When I ask people to name their biggest workout 
challenge, two very common answers are staying motivated, and finding the time. In my experience motivation often comes from two seemingly unrelated feelings: fear and joy . . .
- When I write fear I’m talking about fearing the consequences of not working out: lacking energy; muscle stiffness; developing a stomach paunch; depression
- When I write joy I’m talking about the joy of seeing results: a drop in weight; muscle definition; compliments; lots of energy; confidence.
You can make your own list within each category, but I think you’ll agree that falling out of your exercise routine leads you down a negative path; staying committed helps brings the results that keep you going.
There’s a seemingly endless supply material about the benefits of an early morning workout. Here are a couple of my favorite articles - Love A.M. Workouts - Quick Exercises For The Morning. If you don’t consider yourself a morning person the thought of a 5:30am alarm seems cruel and unnatural. But if you’re willing to give it a try, use this simple work out checklist to help you make a routine out of the AM workout.
The Early Morning Work Out Checklist
1) Lay out your exercise clothes the night before – make sure they’re outside of your bedroom so you have to leave your sleep zone.
2) If you go to a gym, make sure your towel and soap/shaving kit are already in your gym bag.
3) Set your phone’s alarm clock to play a motivating song – make sure the phone is somewhere in the bedroom that forces you to get up to turn it off.
- SNOOZE BUTTON = WORK OUT KILLER
4) Keep your playlists up to date with your current favorites.
5) A quick and easy snack (banana/yogurt/green juice/iced coffee) should be front and center on the kitchen counter or in the refrigerator
- brew your coffee at night and pop it in the fridge so it’s waiting for you.
- toss some mixed berries in a small Tupperware container for easy consumption
The most important thing to remember is keep it simple. Don’t force yourself to do any extra thinking from 5:30-5:45 . . . just follow your steps all the way to the gym door. And keep in mind the same process can be applied to an evening workout if you’re dead set against mornings. Everyone is different, and you need to find what works best for you. Consider making the checklist part of your routine and see if it helps you stay committed to your fitness strategy.
P.S. If you're a runner, you can grab another motivator in the form of a free running calendar!
