Suggestions for someone who despises exercise

[Autumn]

That's right. I hate it. Always have, and probably always will. I can do just about anything short term, but I get bored very, very quickly. I have a practically brand new bicycle, a stationery bike, about 20 exercise videos, a jumprope, hand weights, mats, plenty of space. I do love to dance around the house. I haaaaaaaaaaaaate walking, I find it incredibly boring. Ugh. I KNOW I have to move this body, that it is essential to overall good health. I'd love to run, and I've tried it in the past, but I quit on that too. Joining a gym is out of the question. I don't drive and I can't afford it.

Any suggestions?

[RawTruth]

Set a timer for 15 minutes, put on some music you love, and dance (hard) around the house. Make an appointment for this, put it on your calendar and keep it just like you would a hair appointment or doctor's appointment. After a week or two, set your timer for 20 minutes, or do two 15-minute dance times, and keep increasing the time. Think of it this way -- so many people who work out are addicted to cooked food, but you're raw -- you've cleared that big hurdle. This is definitely do-able. And ... you're worth it!

[flutterfly]

Sorry but they say what you hate the most is what you need to work on the most. No one ever got completely healthy without working out at something. Try it you might really like it. ;)

[tglasco4]

There is no quick and easy way to get into shape. It takes hard work and time. I believe it also takes faith. Which means believing in it without seeing or feeling anything positive. Faith takes a vision of what health you want to achieve and acting on that vision.

Peace.

[Jay]

Hey Autumn,

well it looks like you have a lot of equipment around the house, how about doing each of those things a week, I mean, jump with the rope on monday, then do part of an excercise video on wednesday, saturday do some bike riding and then monday do something completely different from the week before! Hopefully you won't get bored that easily that way?
Hope this helps (although I have trouble getting into gear myself, lol!!)


btw: Todd, congrats on becoming a moderator, cool beans!!

Joke

[FEELIN'GOOD]

Definitly Todd- congrats! The perfect guy for the job!

Autumn- oh how I hate excersie too- it is weird because I love it once I'm doing it- it is just to get there and 'do it.' I always feel like I run up and down the stairs all day at home and run after my kids that I get enough excercise, but it isn't heart pumping by any means- more like head throbbing excercise! My temples are in great shape by the way!

I do have this Belly Dance video that I like- it is almost like meditating, and it is very relaxing. I like doing it because it takes so much concentration to do the moves that I get into this 'trance' and before I know it, it is over. It isn't very arobic, (you sweat, don't get me wrong) but it is more of a toning workout.

It is called the Goddess Workout- I bought it at Target for about $16 bucks.

Melissa

[golfngardennut]

I surround myself with people who like to exercise, and I get guilted into it ;)

My attention span is about 5-10 minutes at most, so at the gym I do 10 min on one piece and move to something else for 10 minutes until I do 30 min. You have a lot of stuff you could do at the house for 10 minutes each. You can do anything for 10 min!

At weight watchers, we came up with:

- marching in place or walking in place while watching t.v. and at the commercials you could do pushups or situps. (you could use put your stationary bike in front of the tv)

- Park 15 minutes from work and walk that far - you get 30 minutes a day.

- put on big slippers and dance while cleaning the house (Jimmy Buffet works for me )

- Everyone should take a 10 minute break hourly if you sit at a desk - take that 10 minute break to walk up and down the stairs or around the halls

Hope these things help... I really hate exercise myself, but try to do about 10 min of abs in the morning...

Good Luck -

[tglasco4]

Thanks Jay and Melissa!!

[Wendy]

I got a Needak rebounder (mini trampoline) and it is fun to use. I can find the website I got it from if anyone is interested. It is a lot better than any that you get cheap at Target or whatever. Those ones will eventually wreck your joints. It comes with a workout video. I just turn on the tv and do the video or while watching another show. It really works. I got the fold up type so I could take it anywhere I wanted easily.

[misslinda]

Autumn's Debut Dance Video

Suggestion: Since you don't drive Autumn.....how 'bout "Solid Gold" (remember that show) right in the privacy of your own home . make up some dance routines and crank up the music.......could it be were not getting much exercise b/c you and I (Ugh hum) have been gabbing too much lately?????

[karotw]

Autumn -

I had posted a similar thread a while ago and Melissa has suggested that she and I make a daily commitment to each other about exercise. I was thinking that maybe starting a thread for daily exercise commitments would be a good thing and just want to see if you might be interested, too. I hate to move my body - between fibromyalgia and body image issues, I really struggle - but feel so much better when I do. . . .We were talking about starting simple - 15 minutes a day, perhaps - and working up to more. . .

Let me know what you think. . .

Karen

[kiwikid78]

I believe it also takes faith. Which means believing in it without seeing or feeling anything positive. Faith takes a vision of what health you want to achieve and acting on that vision. Peace.

I believe you hit the nail on the head, Todd! I'm really starting to reap the benefits of postulation and visualization. I like your wording. Very motivating!! No wonder you're the moderator for Exercise and Fitness!!

[Autumn]

I really appreciate everyone's motivating and inspirational, uh... inspiration. Don't ask me to think right now because I've been writing all day!

Anyway, I have been doing at least 10 minutes each day this week, which is a start, yes? I do prefer to dance, so that's what it has been for now. I crank up the ol' disco and start wiggling.

Thanks again. I really, really hope to make this an everyday routine!!

[Kathleen]

Autumn,
I don't know if this will help but the only way I will ever exercise is with great music, seriously. Without it I'm bored out of my mind. So, about a year ago I invested in a little mp3 player. It was only about 70 dollars. It's called an rca lyra and the one I purchased has this great little velcro holder to keep it on your bicep when your working out - weighs nothing and you look cool at the same time It holds about 2 hours of music and once you get going it is so easy to hook it up to your computer and change the songs as often as you want (either putting music from your own cd's on there or from a music download site like napster.com). It is literally the best thing I have ever bought! I hook it up with a little cable to my hard drive (they explain this all and I am not that computer savvy so you can definitely do it) and play and change the song list on it whenever I want to. Sometimes I need hip hop or dance, other times I plug in really relaxing music for a nice long walk. I hope this suggestion helps. Oh, and try to think about how you'll feel AFTER you finish exercising, not about the actual act. Peace,Kath