Get up & Go!

In 2012, I made a habit out of getting up early to get my workout in.  While it was hard to get started at first, it was the best thing I could have done for myself- my body, my mind, and my social life!  Part of the Tone It Up! lifestyle I have talked about, includes waking up early to get your sweat on before the day starts.  We call it our morning Booty Call! And I actually find that I look forward to it now! You get to awaken your body, put yourself in prime calorie-burning mode all day, and...best of all...you can go through your day knowing that you've already worked out. You have the night to yourself to get organized, run errands, or meet up with friends!

Preparation really is the key to sticking with a morning workout program.  I no longer have the excuse of "I don't have time in the morning" because everything is done the night before.  Here are a few tips I have for early morning workouts-

• Decide on Sunday night what types of workouts you're going to do each day of the week- Gym? Outdoor Run? DVD at home?  Write it on your calendar. This will help you stay organized with workout clothes & when/if you you need to pack up a gym bag for the day.
• Lay out workout clothes the night before.  This allows you to grab them right when you get out of bed.  You don't have to sleepily decide what to put on because it's already there and ready for you.
• Prepare breakfast, snacks, & lunches the night before.  This saves a TON of time in the morning.  Tupperware, snack baggies, & bars are great for portable meals to grab and head out the door.
• Prep your coffee pot the night before.  If you're a coffee drinker, all you'll need to do is hit the button!
• Have your water bottles filled and waiting for you in the refrigerator.
• Wash your face right right when you get up!  This helps you to wake up become more alert instantly.

If you choose an AT HOME morning workout-

• Have a wide variety of workouts to choose from.  You're lucky if you have a treadmill or elliptical at home, if not, get a few workout DVDs to choose from so you don't get bored.  One day, you may need a really intense cardio training, the next day you may want a mellow yoga session.  Be prepared!
• Choose which DVD/workout you're planning on doing in advance.  If it's a DVD, set up the DVD player before you go to bed so you can just turn on the tube and hit play in the morning.
• Move furniture around the night before if needed (I need to move my coffee table if I want to do a DVD!- gotta love NYC apartments!)

If you're a morning Gym-goer-

• Pack that gym bag the night before- especially if you go to work right after the gym. 
• Leave out a To-Go Mug for Tea or Coffee to help give you an extra boost.
• Leave out a list of things you need for the gym near the door- Headphones, Ipod, water, etc. (I can't count the number of times I've left my headphones behind!)

Gym bags for the Gal-on-the-Go, who goes from Home to Gym to Work, pretty much has their life in their bag.  I've learned to make things easier and lighter during my commute (I'm in NYC so my gym bag comes everywhere with me) with a few quick fixes for an easy Shower, Change, & Go routine-

• Cotton Dresses are your BEST friends! They don't easily wrinkle, they don't take up much room, and they're work friendly!  Great quick-change option to pair with tights/boots, flats, or sandals.
• Protein Bars! You can't get a more portable quick breakfast option.  Find a healthy one you love.  I love Think Thin bars!
• Purchase a few travel sized items- body washes, shampoos, lotions, etc.  There is no reason to lug around big bottles of stuff that will weigh the bag down.
• Purchase a small insulated bag for food.  I got a lunch bag as a souvenir from the Hershey Half Marathon and it's gotten more use than I ever thought it would.  This keeps my salads & fruits cold and everything remains secure and separated from the rest of my gym gear.

Bottom line, the more organized you are, the less excuses you'll have to skip the workout.  Once you get into the swing of setting the alarm and getting up like you promised yourself you would, you're going to actually enjoy and look forward to this part of your day.  And it's actually really fun to plan and prep yourself to stay on track.  It definitely gives you a feeling of accomplishment when you stick with it. 

I would love to hear other tips and tricks on how you are successful with morning workout plans.  Let me know what helps you to keep up with a busy, healthy, and early start to the day.