Exercise is effort and I don't have any effort :(

lisaelainee

I need help/support/motivation for exercise!
What do you do for exercise and what is it's target area?

Add me for support too

Sophiepoo

I do little and often as most of the time, I actually get bored of doing anything more than 15 minutes. I do a lot of lifting and stretching and maybe about 5-15 mins running every other day. I do walk to work every day which is around 30 mins there and back. I find doing the weights slow and steady and correctly makes a big difference.

Natalie49

I do things that i enjoy doing.. dancing, running in the morning, walking my dog, zumba!
So maybe try to find what you enjoy the most and then it'll be a fun way to burn cals! (:

BobbyClerici

Exercise is no real effort but a joy when you like what you're doing.
Have fun!

I'd go nuts on the "dreadmill" or some other cardio machine. NOT FOR ME!
I have zero effort or motivation for that.

But tennis? Dancing? Biking? Running? -- YES!
Find something you enjoy that get's it done without boring you half to death.

I know one lady who works elliptical watching daytime soaps...lol Whatever! The idea is to find your niche and go for it.

You can do it!

Helloitsdan

Dance central!!!!!!

stevwil41

Start with something easy. Back in the Spring I started getting up half an hour earlier and walking before work. Nothing too strenuous just a pleasant walk along the riverfront. Once the weather started to change in the Fall I joined a gym. Now I walk some on a treadmill or use the elliptical and do some circuit training. What worked for me may not work for you but whatever you decide to do just ease into it so you're not overwhelmed.

bfletcher89

As eeryone else has said, try different things and find what you love. I've run for the past 5 years and over time have got bored sick of it. i'd go through phases of running through summer, losing weight and then piling it all back on once the colder weather comes. I've recently bought a bike and really enjoy going out on it, so much so that you don't feel that your excersicing. Varying your routine means you're likely to stick at it. Althoguh you don't burn as many calories riding a bike as you do running, i find i enjoy it more, go out for longer and so in the long run, probably burn more. Places that were 'too far away to run to' are now accessible on bike so it makes things more interesting. If i didn't have two left feet i'd probably give dancing a go, i go riding aswell and although many people say 'you just sit there' unfortunatly, this is not true. It's really hard to find motivation and drive in the cold weather but look how far youve come and how proud you'll be in a months time for example, when you've lost weight and imporved your fitness, or you could take the lazy option like i did and be back at square one when the warmer weather comes! Good luck, you can do anything you put your mind to, the best things in life don't come easy.

deksgrl

Oh, boy, when you find the magic answer, let me know. I liked Zumba when I was doing it (last January through June) but I am having a heck of a time trying to fit that back in my schedule. I have been thinking about trying some DVD's at home, but don't have confidence that I will actually be able to actually be disciplined and do it. Have to figure something out, because I want to see change and there is no magic that doesn't require movement.

kymarai

I too have a hard time with "exercise". I like things that get something else accomplished: gardening, washing windows, washing the car, just about anything. I try to fit in extras, like when wrapping the gifts I sat on floor and made myself stretch for things (arm workout) and get up and put it under tree after each gift (thigh and buttock workout) I felt it for two days! I dance while getting ready in the morning. Two minutes to brush teeth is two minutes of dance, blow drying hair- again dance. When I am at work, I total a bill, call, then go downstairs to file, then do next one. I have even been known to do a few jumping jacks or dance moves when no one is around at work. Just small shots to get heart rate up! Good luck!

kaetra

I too have zero motivation. Cold December - just want tea and blanket.

I know the hardest part is just putting the damn Zumba game in the PlayStation. The rest is easy and fun and exhilirating and all that stuff.

I just can't get the damn disc in. Because tea and blanket are in the way. Brrrrr

ALW65

I agree with you about trying to fit things into your scedule....I had to laugh because when I glanced at your MFP name quickly I thought it said "Deskgirl"....I'm thinking "she has the same problem as me-she's tied to a desk with limited workout time" :laugh:

At the risk of sounding very cliche, my weight loss doctor told me something that really rings true for me:

Motivation is like an emotion...you can't make yourself feel happy very easily, so why do you think you can "make" yourself be motivated? It's actually the exercise that WILL motivate you when you get the positive chemicals flowing in your brain and positive results on your body.

I used to think I hated to exercise until I tried lifting weights, and found out I love it. I also thought I hated running until I did the C25K program...can't say I love running, but I really like that I can do it now.

Unfortunately, I still have the biggest stumbling block in place.....I HATE getting started! I don't want to have to get up early to go workout, or start a new exercise program, etc. Once I'm doing it I love it, and wish I could do it more often. It's that first step I have to push through, and then I'm fine. I always say that if I win the lottery you'll be seeing me at the gym 5 days a week for two hours at a time until I'm where I want to be....all the time in the world and money is no object - what a dream!

bfletcher89

Agree with the excersice vid point, i used to do them and they really work, i think because you do weights and intervals of high intensity work to increase your heart rate, i would do them more often if i had co-ordination and the christmas tree wasnt in the way haha

harrydresden

The Wii or Kinect are fantastic.
Just Dance 3 is on the Kinect now, and there is a range of music to please most tastes in part. It's tons of fun and if you go about it right, a brilliant workout. Dance Evolution/Dance Masters is excellent if you want something different; a lot of Para Para, Japanese-y pop, and Japanese club dances, mixed in with the (imo!) crappy RnB and Rap stuff. They're fun, so never feel like a workout. Kinect definitely tops the Wii for the dance games, but the first 2 JD games have some excellent tracks.

NancLH4

I am a walker, and I love to walk. I don't look at that as my exercise. It's just my *me* time. I've been doing that for a lot of years now.
But when I started this weight loss trek to a new me, I also found Zumba. I love Zumba. It doesn't feel like I'm off to exercise, but it's a better workout than anything I've ever done. I'm at 296 days of logging in here at MFP and I'm down 49 pounds. Yes, I'm watching my diet. But I've done that before. The new addition for me was adding Zumba. I try to go at least 2 times a week. I found an instructor that I love. I can get to 2 of her classes easily. And my local gym has another lady that is really good. So most weeks I can get in 3 Zumba sessions.
If you go to zumba.com and put in your zip code, you'll find instructors in your area. They are certified instructors this way and have had to go through an extensive training period to become certified instructors.
Find a class and go. Don't worry about being new. We were all new once.

H_Factor

Exercise is no real effort but a joy when you like what you're doing.
Have fun!

I'd go nuts on the "dreadmill" or some other cardio machine. NOT FOR ME!
I have zero effort or motivation for that.

But tennis? Dancing? Biking? Running? -- YES!
Find something you enjoy that get's it done without boring you half to death.

I know one lady who works elliptical watching daytime soaps...lol Whatever! The idea is to find your niche and go for it.

You can do it!

^^ THIS ^^ You have to find something that you enjoy doing because that's the only way you'll stick with it. Exercise is about improving your cardio health and you can accomplish that a variety of ways. Try different things.

For me, it would be difficult to consistently do the same workout. I would get bored. So my workout routine includes variety. Here's what I do, or aim for, most weeks (I don't sweat it if I miss a day or two some weeks):

Monday: boot camp. 45-60 minutes. I LOVE going to boot camp. One day I'd like to do 2 boot camps a week. The thing I love about boot camp is that the boot camp itself is variety...the routine changes often. Also, since the rest of my training is self directed at and around my house, its nice to have someone else push me once per week...and I enjoy doing the boot camp with other campers.

Tuesday: rest

Wednesday: run 30-50 minutes. I have to admit that I never liked running. In fact, I didn't run until Memorial Day this year. I had not run for over 20 years...and I only ran then because it was required in PE class and for playing baseball. I used to recite reasons for why I couldn't run (i.e., flat feet, shin splints, no fun, etc.). However, now that I've been running, I really enjoy the way that I can set goals and try to achieve them. See, I'm a goal oriented person and I like having something to try to achieve. This week I bumped my distance up to 5.2 miles at once and I see a 10k in my near future. My earlier goal was a 5k and then 5 miles and now a 10k. I also enjoy running outside because I can look around and reflect on things. I can tell you that I WOULD NOT like running on a treadmill for any distance. BORING! Fresh air is awesome and it helps a ton to tell myself during runs..."ok, 0.9 miles to that traffic light...then 0.5 miles to the next turn"...it helps me to break down a longer run like that.

Thursday: full body resistance circuit with adjustable dumbbells at my house...20-30 minutes....usually followed by 3-6 fifteen second sprints to really finish the workout. I love the feel of doing supersets with non-competing muscle groups. I love the way I just exhaust myself doing the sprint finishers. This workout truly gives me a high.

Friday: rest or run.

Saturday: I either do Thursday's workout again or, more often, I do sprint interval training. I describe it in more detail in my blog, but I will do 10-12 intervals of: Sprint for 15 seconds followed by a bodyweight exercise followed by a rest period...then repeat with a different bodyweight exercise.

Sunday: bike ride. I'm currently going for about 70 minutes. Just as the run, its nice to get out in the fresh air and ride my bike. Again, I like to break down the ride.

ashnm88

The right music on your MP3 player or iPod makes all the difference.

michiganderrdh

DItto others - you have to find something you enjoy!

Do you like group classes? RUnning? walking?

Find a local challenge, walk/running group or a class you really enjoy. Get an accountability partner.

deksgrl

I had to laugh because when I glanced at your MFP name quickly I thought it said "Deskgirl"....I'm thinking "she has the same problem as me-she's tied to a desk with limited workout time" :laugh:

I am a Deskgirl too, but not where I got my name from, very apt though. LOL!

Motivation is like an emotion...you can't make yourself feel happy very easily, so why do you think you can "make" yourself be motivated? It's actually the exercise that WILL motivate you when you get the positive chemicals flowing in your brain and positive results on your body.

Very good point, and a good thing to remember.
.

Unfortunately, I still have the biggest stumbling block in place.....I HATE getting started! I don't want to have to get up early to go workout, or start a new exercise program, etc. Once I'm doing it I love it, and wish I could do it more often. It's that first step I have to push through, and then I'm fine.

Yes, exactly.

RumRum85

Hi lisaelainee!

Well, as NancLH4 said, I'm a walker too! I go to walk to an ecological reservour on weekends, to enjoy a quiet and relaxing 3 hours of walking fast. Currently I'm training to do some trekking in my vacations!

I also started to include some running (at low speed) guided by the adidas micoach application that gives you instructions of rythm and time during the exercise.

And you have to give a try to the comment of thespellwrigh those games will let you completely exhausted and are really funny!

Helloitsdan

I had to start getting up an hour early to work out. If i'm around my wife it will never happen.
So in the mornings before I do anything I hit the weights then have a massive breakfast!