I ended up staying up pretty late last night, so when my alarm went off at 5:15 this morning, I was not motivated to get out of bed and hit the gym. As I laid in bed, I thought to myself: If I don’t get up and go to the gym, who will really know? I could always just write on the blog that I worked out, couldn’t I? Then it occurred to me that the only person who would know (and not benefit) was me. And wouldn’t that be awful?
A long time ago, I made a commitment to myself to live a healthy lifestyle. And, as cheesy as it sounds, I made a commitment to my readers, too. Those two thoughts are usually enough to get me out of bed to exercise. A yummy breakfast (after a workout) definitely helps, too! 
Plus, I always feel like a million bucks when I leave the gym, so skipping it would probably make me feel like a sack of pennies– and that’s no way to start the day!
If you’re struggling to wake up and exercise in the morning, check out some of my tips for getting your butt out of bed.
What gets you out of bed to exercise and start the day?
Breakfast
This morning, I had a serious craving for peanut butter, so I toasted-up some whole wheat bread and slathered it on. Oh yes, I did! 
I topped my peanut butter toast with banana slices for some extra potassium to help combat some of my muscle soreness, which was much-needed this morning. Let’s just say, I’m feelin’ it from last night’s Body Pump class!
I also had some delicious iced coffee this morning. (I guess I really didn’t make the “switch” to hot coffee. 
)
The stainless steel straw that I used is actually starting to grow on me. At first, I thought it was a little weird. I mean, I’ve used plastic straws for my entire life, so, of course, a metal straw would be strange. But, now I like using them a lot. They make my iced coffee so much colder! These things are going to be sweet in the summertime when it is sweltering hot outside!
I received a question about the painting in the background of one of my photos the other day. The painting is an authentic piece by Yuri Tremler that Mal and I paid millions of dollars for a couple of years ago. Actually, it’s a faux painting from Ikea.
I never thought I would like such bold colors as home decor, but now I can’t get enough of them!
Snack Smarter
This little tip is also from the October issue of Fitness magazine:
Next time the munchies hit, try this simple strategy to avoid pigging out: Calculate how long it’s been since you last ate, and consider every hour to be worth about 100 calories. For instance, if you had breakfast at 8 AM and it’s now 10:30 AM, you should have about a 250-calorie snack to tide you over until lunch.
As you probably know, a healthy snack contains cards, protein, and fiber, such as a handful of nuts with a piece of fruit or two tablespoons of peanut butter and whole-grain crackers.
Happy snacking!
Fitness Magazine Giveaway
Holy moly! You guys really wanted to win the Fitness prize pack! There were almost 600 entries!!!
Here’s your Random Integer: 377
CONGRATS to #377!!! You scored big! Please email me with your full name and mailing address.
Cookie Friday
Don’t forget that it’s Cookie Friday!
I’m celebrating with a reader (she’s a Hahvard undergrad) at Hi-Rise Bakery this afternoon.
Hi-Rise has the BEST cookie flavors, like Oatmeal Coconut Pecan and Oatmeal Cherry Raisin. I can’t wait! 
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I always want to stay up late and watch the good TV shows, but my alarm goes off at 4:45. I try to be in bed by 9 and it is TOUGH! I love the painting, it is gorgeous!
Yay for cookie Friday, any excuse to eat sweets is good enough for me!! :O)Enjoy that bakery – looks sooo yummy!
What gets me up to exersise even when I really don’t want to is knowing how I’ll feel once I do. The runners high is too good for words and if I go on about my day knowing I could have done more but I was not willing to try I’d feel really sad.
i made amazing cookies yesterday-cookie friday here i come!
Your tips for getting out of bed are really motivating. I’ve been really sick for the past week. I just started working out again yesterday after skipping the gym while I was sick. It was hard! I love working out and how it makes me feel but getting back into my regular workout pattern was difficult after taking a break! I love reading health and fitness blogs because even when I’m not in the mood to work out, they make me want to get up and lift weights or go hiking or something.
ps I’m still drinking homemade iced coffee too!
Hey girl! Due to my teaching schedule, my classes are usually in the afternoon vs the morning (all though I love and prefer AM workouts). What keeps me motivated to go to the gym vs skipping out? I def focus on how AWESOME I will feel afterwards. I also think taking/teaching group fitness helps! Its not only a great workout, but a fun social experience.
YUMMMY bfast. I haven’t had good nut butter toast in a while.
Congrats to the winner (I’m totally jealous
)
I am just wondering — how do you clean the straw? Even if you put it in the dishwater it looks pretty hard to get the soap through the straw. I’m a total germaphobe lol
Packing a lunch for my hard working hubby gets me out of bed! Although I’m unemployed right now, I get up when his alarm goes off and make him lunch and feed the dogs while he gets ready for work. That guarantees that I’m up and ready to study and get my day going! Congrats on convincing yourself to get up and workout..you will most likely not regret working out, but you might regret NOT working out!!
Courtney
Adventures in Tri-ing
I’ve had those same sneaky thoughts about skipping a workout or eating crappy and just keeping it to myself. But you are so on point–the only one who really suffers when we do that is us. Im jealous of your body pump soreness! I’ve been super lazy with the new cold weather–and I you just made me crave being sore! haha it always makes me feel like i got more bang for my workout buck (?)
have a great cookie friday!
@Jess: We’ve been throwing them in the dishwasher. It seems to get them clean!
I just can’t get out bed any earlier during the week. I can’t do it. I have stopped trying. My body just likes night time workouts so much better. I feel more energized and nice and loose. No better way than to end the day with a 6:30 Bikram Yoga class! Feel like a million bucks the next morning! The only morning workout I like is on Sunday mornings (unless Saturday night was a late one!) Wish I could do it and I am always envious of all the runners I drive by on my way to work in the morning.
yay for cookie Friday! Now I want one
I may need to pick one up for later.
I have been struggling to get out of bed lately
I’m in some sort of funk.
But, hoooray for cookie friday!
Wow Tina, I feel like I could’ve written that post myself
What gets me through my morning workouts is definitely the feeling of accomplishment afterward, but even moreso is a delicious breakfast! And the weird thing is that I had the exact same thing for breakfast about 20 minutes ago (almond butter, though)! haha 
it hit the spot, to say the least!
I have kids, so fortunately, they get me out of bed! Although, when they do that on the weekends, it’s not so fortunate
I really love to exercise in the morning. I have never been a morning person, but I realize how much better I feel when I start my day with a morning workout! In the afternoon, I’m just too lazy!
you are so inspiring!
and a genious for coming up with cookie friday!!
What gets me out of bed (besides my alarm, which I purposefully put on the other side of the room!) is knowing that if I don’t get my butt on the bike, in my running shoes, or to the gym, I’m not going to have the energy to do it after work, no matter how many times I try to tell myself that I will! Once I get out there, I NEVER regret going!
Yeah skipping a workout usually isn’t worth it. I try not to beat myself up and feel guilty if I do skip a workout but thinking about how great I’ll feel all day gets me up!
love the painting! Can’t go wrong with starting the day with PB and banana
i have a the hardest time getting up for an AM workout, especially by the end of the week when i have been getting up early all week. like the tips- thanks.
mmm, love hi-rise!!!
Everytime I see PB&toast&banana on your blog, it makes me wanna have it too, immediately!
xxx Julia (Taste of Living)
I always lay my clothes out the night before, so I know I have to workout and then when my alarm goes off. I also check my emails and posts from my blog when my alarm goes off. Reading inspirational things that people write to me; gives me the push that I need
When I stay up late and have to get up early, I mentally tell myself that it’s one day and I’ll sleep that much better the next night from lack of sleep. It actually works when I mentally prepare.
You know, I usually have a hard time waking up. If I hit the hay earlier, I feel much more spring-heeled and leap out of bed in the morning. Unfortunately I’ve had a lot of late nights the past couple weeks, and those throw off my balance.
~Laura
Backstage Pass to Health & Happiness
LauraMKE.blogspot.com
Oh man, I can’t believe I missed the giveaway! I also LOVE BodyPump. It’s so empowering and I always feel seriously worked after a class! It’s awesome! I also was craving peanut butter this morning and had it in my oats. Deeelish.
I remind myself how good I will feel and how nice it will be to get my workout out of the way. I also think about how much difference another hour or so of sleep will really make. It also helps when I have a race scheduled because I know that I won’t be able to fake it on race day.
Hey Tina, I just wanted to let you know that I actually work at Hi-Rise bread company. Not the one in Harvard Square (which I am assuming your visiting) but the one at the intersection of Huron Ave and Concord Ave. If you ever go for lunch try the turkey, portobello, and asparagus sandwich on Huron bread (to die for!). My favorite cookie is the oatmeal ginger cookie! Also, if you see the scones and muffins at the store (either location) I made those this morning
have a fun visit!
Going to the gym in the morning becomes the norm after a while. I set out my clothes and my bag, snack, etc so all I have to do is jump out, and brush my teeth basically!
Having breakfast to look forward to also helps.
I have the ultimate motivator: debilitating stomach pain. I’m completely serious–I have to hop on the treadmill each day to keep from doubling over in agony. When I start curling up into a ball and crying that my tummy hurts, my sweetie says “Run! Go! Go!” And I cry some more and hate him for it but when my two miles are over the pain is gone and I can get on with life. They ought to make a weight-loss device like this….
Hopefully after next week I can find a less negative motivator–endoscopy on Wednesday!
FYI- I love PB and banana too, but I smash the banana with the back of a fork after putting on the PB, that way the banana get warm (if you’re eating toast) and the pieces don’t slide off while eating. I also love a touch of agave and flax on top!
I tried morning exercise. I gave it 6 months. It was making me cranky. So I switched to exercising after work. Yes, that takes up some time in my evening, but if I was exercising in the morning I’d be going to bed an hour earlier so it evens out. And now I’m not so cranky. I’m just not a morning person.
Well, I am a dancer who mostly has practice in late afternoon and early evening, so I don’t really get up to exercise. But on Saturdays, I do have to dance in the morning and sometimes I just want to lie in bed and doze off while watching The Nanny.
But then I remember my passion for the art form of ballet and I want to get up and go!
I also think of being able to go to the movies at 5 pm when I get out
Tina,
How do you clean the stainless steel straw?
btw..love your profile picture.
Wow! I was so close to winning that prize….she even has the same name! I can’t seem to get myself out of bed in the morning to exercise, even though I know it would be better for my schedule….some day maybe. I am REALLY not a morning person, lol!
I wake up SUPER early for work so my workouts are usually in the evening after a long day–it can be a struggle sometimes but with a lot of motivation I get it done!
What’s getting me out of the house to exercise right now?
1) I know how good I’ll feel after
2) I’ll be inside and out.
3) A toned body is a nice bonus
But truthfully, my gym membership is hella expensive, which is a HUGE motivator to get my booty there as much as possible
2) I meant to say “healthy inside and out
I don’t always exercise in the morning though I’d prefer to. I am always excited and ready to exercise because I LOVE the physical activity that I choose to engage in the most–tennis! I work up a tremendous sweat, am never bored and get an endorphin high every time. I play 2-3 times a week for a minimum of an hour and a half each time. In my opinion, loving what you do is key.
nice work on the workout this morning
i FINALLY started up a new blog… go see!
Oatmeal Cherry Raisin? Holy cow! Sounds amazing.
Knowning that I wouldn’t feel like going later in the day gets my booty out of bed. Also, knowing the guilt I would feel if I didn’t go. I ALWAYS feel guilty if I don’t, but I always feel great if I do!
I know the exact feeling. Some days it is just SO hard! But you just lay there and think about it until you actually get up.
yummy breakfast to fuel you up for the gym!
jenna
I love the tip about counting every hour as 100 calories. You are excellent~!
I am horrible about staying up too late but it’s something I’m working on. I am so excited to get those straws- I am a total straw waster and this seems like a great idea!
I am a morning person but it is hard in the winter when it is cold. I hate getting out of bed to the cold air. I love getting my workout done first thing. I have a much better day and nothing can get in the way!
way to be accountable for your health! what a wonderful way to kick off the weekend. your pb/banana sandwich looks like the perfect post-workout treat! enjoy cookie friday!!
Excitement to run used to get me out of bed (and knowing I would have NO energy by the time I got out of work), but now that it’s cold I need to find some different motivation because excitement alone can’t combat tiredness & cold!
This post could not have come at a better time, seriously. That “no one knows (or benefits) but you” thing? I need to sticky-note it onto my alarm clock!
What gets me out of bed to exercise and start the day? Well, I always wake up early anyway so it isn’t a biiig problem. I’ve also recently started going to the gym so it’s a novelty! ahah It will probably be worse during the winter but you know i’m paying A LOT to go there and also, it just makes me feel great after I’m done with it. Plus, seeing the results doesn’t hurt either.
I’ve turned your idea of Cookie Friday to Wine Friday. The very first thing I do when I walk into my apartment on Friday night and pour 1 (or 2!) glasses of wine. I seriously look forward to it every week!
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