You plan a workout for the evening, but then something comes up—a happy hour, a deadline for work, or maybe even a date. And there goes your exercise for the day. If this keeps happening to you, there's a logical solution: shift your workout schedule to the morning.

But…that’s easier said than done. When you're barely awake and have to choose between working out and staying in bed for another hour, there's a good chance the snooze button will win. So how is it that some people manage to get up for 5:30 a.m. workouts like it's no big deal? We picked the brains of trainers and nutritionists for lifestyle changes you can make to help you become the person who wants to #riseandgrind.

The foods you eat the evening before an a.m. sweat session will impact how you feel when you hit the gym. “If you scarfed down mom’s leftover meatloaf and garlic bread at 9 o'clock last night, chances are you're going to wake up feeling exactly like that—a sluggish loaf of meat,” says Noah Neiman, master trainer at Barry’s Bootcamp in New York City. Make it a point to eat lean protein, veggies, and healthy fats so you wake up feeling replenished, not tired and gross. Just be sure to finish up at least 90 minutes before you hit the hay, says Leslie Bonci, RD, founder of Active Eating Advice and the director of sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. “This gives your stomach some time to digest the food.”

Ask around—you probably have a friend who either already gets up in the morning to work out, or wants to start doing it. Make plans to meet her at the gym or a class, which will hold you accountable.