Eating healthy has been going really well. I've kind of stalled out at my 12-pound weight loss, however, and I know it's because I'm starting to get bored with my workouts. Fortunately, it's been absolutely gorgeous out lately. I think spring is finally here to stay. So that means no more basement workouts after work. A. Because it's nice enough to work out outside and B. it's too nice after work to spend it sweating - I'd rather be sipping wine and grilling my dinner. Which means I need to start exercising in the mornings, before work.
That's fine. When I did this regularly at my apartment in Ft. Myers, I felt great. It made me want to eat really well throughout the day (albeit eat often), I had more energy at work, and I slept great at night. And the best part - I had free time after work. Which is challenging for people like me who go to sleep before it gets dark out.
However, in my old age, it's become increasingly difficult to get up early. I still can't usually sleep past 8 a.m. on the weekends, but I can't get up before 6:30 unless my life depends on it. So I've decided to start setting my alarm five minutes earlier every day this week. 6:45 has been my usual wakeup time for a while, since I shower at night after working out and don't have to be at work until 8:30. Tuesday, I got up the first time my alarm went off at 6:45 instead of snoozing. Yesterday, I got up at 6:40. Today? 6:35! And guess what? My natural alarm clock has been waking me up around 5:30 all week. I check my phone, see that I have plenty of time to go back to sleep, and still end up waking up completely before my alarm goes off. I walk Rags awake and coherent, and have more time each day to eat or watch the morning news. It's kinda nice. My eventual plan is to be up early enough to go to my gym's 6 a.m. small group training sessions, which are kind of like CrossFit but safer since there are physical therapists, certified strength and conditioning specialists, and exercise physiologists. And it's a lot more affordable yet personalized than a gym membership. They offer a 5:30 p.m. session and an 8.a.m Saturday session, but as I mentioned, I really want to enjoy my evenings now that's finally nice out.
I already go to sleep early and have no trouble falling or staying asleep, but any tips as to how to get up earlier? I seem to thrive on 8-10+ hours of sleep.
