and upon returning post that you did it.

Then when the challenge ends, see how many days you wanted to do cardio. See how many you actually did. Calculate the percentage of times you went when you should have. Whoever has the higher percentage wins. If you both get 100%, you both win.

If you decide to make march 1st the end of the challenge and decide you want to do it again, I'll be cutting then, so i'd be up for jumping into the challenge then.

so do i... i'm a fatass right now, up around 20% :( Give me a few months and I'll make my avatar look like poo...

i need to look like your avator

Sounds good!

We should have the new treadmill this weekend, I'll let you know.

For those of you that have a mobile phone with voice recording possibilities, record a 'motivational' message to yourself that will remind you of your goals, aims, etc. Set this as your alarm tone and then use your phone as an alarm clock (if possible.) Every morning you will be reminded, by yourself, why you are doing what your doing.

heh, i doubt this would work for me. Every morning when i wake up, i specifically remember every goal i have, and why im supposed to be running. It doesn't do any good - i just tell myself that i look fine and that i dont need to look any better, and go back to sleep.

I think the challenge is the only thing that will work. (short of having someone put a gun to my head when i wake up)


For those of you that have a mobile phone with voice recording possibilities, record a 'motivational' message to yourself that will remind you of your goals, aims, etc. Set this as your alarm tone and then use your phone as an alarm clock (if possible.) Every morning you will be reminded, by yourself, why you are doing what your doing.

The challenge: Morning Cardio Challenge

http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showthread.php?t=12155

I live an hour west of Madison. Do I need to drive to milwaukee every morning and drag your ass outta bed?! Huh?

heh, i doubt this would work for me. Every morning when i wake up, i specifically remember every goal i have, and why im supposed to be running. It doesn't do any good - i just tell myself that i look fine and that i dont need to look any better, and go back to sleep.

I think the challenge is the only thing that will work. (short of having someone put a gun to my head when i wake up)

Hey whoareume, do you like music? Is there any song - any one at all that inspires you to move? :whistle: May sound like a silly suggestion but I know exactly what you are going through. [Well, my "un"motivation had a lot to do with me being very depressed about my weight though, and it does not sound to me like you are depressed at all] - but something that has really motivated me are some inspirational lyrics with some rhythmic beats behind it. If I give myself a few minutes to wake up and "adjust to the light" so to speak, then - even if I do NOT want to, I turn on that song(s,) and.... well before you know it I am snappin' and moving a little, then I get motivated to do something.

Now keep in mind I am quite a novice at all this - these other guys have MUCH more experience, but when I read your post I just had to toss my two little cents in! I hope that helps!

God Bless Ya!
-Donna Lynn

Two things - focus on it before going to bed - write it as a goal - after a few weeks getting up will be second nature. I think you just need to string together a few days in a row and you will be fine.

Like the other poster stated - maybe its not important enough for you. Perhaps you are growing content with how you look/feel? I would define new goals and visualization to drive you. Treat each day as a gift and one not to be wasted. Get a sense of urgency.

Sorry 3rd thing - BE CAREFUL - don't be niave about how easy it is to fall off the wagon and be back to where you once were. I have seen people gain 30 pounds in a month by putting off things for tomorrow or monday or next month or next year lol
I just would hate to see your hard work wasted.

So here is the challenge:- tomorrow is the last Jan 25,2005 that you will EVER have. GET YOUR ASS OUT OF BED!!

:)

I think this is probably the best challenge you can possibly get, right here!

Where's SwoleCat when you need him? He's always good for motivation....even if it is absolute fear of arms that are as large as many people's legs.... :eek:



So here is the challenge:- tomorrow is the last Jan 25,2005 that you will EVER have. GET YOUR ASS OUT OF BED!!

:)

Have you tried setting your alarm an extra 30 minutes early? Then you can snooze several times and still not be late for your cardio. I remember when I was single, I used to set my alarm an hour early and gradually wake up while snoozing. Now my wife would kill me if I tried it. The only problem is losing a little sleep, but think of the benefits. Good Luck!

http://www.fallingawake.com/

I haven't checked out most of this site but I have been using the free wake up call service for about 2 years. Basically, you type in what you want the call to say then it calls you at the time you want and plays what you typed. For me it has been a lifesaver because I am horrible about getting up. My wife and I joke about the "boobytraps" we set for each other the each night to get us up each morning. 2 alarm clocks, 2 wakeup calls, computer automaticlly playing a local radio station with news and traffic, TV coming on etc. We like to mix them up so you never know where to go to shut off the sound. By the time you figure it out you're conscious.

Like I said I'm not endorsing or condemning anything on the above website except the wakeup call.

The hardest part of the day is taking my foot out of the bed and putting it on the floor. Once it hits the floor, I head to the basement for a workout. I'm in the habit of moving my foot out of the bed when the alarm goes off. All workouts start with one step. Make your first step be from the bed to the floor.

I find that if I make myself get up when the alarm goes off and go to the bathroom (which I NEED to do in the morning anyway) and turn on a light (this is VERY important)... if I do all of that, I usually stay up and get to the gym for my cardio... if I hit snooze and climb back in bed... I'm NOT going to get up... I'll just keep hitting snooze until I need to get up for work... the trick is just to make yourself move, even if you don't want to, after a few weeks it'll be so natural to just get up that you won't even notice how early it is... of course then you have day's like today that were just tooooo damn cold to get up out from under the warm covers ;-)~ hehe

thx for all the advice. im about to go to bed. I have an alarm set up across the room so i will have to get out of bed to turn it off. Plus i have 2 challenges started!

Ill let you know how it works. (It needs to work, not an option.)

i hear rocky music in my head right now as i type

:spaz:

I find that if I make myself get up when the alarm goes off and go to the bathroom (which I NEED to do in the morning anyway) and turn on a light (this is VERY important)... if I do all of that, I usually stay up and get to the gym for my cardio... if I hit snooze and climb back in bed... I'm NOT going to get up... I'll just keep hitting snooze until I need to get up for work... the trick is just to make yourself move, even if you don't want to, after a few weeks it'll be so natural to just get up that you won't even notice how early it is... of course then you have day's like today that were just tooooo damn cold to get up out from under the warm covers ;-)~ hehe

thx for all the advice. im about to go to bed. I have an alarm set up across the room so i will have to get out of bed to turn it off. Plus i have 2 challenges started!

Ill let you know how it works. (It needs to work, not an option.)

i hear rocky music in my head right now as i type

:spaz:


I think I'm going to join in on this challenge... I've been pretty lazy lately where my morning cardio is concered... I made it this morning so I guess I'm 1/1 ;-)~

I did the bit where you go to bed earlier and earlier. For two solid weeks I beat my self up every day at lunch time - when I could have been relaxing with my friends at work and eating casually - I was at the gym working out.

Went to bed 20 minutes earlier....
Snoozed....

Rinse repeat for two weeks.

Then I started surfing the web just before bed - it relaxes me and I always make it a point to look at some pics of people on this site who have really made it happen (if they can do - I know I can too) - and you know what - past two days in a row I've bounced up out of bed refreshed at 5am - and with nothing better to do - got out there and did it.

You may be someone like me who needs more than the 8 hours they say - If I don't get 9 hours at least 4-5 times a week - I feel like you in the mornings. Work on pulling that bedtime in a little at a time - bet you'll be suprised. :gl:

After this morning, i dont think there is anything possible to get me up in the morning and running. ill try again tomorrow...

this will seem weird, but i almost think getting my girlfriend to breakup with me is the only thing that'll work. I got into shape in the first place to get a beautiful girl, and then stopped working out. so i think if you take that away, i will do it again. we havnt been dating too long (1 or 2 months now)... i dunno, its inhumane to even consider this because of the feelings involved. i dont think id actually do it, just food for thought. :spaz:

Alright, this is probably going to be rude, but so be it....If you can't get yourself motivated for one single day, then I don't think there's anything that anyone on a message board is going to be able to do. You have to want this, and if you don't, the whole idea is pointless. Suck it up, start getting out of bed, do your cardio....or stop your complaining!


After this morning, i dont think there is anything possible to get me up in the morning and running. ill try again tomorrow...

this will seem weird, but i almost think getting my girlfriend to breakup with me is the only thing that'll work. I got into shape in the first place to get a beautiful girl, and then stopped working out. so i think if you take that away, i will do it again. we havnt been dating too long (1 or 2 months now)... i dunno, its inhumane to even consider this because of the feelings involved. i dont think id actually do it, just food for thought. :spaz:

Ya i know what you mean. i was just giving a status update so-to-speak. Next time send a private message tho :)

I'll get up and out there eventually - hopefully tomorrow will be that time! Just gotta keep trying.

Y Just gotta keep trying.

No, you gotta stop trying and start doing.

Alright, this is probably going to be rude, but so be it....If you can't get yourself motivated for one single day, then I don't think there's anything that anyone on a message board is going to be able to do.

I have to disagree with you. Sometimes stupid gimmicks like this, although they may seem silly, can be the answer. If 5 days from now he's at 0/5 and it was a challenge HE started, he might feel so ashamed or embarassed that he'll all of a sudden become motivated.

No, you gotta stop trying and start doing.

Kind of reminds me of the Matrix... "Stop trying to hit me, and hit me!".. or something like that.

BPS - exactly.

NEdge - if i dont go running tomorrow, i give you my word that ill send you a check for 100$ in the mail.

THAT should make me go running.

No, you gotta stop trying and start doing.

couldn't agree more!
good luck!

No, you gotta stop trying and start doing.

couldn't agree more!
good luck!

same here! him yelling at me made me take off work in the middle of the day to go running 4 miles.

proves that when you dont have motivation - you need someone to yell at you.

well.. I really didn't want to drag my sorry butt out of bed this morning for cardio.. but I did... I accidentally didn't put a cup under my one cup coffee maker and may have broken it :( damnit.. but I still made it to the gym to do my cardio :p

I'm 2 for 2 ;)

so come on wh0areume, if I can make my lazy butt do it when I really would rather stay under the warm covers.. you can do it too ;-)

I will from now on. I just had to get my bio-clock reset for 6 instead of 8. I'm 1.5/2.



well.. I really didn't want to drag my sorry butt out of bed this morning for cardio.. but I did... accidentally didn't put a cup under my one cup coffee maker and may have broken it :( damnit.. but I still made it to the gym to do my cardio ;-)~

I'm 2 for 2 ;-)

so come on wh0areume, if I can make my lazy butt do it when I really would rather stay under the warm covers.. you can do it too ;-)

I will from now on. I just had to get my bio-clock reset for 6 instead of 8. I'm 1.5/2.


sooooooooooooo... did you get your morning cardio in today?? I did.. wasn't quite as hard to get up this morning as it was yesterday... I'm 3 for 3 ;-)

No i didnt due to an allnighter i had to pull for school.

See the "Morning Cardio Challenge" for day-to-day updates.


sooooooooooooo... did you get your morning cardio in today?? I did.. wasn't quite as hard to get up this morning as it was yesterday... I'm 3 for 3 ;-)

reading this thread made me realize how goddam stupid it is that my alarm is set for 6:30am and I lay there and hit the snooze button for 1.5-2 hours. no wonder I feel like crap this week... I might as well set it for 8:30 and put it across the room because I'll get a lot more actual sleep that way.

either that or I'll get up at 7 and get on the elliptical but odds are slim.

Are you SURE you are getting enough sleep? I need 8.5-9hrs some nights because I don't sleep soundly. Mostly due to my allergies.

Of course, to make sure I wake up I found the worst music station in the area (finding bad is easy since I am in dc and they all SUCK.) Then turn it up loud.

If you really want to annoy yourself, not only put it across the room. Take off the snooze button. So when it starts going off, you have no choice and have 60 minutes of BAD music. Then you have to get the heck out of the house to escape it.

Yeah, everyone will hate you but it will work !

Try getting a Light Alarm - instead of being woken up abruptly by a normal alarm it wakes you up gently with a natural light that gradually increases in stregnth - mine has a built in alarm function just in case the light doesn't wake you up but I've never needed it.