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….
DEFINITELY A MORNING PERSON!!! But I have to have my coffee or the rest of the day is a total loss. I usually get my exercise in by walking out to the mail box….. but when my Loopy packages come they deliver it to my door. I’m either going to have to find another exercise routine or order less yarn…….LIKE THAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN.
I’m more of a night person, but I exercise as soon as I get up in the AM. I found a web-based program that offers recorded workouts that alternate cardio and strength training with no equipment and each session is only 30 min. long. I can always find 30 min. to exercise. Since May, I have lost 15 lbs – so I’m motivated to keep going towards my goal.
Keep at it!
I’m a morning person. I get up early to exercise, and I reward myself with points towards buying yarn.
I am an evening person. My ideal schedule would be if I could go to bed at midnight and get up around 8 but that is not to be. My DH has to be up by 6 so we are in bed by 11 and I get up with him. By 7, I am on my treadmill. We have Netflix and I watch a mystery series like Rosemary and Thyme or Murdock mysteries and treadmill through an entire episode – about 50 minutes. These are sort of gentle mysteries, not a lot of blood. The body makes a brief appearance and then the mysteries are solved. I do at least 3 days a week on the treadmill and then bike the Katy trail on weekends. I also do some light weight work.
I really don’t have any hints, Sheri. I just make myself do it because I know I need the exercise.
I am a morning person when it comes to exercise. My one tip would be to set out your workout clothes – including shoes – the night before. Then I have no excuse not to workout. And believe me I have thought of them all – nothing is clean, I can’t decide what to wear, I can’t find my shoes, etc.
I am most definitely a night person. I just can’t seem to make myself do things in the morning…wouldn’t life be so much easier if we could be morning and night people? The only thing that works for me when exercising is to have a schedule. I do really well with 90-day programs that tell you what to do each day. When I don’t have a specific program or schedule, I definitely don’t do as well. I also find that posting my workouts to Facebook helps to keep me accountable. I love your mind trick…walking home is so much nicer than walking for 30 more minutes!
I like early AM walks 6-7. I use audible books
and select a book I like and then only listen to that
specific title each AM. Keeps me interested and
Walking. Other stories for car or when knitting
No question – a night person. I’ve always wanted to be a morning person though.
I’m afraid I’m in the same boat as you are. I’m a night person, and I love to knit at night to relax. My days require that I get up early in the morning, however, which leaves me exhausted by 8 or 9 pm. Sigh. At least there are weekend for my knitting!
I’m very much a night person. I can stay up all night, but getting up early just kills me. I’ve never found way to stick to a regular exercise program. I start off all motivated and then at some point it falls off and I relapse to my native couch potato state.
I’m a morning person who stays up way too late sometimes. I get up and exercise in the morning – sometimes I run, sometimes I’ll do a P90X video, sometimes I just stretch.
Morning person, but unfortunately darn work gets in the way so exercise waits until I am home after work. I would agree with Sheri it is not always easy to commit to exerices after a long day of work.
Can you knit while walking? I do that when it’s light enough and the path is clear enough. Just something simple, but it lets me get more knitting and exercising in, which is a plus!
I’m more of a needs-my-sleep person. An afternoon person. Though I’m on more of a morning-person schedule and I do feel better when I exercise first thing, so I may have to cultivate that!
I am totally a night person. I’m lucky to have had a night shift job for 25 years. I’m even luckier to have a group of night-owl friends so I can keep that same night shift schedule even on the weekends.
I am a night person who impersonates a morning person. If left to my own devices I will stay up all night. The only way I can stick to exercise is first thing in the morning and must do it every single day.
Absolutely a morning person — but that doesn’t mean I exercise! Good for you!,,
I am more of a morning person though I fell like I never get enough sleep. I try to get to sleep at a certain time each day but that just usually doesn’t happen. I have a hard time sleeping in the middle of the night as it is for a few reasons.
As for sticking with a routine, my husband and I take a walk most evenings. This summer has been very HOT and we have even walked then. Just make sure to bring some cold water along for the walk and have some good shoes. It is a way for us to come back together after a day apart.
Another thing is that when I am on a recumbent exercise bike I knit!!
I have to write it on my schedule. If it’s on there it happens, if it isn’t then it doesn’t.
Thanks for the info on the Fitbit. I will have to try it out! I am a night person. I have always been a night person. I have tried to be a morning person and it just never takes! My tips for squeezing in more exercise are to park further away from places that you shop at, take the stairs instead of the elevator and clean house! Organizing, cleaning, just trying to keep active. Another thing that I do is change into my workout clothes and put on my walking shoes. It’s hard not to go out and walk once I am all dressed to go do it.
Sheri, you don’t want my routine!! 🙂 I love staying up late but have adapted to being a morning person, it’s one of the few times I get to myself. I get up at 4am five days a week so that I can walk/run the treadmill, do a weight routine, yoga and meditation. My suggestion for staying on track same bedtime and waking up time every day, I get to knit during the day with the girls at school, for an hour after they go to bed and during sunday sports 🙂 It’s full but it works 🙂
Oh, and I’m a night person…but not for exercise!
I am most definitely a morning person. Not a dedicated exerciser but I do like Kylene’s idea with rewarding points for buying yarn.
I think I’m more of a morning person because I wake up around 6:30, which is when I begin my exercise routine. I usually try to be in bed around 10:00. My advice for keeping a morning running routine:
1.) Keep your running shoes and clothes by the bed.
2.) Put on your clothes and running shoes first thing in the morning.
3.) Do not allow yourself to shower until the exercise routine has been complete.
I work out at lunch. We are lucky enough to have a gym onsite so I can fit a class in. I put them on my calendar ahead of time so no one can schedule meetings and then the reminder pops up and I feel obligated to go. If we didn’t have the gym though I’d walk during that time. I am not a night person and have to get up pretty early already just so I have some play time with my daughter in the morning before work. This way I can still get my workout and I just eat while I’m working at my desk in lieu of a lunch break since I use it for workouts.
I’m an afternoon/early evening person. I don’t like staying up late, but almost always do and then find mornings unbearable because of it. In a perfect world, when I could get to bed at a decent time, I would most definitely be a morning person.
As far as, exercise I could use some tips myself. The only time I manage to stick to an exercise program is when I exercise with a friend. If I know someone is counting on me, I’m less likely to make flimsy excuses.
By choice I’m a night person, but as I’m a teacher and need to be at school by 7:30, I have become a morning person.
To be ready, bright and early, for students, I have to start my day earlier. So I have been getting up early, and going to bed early.
I have no advice for sticking to an exercise schedule. I definitely have not been. I don’t have time in the morning (I’d have to wake up at 4:30 am which is NOT happening) and I’m WAYYY too tired at night.
I’m a morning person and the only way I manage to keep up my walking is walking with a friend!
Neither! But if I’m going to burn the candle at one end or the other than I say morning. As for exercising I’m looking forward to others suggestions.
i am a night person, I get more done after DH goes to bed then any other time of the day, that said, I just get more done when I am alone, because he leaves at 5 am and that is when I get up and get on the computer for an hour, after only 4 1/2 hours sleep, then I sleep in until about 8:30 (I am retired)
Exercise—what is this language you speak????
I am a morning person, and get an hour long walk out of the way first thing. I have a few options for walking in ‘loops’ around my neighborhood, and I try to mix it up by doing the ‘loops’ counter clockwise (or widdershins if you’re feeling British) just to keep things interesting. I also take Pilot, my dog, along for company. I worry about keeping it up once the winter comes but I’m kind of addicted now!
I find it easiest to be a night person but I like it best when I can stick with a routine to be a morning person. I seem to have more energy and be more productive earlier in the day.
I am definitely a morning person. My DH and I usually head off to bed by 9:30 at night. We ate up workdays by 5:15 and weekends by 6:30. Our chocolate Lab gets us out for walks twice a day – first thing in the morning and then again in the evening. The warmer the weather the later that evening walk happens.
Unfortunately, I am having some really bad sciatic nerve pain the last few weeks and haven’t been able to go. I really wish I would hear from the doctor on what we need to do!
I’m definitely more of a morning person. I get lots more done in the mornings, but lose motivation by about mid-afternoon. I wish I knew how to stick to a good exercise routine…. I’m going to go back and read other people’s comments about that.
Morning, but family is night which has its challenges. No easy answer for exercise. Started new workout Sun and promptly got sinus infection. Missing the workout so guess that is good.
This spring I started waking up early to do yoga and pilates. After just a few weeks, I really started craving it. Sometimes life gets in the way, but I don’t beat myself up because of that, I just get back to it as soon as I can. I use DVD’s and my “instructors” always encourage me that I at least showed up!
My daughter asked me why I have bought a few cute yoga outfits when no one ever sees them – well, it helps me want to work out!
I feel better, am so much more flexible, my clothes fit nice and the scale has nicer numbers on it!
You go girl!
Sheri – an all y’all – I am on FitBit – I love it. http://www.fitbit.com/user/23H2HT
Also I just had the same conversation with my DH tonight -it is our habit to sit on the deck evenings and take in the sunset, but I don’t know if that is my favorite time of the day or early mornings, I love them both. I do get a lot done in the early am but I love the evening and watching my chickens running around to catch the bugs who seem to love the late afternoon/evening. And the sunsets.
I started doing a morning walk in July, but I started with 15 minutes and worked my way up by five minutes a week every week. My trick is to take a photo of the scenery while I’m walking and post it on my Facebook wall. If I skip a day (or a few), my friends start to ask where my Morning Walk photo is for that day. I’m not a morning person, but the heat where I live makes it mandatory to do the walk in the morning because it doesn’t cool down here until after dark in the evening.
I am a morning person but when you work 12 hr days and drive to and from work (45 mins), it is a long day. So I try to workout on my days off. It is still hard but I feel better when I do. You just got to keep at it.
I am a morning person. I get up to a very quiet house, do my computer work, my quiet time and if I am lucky still have time to go for a walk before the family gets up. I do not pressure myself on the exercise, though. I tell myself if I get in three times a week that is great for me!
I’m a morning person!
My recommendation for sticking to a workout is making sure it easily fits into your life. Schedule your workout as an appointment and then get a buddy to join you. The other thing is to start gradually and build up to the time or distance that you want because starting out too far and too fast could lead to injuries and discouragement!
Both. I walk at 6 and then right before bed. People say that exercising in the evening wakes you up, but it doesn’t seem to alter my sleep patterns. Maybe it is the half hour of knitting before bed that makes me sleep!
An early night person. Specifically, a “once the kids are to bed” person. I perk up and have renewed vim and vigor. 🙂
I exercise everyday. Without fail. 15 to 60 minutes. That’s the part which varies.
Morning, definitely morning!
Since I retired am an evening person, but when I worked full time I had to be a morning person. Like to go walking in the morning before it gets to hot. My husband and I go to the Y 3 days a week to excerise and ride bike.
I am overwhelmingly a morning person. I wake up spontaneously at 04:00-04:30. This actually works out most of the year, as I am a school bus driver who must report to work by 06:00.
BUT…during summer vacation or Christmas vacation or weekends……still it is the same hour. Sigh.
The only way I can make the exercise thing happen, is to do it at the same time, same place every day. I get offf my bus at 09:00, put on the walking shoes and hit the road again. It is just what happens. IF I sit down and think it over…that is the end of it. It has to be the automatic and non-negotiable.
Good luck to all who are trying to start a new good habit.
I somehow switched in my 30’s from a night person to completely a morning person. I actually now feel kind of off for the day if I miss the sunrise. Exercise tip: get a herd of alpacas (or sheep, or goats) – built in aerobics AND strength training! (Playing Catch the Baby involves a lot of running and agility, hauling hay builds up those arms in no time!)
I’m a morning person, but not an exercise person. If you get any fool proof tips, please share!
I am definitely a morning person. I didn’t used to get up quite so early, but I have to leave for work every morning around 5:30am, so I sort of have to be a morning person now.
I’m definitely more of a night person, but there’s something to be said for getting a jump on the day!
I don’t know what I am. I don’t like to wake up and I like to go to bed early. I suppose sometime in there I’m awake:). Looking forward to reading others exercise tips because I sure don’t have any.