This is what it looks like in our back yard at 6 am. The sun isn’t quite up yet, but it’s on its way. How do I know this? Because I’ve finally decided that there is hardly ever going to be a time when I feel like exercising after I get home from work at night. I tried fooling myself into thinking that after work was the best time for me to do it (since I am so not a morning person), but it just meant that I’d come home, not exercise, and feel slightly guilty the rest of the evening.
So, I heard about the Fitbit and thought maybe that would help. If someone says I’m supposed to walk 10,000 steps a day and do 10 flights of stairs, then those are the numbers I try to hit. And since I started getting up early in the morning to walk for an hour, it has been working. I do like getting it out of the way before work. And I get to see pretty scenes like this (finally – the sun is up above the horizon.):
And this (I love seeing mountains first thing every morning.):
These things have helped me stick to this routine for a couple of months now:
1. Personally, I need to do it every single day of the week. I do take Saturdays and Sundays off, but I’m just about ready to throw at least Saturday into the mix, too. Mondays are a bugger when 6 am rolls around again.
2. I listen to audiobooks. It makes the hour of walking pass by really quickly.
3. I fool my brain. I tell myself that I’m going to walk for 30 minutes (in one direction, away from my house) and then I’ll just walk home. That equals an hour, but the last part of it is just “walking home”. 🙂
The downside? I am tired too early in the evening. It’s affecting my knitting, FPS. Somehow I need to learn to be a morning person AND a night person. Is that possible?? I need to finish my Camp Loopy Project Three this weekend. (I’m making a Derecho out of the Loopy Solid Series. So many fun colors to choose from.)
Today’s blog contest question: Are you a night person or a morning person? (And while we’re at it, do you have any tips about sticking to an exercise routine?) Leave a comment below and I’ll draw names for two more skeins of Wollmeise Lace next week.
We do have winners from last week’s blog contest! I’m sending a skein of Wollmeise Lace to Linda in IL and Amber in IN. Congratulations to you two!
Sheri 9162stepssofarfortoday.
Mustwalkbackandforthintheshopafewmoretimes….
I love the fitbit, I come from an obese family and when i went to college i got really thin and stayed that way most of my life (I watched too many family members get sick from not taking care of themselves.) Well about 6 months ago my adrenals and thyroid decided to stop working correctly and I was put on steroids…well i gained 15 pounds in 3 weeks and 25 total so far. as soon as i started gaining i got the fitbit and tracked my exercise and food intake. I keep my calories under 1000 (I am a vegan) and steps as close to 10,000 as i can. I went from a morning person to a nite person on these meds. So what i try to do is get at least short walks in for a total, so if you can’t exercise this will help you at least get some workouts in. I know it isn’t ideal but i learned that many folks on the drugs gain 50 or more pounds and I hate gaining anything but at least this has helped me a bit. I know this is a long way of answering your question, but i think having something to help you like fitbit will help you get at least some exercise in and encourage you to keep it up. it will help you celebrate the exercise that you do get in. …maybe some kind of knitting challenge with health, hmmm sounds like a start of a challenge.
I am definitely a morning person. So much so, that by 2 PM, I’m shot for the rest of the day, except for spinning or knitting. I wish I could find a tip to help you stick with your exercise routine, but I’ve never really succeeded very well myself. I understand it’s a very common problem. I wish you the very best though. You’ve had a great beginning, and if you want it bad enough, I know you will make it happen. 🙂
I’m a morning person, but not by choice! I have a commute of 30 miles to be at work by 7 a.m., then a 10-hour workday, 30 miles slogging back home–where I have about 2.5 hours of “free” time before I have to hit the sack so I can do it all again. Walking would be soooo good for me! Only there’s no sidewalk on our narrow street, that has a 50 mph limit (so most folks are doing 55 or 60). My pal Disco says she’ll walk with me if I want to drive to the cemetary; I sould take her up on it — oh, wait: my “free” time is mostly after dark! Do I really want to be in the cemetary, on foot, after dark? Hmmmm
Morning, my day begins at 0400 am! That’s the only way I make sure I drop off the kids at school, my daughter at the sitter and get myself to work by 0800 am
I am a night person. The only comment I have about routine is buy equipment for your house. This way you don’t have to bother going to a gym.
I’m a morning person and I usually have to get my exercise out of the way at the beginning of the day or something will derail me after work. However, I’ve been taking some Pilates classes after work too since last November. I stay motivated to exercise because my body feels better when I do. My tight muscles are enough to get me motivated. The latest I stay up knitting or spinning is 10:00pm. Up at 5:30 to workout!
I’m going to get that Fitbit however, to get me motivated for a nightly walk!
I am definitely a morning person! I like to get up early (about 5 am) and get my run in right away while it’s still nice and cool outside. There are definitely days when I’d rather just curl up on the couch with my knitting and a mug of tea, but that elated feeling I get after completing a run is definitely worth lacing up my shoes.
Definitely a morning person. Partly because I work a “normal” 8-5 job, but I also find myself getting up early on weekends too. I love sitting outside or curled up on the sofa with a cup of coffee and knitting – what a great way to start the day!
And sorry – can’t really help you with the exercise since I have much to lose myself. However, I have used a pedometer since February and I will say that has helped me a tremendous amount. Between the heat and West Nile here in DFW the DH and I have been going to indoor malls lately to do the bulk of our walking and it has worked out quite well.
Mostly I just overuse the ‘Just Do It’ phrase. If I wait around until I’m in the mood to exercise/walk it will never happen! 😉
I used to be a night person but am now a morning person. Don’t particularly like GETTING up, but love BEING up. And the answer to being tired earlier in the evening? NAPS – even just 15-20 mins really makes a difference!
I used to be a morning person….I prefer being a morning person. Now however I think I’m a night person and exhausted in the mornings. Exercise…..if I knew the magic motivation I wouldn’t weigh what I do!
I would say, I used to be more of a morning person. Then I had twins, and evenings are my quiet times to knit, read, wind down, etc, so I’m probably more of a night person now! And I have yet to be able to stick to a work out routine…I have thought about trying to give myself more motivation – like if I work out three days a week for a month, I can splurge on some new yarn. Or putting a dollar in the “New Dress Jar” every workout!
Night person all the way! As for exercise motivation, I agree with you and think that it is way easier to do eariler in the day. Just keep going!
I worked shift work for 35+ years, mainly swing or graveyard so I turned into a night person. Now that I’m retired, I have two dogs that think I should be a “lark” so they want to be outside by 6 at the latest. I’m getting there but it’s been hard!
Exercise was something that I couldn’t do for almost 2 years (was on crutches most of that time) so I’m finding it hard to get my mojo back. I try to move around as much as possible during the day but need to get out and walk now that I can. I obviously have no tips on getting motivated or I would be using them more!
I’m a night person, and I find it difficult to keep up an exercise regime, even though I write about fitness. I work from home so I can workout when I feel like it, but when I’m going to an office the best way keep up a regime is to get up early and run or bike. I know that’s nothing new to offer.
I’m a morning person. I love the morning and I am most productive in the morning. Mornings are fresh and quiet and beautiful!
Mid-morning? If I had my druthers…I’d wake up about 6:45 do a little knitting and reading on the couch, take a little snooze and then be the most productive from about 9 – 12. I tend to stay up too late, even though that IS NOT my most productive time. Need to work on getting to bed earlier so I don’t need the little snooze in the morning. I don’t have any tricks for exercise routines. I’m like you – I have “plans” to exercise after work, but it never happens. The only times I’ve ever been consistent have been in the morning before work. Need to GET BACK AT IT!
I am definitely a night person. Mornings are really rough for me. Interestingly, though, I’m finding lately that I do my best work in the morning, once I’ve managed to drag myself out of bed. Just wish I were better at that.
I’m a night bird all the way. I’ve been trying to do the after work thing, which worked reasonably well until work started asking for overtime… I’m pretty sure that if I needed to get up early in the morning to exercise, I’d probably just start considering not getting out of bed at all :/ At least I ride my bike to work in the summertime, which I guess is better than nothing…
Always have been a total night person, for as long as I can remember.
Night person. Hard core, life timer. I finally stopped doing remodeling projects when my neighbor asked what power tools she was hearing at 2am. Unfortunately I can get more done in the middle of the night than at any other time….
I’m more of a night person.
I’m definitely a night person although work interferes with my natural tendency to want to stay up late and sleep in late.
I wish I knew the secret to to sticking to an exercise routine, its soo easy to have something mess it up and to slack off.
I am a night owl who is forced by terrible circumstances (the need to work in order to buy yarn) to get up at 6 a.m. (gasp!) every morning. 🙁
Whatever schedule gives me an uninterrupted hour at least a few times a week. Which for the past year has meant night person, but now that I’m having to get up earlier and am needing much more sleep than usual means I’m a none-of-the-above. (Left entirely to my own devices, I’d be a wake-up-at-sunrise person.)
I’ve always wanted to be a ‘morning’ person, but sadly I am not…I’m still hoping though. 🙂 Exercise?? I’m not an ‘exercise’ person, but definitely need to be–walking is my exercise of choice.
I’ve always been a morning person. Lately I’ve been waking up around 3:30- 4 am which is bit too early. Can’t wait for shorter autumn days so I can sleep in – maybe till 5 or even 6 am? The early rising during the summer does give me extra hour or two of knitting.
Bicycling is my exercise – at least 20 min 5 days a week (late morning break right before lunch). I work from home so can hop on the old 10 speed attached to a resistance trainer that is in the next room. The convenience of it has made it easy for me to keep to my routine.
Good luck with the walking program.
Morining person.
I exercise my knitting needles whenever I can. Is there any other kind of exercise?
While in my 20’s and 30’s, I was a night person, staying up until 2-3 am, working on sewing/quilting/knitting.
Now, in my early 50’s, I’m a morning person. Almost always in bed by 10 or 10:30pm, up at 6am or earlier.
Do my exercise (walking the dogs, yoga) early in the morning. Do most of my knitting after my day job, after 4pm.
I’m a morning person, hands down. I’ve just restarted an exercise program too–and I give myself small goals like 5 lbs or 10lbs. I heard every 10 is a size smaller. Could that be true.
I would love to be a morning person. Truth is I’m an afternoon person. Have most energy around 3 pm. Then poop out around 9.
I try and make deals with myself all the time!! I am definitely a morning person. My deal is that I cannot make time for knitting if I don’t take time for exercise.
I’m not by any stretch of anyone’s imagination a morning person. I’m a night owl. If I could live my way, I would wake up at 10 am and stay up till 2 or 3 every night. But, that’s not easy as long as I’m working. Maybe when I retire???
I wish I knew how to stick to an exercise program. HELP!!!
I’m a neither person! I go to bed early, but I am still a grump in the morning. As long as I have my short afternoon nap after I get home from work or school then I am not so much of a grump at night.
Oh, hey, I’m such a night person. Going to bed is the last thing on my list, but I’ve gotten better about actually doing it, because mornings are so rough when I don’t.
I struggle keeping an exercise routine. Still working on it!
i am neither a morning person nor a night person. i do have a brief flash in the early afternoon….
Definetly a night person. Love to leave getting out of bed to go to work weekdays to the very last minute. I’m very lucky to live 5 minutes from work.
Definitely a morning person. I fade quickly at night.
Throughout my life I have primarily been a morning person, but since my husband had his hours changed to 9am to 7pm, I have become an evening person. We end up staying up until 1 or 2 am an sleeping in until about 7:45. I’m currently not exercising regularly but I definitely love your strategies!! I could see those working for me!!
I Love the morning peacefulness. I also love getting up before everyone else to watch the AM news , make coffee and knit!
I am not a morning person! I have always been a night person.
I am a night person. As for exercise, I am lucky that my husband walks the neighborhood with me.
I’m a night owl. But, I exercise at 5:45am in order to get it done otherwise I end up not doing it all. I never manage to fit it in later. It kind of works out ok though because while I do have to go to bed earlier which does cut into my knitting time, I’m so groggy at 5:45 am I sort of miss the fact that I am exercising. Since I hate exercising this is a good thing.
I’m a morning person, most definitely. I even get up extra early for some quiet knitting time before I have to wake up the kids and get our day going. It may seem a little nuts, but usually at the end of the day I am so exhausted that I can’t seem to concentrate on anything. Excersize for me is easy because of my job. I’m a letter carrier and I walk at least 6 hours a day whether I want to or not. To ease the boredom, I usually end up daydreaming about knitting projects while walking all those miles. 🙂
I am definitely a night owl. It is the time I can work on my projects and not feel guilty for not doing something else-{like cleaning} I don’t have any real hints on exercising – just to find something positive about it- such as the scenery when you are walking or how Yoga makes you feel calmer, etc.
I used to be a morning person but with young kids, I tend to stay up a bit later after everyone has gone to bed to have some “me” time. Exercising with a friend or hubby definitely helps.
I am a night person in general, but for exercise, i am a morning person. if i don’t run first thing, it never seems to happen. I think making it part of my daily routine helps a lot. its the firs thing i do when I wake up.
I am a NIGHT person!!! Nights are so quiet, there are no interruptions, one can knit or read or exercise with no interruptions. I do not do outside exercise except in january or february, 98 degree weather leaves me without breath. If you can not do ALL that you are supposed to do at least do some. Is better that doing nothing. Be faithful and enjoy yourself. Good Luck and keep us posted about the results.
I am definitely a night person. I struggle to exercise regularly. In fact, it’s Monday and I started an exercise program today with high hopes of using my treadmill at least four times a week.
I’m a night person. I exercise regularly. For me to exercise in the morning, I have to be meeting up with someone else – otherwise I seldom can break free of the bed magnet. I tend to get in a pattern that lasts a few months at a time, and then I switch it up. Right now I run T, Th, and S (usually with others). M and W I bike ride (M is a group ride). Friday I rest. I’ve found running groups, and through them biking groups, through my local running store. I also run (slowly) in local races – that helps motivate me to keep training. Congrats on breaking into the morning workout routine! I have done that for years at a stretch – I suggest you consider what you will do as the days get shorter and colder, so that you can keep getting the exercise. Maybe a treadmill? Good luck!!!!
I am a morning person through and through! And even moreso now that my boys are grown and the early hours belong solely to me!
I love the peaceful hour(s) when I can sit quietly and gather my thoughts, contemplating what is and what needs be, while I watch the morning gradually present itself. It is the hour or so where I can bask in the promise of the day that God has gifted me.