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I have never been a morning person. Ever. As a young child, I couldn't get up to watch Saturday morning cartoons. As a teenager, I took the age's stereotypical slothfulness to an extreme-- I once slept until 4 in the afternoon. In college, I perpetually missed early morning classes. It got so bad that I eventually chose to only take attendance-based courses; if my grades weren't penalized by poor attendance I worried I would never show up to class. Even now, as an adult, I struggle to wake myself up for work (although the threat of firing is an amazing motivator).
This presents quite the dilemma for me. Over the last few months, I've been trying to make myself a healthier Pumpernickel. I've been watching what I eat and I try to go to the gym several times a week. But if I want to go to a happy hour with friends after work, I have to make a choice: fun or fitness? My gym closes at 10 pm, and there simply is not enough time to get the alcohol out my system, get changed into my workout gear, put in a decent workout, take a shower, and still get into bed at a reasonable time. Not to mention there's no time to play my violin, read a book, or sing karaoke on youtube (if you've never tried it, I highly recommend it).
What winds up happening is that the fitness plans fall to the wayside. I just love my happy hours too much! (Sidenote-- Is it weird that I drink much more as a young professional than I ever did as a college student?)
Then it hit me, the solution to all my problems: go to the gym before work. Now, that may seem like a normal, easy thing for most people. But for me, this is huge. This is massive. This is a near-impossible feat of insanity. Me? Awake before 8 am? Voluntarily? And doing WHAT on an elliptical?!?
Today was the first day I managed to do it. In order to make it happen, I had to take the following steps:
1) Went to sleep by 10 pm last night so I would be sufficiently rested
2) Laid out my clothes for this morning and put them in my gym bag
3) (Don't laugh) Slept in my gym clothes so I would feel too guilty not to follow through
The last one is a bit pathetic, I'll admit. But after weeks of failed attempts, I finally got my butt to the gym at 7:45 am this morning! And amazingly, I did not collapse from exhaustion or fall asleep mid-jog. I'm going to try to keep this up. I truly believe that half the battle is just getting started, and I'm cautiously optimistic. The promise of more relaxed evenings (and more happy hours) is quite the incentive.
And those feelings of accomplishment and boosted confidence you usually get after a work out? Let's just say it's a much nicer way to start the day. So far, I feel more alert and rested (ironically). Hopefully, this will translate into better work and a better attitude.
Only time will tell.
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Comments
02.11.09
Why are you putting down your own step #3? That's a tried and true means of getting your ass out of bed in the morning. You've made all the effort to have no excuse to press the snooze button.
I wear my gym clothes to bed all the time.
You may want to look at moving to a diff't gym after your current membership expires if there are others with better hours that accommodate your life. I wound up joining a gym that was open 24/7 because I wanted to be able to exercise when I had the time, and you'd be surprised the # of people working out at 10pm on a Friday night.
Actually, I'm less concerned that you wear your gym clothes to bed than that that you drink enough every night that you need time to dry out before working out.
02.11.09
Rachel, great post. There's not a doubt in my mind that when you're healthy and fit, you'll have more fun!
You'll have more energy, be more productive, and because you'll be feeling so good about yourself you'll be more confident and thus have more fun!
Consistency is a huge problem and challenge. If you need any help check out some articles I wrote on my website. They are intended to help you stay consistent with your diet and exercise. And if you should need any more help don't hesitate to get in touch with me!
Keep it going!
-A
02.11.09
Although I'm probably as big a fan of happy hours as you seem to be, I'll say this - drop the boozing and work out instead and you'll get a double whammy of health benefits: the working out PLUS losing the 100-200 calories per drink and whatever bar food gets shoveled into your mouth.
Personally, I work out on my lunch break but I have the convenience of a gym downstairs in my office.
02.11.09
I agree with Andy, try to limit your intake of alchol beverages. That's not to say don't go to happy hours, but limit yourself to a drink or two. It'll be amazing for your body, good for the pocketbook, and you won't have to worry about stumbling on the eliptical.
Bravo - for getting up in the morning and getting yourself to the gym! It's not and easy task...I know.
02.11.09
Rachel, I've been struggling with the same issue. I'm NOT a morning person. And I don't do happy hour all that often, but there are tons of other things that get in the way of going to the gym after work. Sometimes it's even that there'd be time to work out, but not enough to shower too before my evening plans.
I made it to the gym in the morning exactly once. Problem is, because I have an active social life in the evenings, it's hard to go to bed by 10:00.
My solution (currently still in the testing phase) is to do a good cardio workout on evenings I can hit the gym and shower. On nights that I can't, I go over at lunch and do a short weight-training session. (lifting doesn't usually get me working hard enough to require a shower afterward.) So I'm getting there everyday and doing SOMETHING.
Best of luck!
02.11.09
I should probably clarify...when I say happy hour, it doesn't aaaaalways involve alcohol. Sometimes it means eating dinner at a restaurant that has happy hour prices. Or meeting my roommate at home to have a glass of wine. I'd say I do two happy hours a week tops, and even that's not super often.
That being said, I never used to drink during the week. Ever. So in comparison to my former self, I'm practically an alcoholic haha.
02.11.09
Rachel, you're a smart cookie! I've struggle with going to the gym after work myself. I don't go to happy hour particularly often anymore, but I do like to meet up after work sometimes and I'm always trying to get a little extra freelance writing in after work as well, which leaves little time for the gym when I get out of work sometime after 6PM.
Boston has bad traffic and considering that I live 30 miles west, I've never quite figured out a time to go to the gym that doesn't require me giving at least a two hours window of time before work to get there and take care of business. My gym is near work, so it's no problem once I'm in the city.
I think I might have to try this approach. That's for the great advice and practical insight!
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