Why is it so difficult to get into the “two-a-day” routine?

author : acbadger
comments : 0

Here’s a couple of tactics that I have found VERY helpful when it comes to my early morning workouts…hopefully, at least one of them will work for you too!

Question

 

Why is it so difficult to get into the “two-a-day” routine? I’ve tried getting up earlier, laying my clothes out the night before, putting my bike trainer in front of my bedroom door so I have to move it in order to get out. Every morning it’s, ”Tomorrow, I swear, I’ll start tomorrow…” as I swing madly for the snooze button. Maybe some of us are just destined to work out at night. Tonight I have set up an intricate set of pulleys and braces so that I can sleep while sitting on my bike. I’ll fill you in on whether this works tomorrow morning.

Answer

 

Since I have yet to hear from you in regards to your brace and pulley strategy, I’m going to assume it turned out ugly. Hopefully, you are not still wrapped up in all that mess perched on your bike waiting for the rescue crew to unravel you!


Here’s a couple of tactics that I have found VERY helpful when it comes to my early morning workouts…hopefully, at least one of them will work for you too!


#1 Set TWO alarms.

One is NEVER enough when you first start the early AM workouts. One should be by your bed and the other should be set across the room so you have to GET UP to turn it off. Getting out of bed is the #1 obstacle we are going to get over today! Once up, have your clothes near that alarm and just get them on right away! No time for second guessing…drop those flannels and put on the dry fit ASAP!!


#2 Get a workout partner.

Now, I freely admit that early AM workout partners are hard to come by…but, it can be done! If you are going to your local gym, there are plenty of people who like to work out in the wee morning hours. Get in good with a few of them and then you’ll have someone to answer to if you’re tempted to bag on a workout! Workout partners always make you accountable and keep you honest! There is nothing more reliable than an early morning workout partner!


#3 Tell yourself you are going to commit to this new early morning workout regimen for ONE MONTH straight.

It takes about 2 to 4 weeks for a behavior to make that transformation into a HABIT! Pretty soon, you won’t even need that second alarm clock…heck, you probably won’t even need your first alarm clock after a while! Your body WILL adapt to the early morning hours/workouts and you’ll really start loving it! When you work out in the AM, you have no excuses not to go! Studies show that people who exercise in the morning are more likely to stick to their exercise regimen than their afternoon exercising counterparts. You will also find when you work out in the AM, you have far more energy throughout the day! It’s a GREAT way to jump start your day! Give it a month…and let me know how you start to feel! At that point in the day, it’s all mental! Tell yourself you CAN and WILL do it! Your physical and mental well being will thank you (and me) for it!

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date: October 30, 2005

acbadger

Four Sprint Triathlons and 2 Olympic Distance Triathlons. Several marathons and Boston qualified. Because of my new found love of these sports, I got my Personal Training Certification and USAT Level I Coaching Certification so I could help others attain their goals!

avataracbadger

Four Sprint Triathlons and 2 Olympic Distance Triathlons. Several marathons and Boston qualified. Because of my new found love of these sports, I got my Personal Training Certification and USAT Level I Coaching Certification so I could help others attain their goals!

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