Morning workouts are TOUGH. There’s no sugar coating it, and there’s no getting around it.
But ever since I shared a bit about how we’re settling into life as a family of four, and how making time to workout has become a bit part of that, you guys have had some questions.
Namely, how do you get your butt out of bed in the morning to get to the gym?
Well… let me start here. I’m no hero.
In general, I’m really lucky because Charlie is a great sleeper and that makes all of this doable (if you’d asked me what I was doing six months after having Emmett the answer would have been gibberish… because I was so freaking tired I couldn’t speak, let alone get a workout in).
But there are days (or weeks) when one or both kids aren’t sleeping well, and that means I’m not sleeping well… and it would be alllllllll too easy to convince myself that just staying in bed is a better idea.
So, I’ve built myself a few strategies that seem to help me get up and get going. Especially on those super foggy, groggy days.
- Lay your clothes, shoes, water bottle and breast pump out the night before
I literally roll out of bed, and into my workout clothes in the morning, walk down the stairs to pump a bottle for Charlie in some kind of daze, and then stumble out the door. It’s not pretty. And if I had to add in one more decision about what to wear, or find which laundry pile my sports bra is hiding in, I’d probably just go back to bed. So, lay it all out before you head to bed and save yourself the stress (or sleep in it if that’s what you gotta do… I’m not here to judge)!
- Find great workout wear that works for you
This ties into my first point but it’s super important. I’m still nursing Charlie 6-8 times per day, which means that there’s a good chance I’ll either be feeding her as I’m walking out the door, immediately when I get home, or I’ll be trying to pump so she’ll have a bottle when I’m gone. And finding active wear that’s nursing friendly? Not always easy. Here are my top 3 nursing-friendly finds from Figure 8 Maternity (because who’s got time to shop in an actual store?!):
- Boob Fast Food Nursing Sports Bra – it’s literally the only sports bra I wear right now, and it’s got incredible support for high intensity workouts, and super comfy padded straps. I can’t say enough about this bad boy!
- Boob Fast Food Nursing Singlet – this bad boy performs like fabulous moisture-wicking active wear, but with all the functionality of a nursing top. Great for everything from a spin class to a family hike.
- Boob B. Warmer Nursing Sweatshirt – think of this like a cozy hug for your bod. This warm and cozy sweater is my go-to for throwing on over my workout gear on the way to the gym on a chilly morning. It makes getting out of my cozy bed not seem so terrible.
- Book a class with a no-refund policy
I’m not even kidding you guys, sometimes this is what it takes. On mornings when I really want to just roll over and hit the snooze button, sometimes the only thing getting me out of bed is the fact that I’ll be wasting my money if I don’t go. That built in layer of accountability does wonders!
- Plan your week, stick to the plan
If you’re anything like us, your weeks are insanely busy. My hubby and I sit down at the beginning of the week and build a game plan to ensure we both have time to get to the gym (or the hockey rink). When I know that Tuesday morning at 6am is the only time that week I’m going to have by myself to get to the gym? Well, it reminds me that I need to 100% make the most of that time.
Let me just wrap this up with a reminder that there should be ZERO guilt about how often, what time of day, or how you workout. If there’s anything I hope this post does, it’s inspire you to make the time to invest in yourself. Because gals? You’re so worth it.
Note: This post was written in partnership with Figure 8 Maternity, and I received product or compensation as part of this partnership. But as always, all opinions, advice, and charming wit is all me.
