Hints to fall in love with exercise?

Igoligirl

Hello! I am Cassandra, I am 22 and live in Maine and I hate exercise. It is so boring! I run/walk on a treadmill at the gym and take walks outside, weather permitting, but get uninterested and bored so quickly and dread it. I used to love taking walks, bike rides, and runs because my dog went with me, but I don't have her anymore.
Does anybody have any tips?? Please help.

revren10

if you got an i pod download music that gets you moving, and don't try and go crazy in the begining when you first start working out. It's gonna take time but believe in your dream and you can accomplish it

BarbWhite09

I feel your pain. I normally do exercise videos because I'm too terrified & embarrassed to go to the gym, and I keep trying different ones because they all bore the crap out of me. It's just not fun, at all. Only thing I've found so far to be a decent form of exercise & is fun, is playing tennis with my fiance [or sometimes one of my friends]. Normally I just end up chasing the ball around because I really suck, but yea. I kind of hate all sports & have no interest in playing them, but if you have a random sport you like to play, do it, it's a little more than being on the treadmill at least.

Nana_Booboo

Do what's fun.

The things that are fun and you don't notice the "exercise"

Like dancing
swimming


My fun is Aqua Zumba where it's more fun than exercising. The hour class is over before I realize it!!

slayerdan

Music. I survive the bike, the treadmill, running the stadium, and the sauna with music. You wont love the exercise, but your focus is elsewhere so you dont mind.

Gordie580

I play video games when I do my work out in my basement. It seems to pass the time very well. My games last about 30-45 min and I work out the whole time.

AloyMomNwife

Time... eventually you won't hate it. I felt the same way a year ago ad now, I don't love it but I get very cranky when I don't work out... you will become addicted to the endorphin trip you get after working out. Time and patience will get you there. Good luck!

fittraier

try other stuff...spinning class, water exercise, swimming, maybe a video you can do at home, zumba, a les mills class like bodypump or bodyvive, there are other things. Yoga, pilates. you live in maine..snow! cross country ski, snow shoe, hike in the nicer weather.

try crossfit studio if you have one in your area, quick fast 20-30 min intense workouts.

Don't limit yourself!

lilsassymom

I used to have a gym membership but like you I found the equipment boring when I did go to the gym. So. now I use workout dvds at home. Instead of paying a monthly gym membership fee I use that money I would've spent on a gym membership and put it towards my equipment for home----dumbbells, workout dvds, heart rate monitor etc. I find working out at home much more fun because I have worked my way up to quite a large collection of workout dvds. You don't need treadmills/ellipticals to lose weight. I hope you find something that works for you .

tdmcmains

Heard somewhere that the best exercise is the one you'll do. For me, as goofy as it is, I work from home and just don't want to cart my lazy *kitten* to the gym so I do workout DVDs like Jillian Michaels. It's a little embarrassing, I think, strutting your stuff in your own living room but it works for me and makes me sweat my butt off, so I guess that's good.
I'd say try some different things and see what you will tolerate. Maybe join a local volleyball team, raquetball club, i dunno. But I agree, gyms are boring!!!

stablesong

Try new things. Personally, I hate treadmills but I love the elliptical. I like running in the neighborhood but not on a trail. Don't limit yourself because you might find something like Zumba or dance DVDs that you really enjoy!

carrieann1967

I hate exercise too and have always avoided it like the plague. I was always at the back for cross country running at school. I started doing zumba a couple of months ago and I'm hooked. I go to classes twice a week and play Zumba 2 on the Wii. Try it its a great laugh.

Try other exercise classes too and see which ones appeal to you. If you like dancing try some dance classes, street dance, tap dancing, whatever you want.

kgchisholm

I think music helps a lot. But you have to find the RIGHT music that pumps YOU up.

RooChilders

I exercise with the Wii a lot. If I am having a I don't want to work out day I usually play the tennis on the Wii Sports. Always start small in your exercise goals that way you don't get burned out to quickly. Try doing some outside activities. If you enjoy yard work or shoveling snow for this time of year they are both a really good calorie burn. Good luck I hope this helps.

JeSuisPrest

Find something you like. I enjoy playing tennis and am also starting to love Yoga through Jillian's Yoga Meltdown dvd. I also like 30 Day Shred, it's a rather quick workout.

Scorpiotwinkle

Ipod. LIsten to the music you love to dance to and go for it! I have been going to the gym religiously every six days since 3rd Jan 2012 and today is the first day that I feel FANTASTIC. I keep saying it to everyone because I can't quite believe it either - I was like you and hated getting out of breath and sweaty, but now I love it and can't get enough. I wouldn't be able to do it without my music though.

Pollyfleming

if you got an i pod download music that gets you moving, and don't try and go crazy in the begining when you first start working out. It's gonna take time but believe in your dream and you can accomplish it

^^^^^^This!

lisapr123

My ipod helped a lot when I was first getting back into working out. I also loved doing Couch to 5k (the GetRunning App rocks!). I mostly work out alone, because I prefer it that way, but often get a group together and we go for bike rides or walks. Groups help keep it fun.

Another thing that has worked for me is doing fitness-based vacations. I cycled & hiked across part of Ireland, cycled across Wisconsin, and last summer spent two weeks hiking, climbing and camping in Maine. (If you're close to Acadia, I am jealous!). No, the whole vacation isn't always fitness based but I try to work in activities that are. When I keep in mind that my vacation will be better the fitter I am, I find that extremely motivating! Even more so than a bikini or a pair of short-shorts.

Good luck to you

(maybe try tennis, golf, volleyball....something fun and active but not necessarily "dreaded exercise".)

mrmarius

try to find things you already enjoy that you dont consider "exercise"... for instance i love basketball so its not exercise for me but i get a bigger calorie burn from it than anything else.. look into new things maybe you'll find something thats fun, i like turbofire because its fun and i really hate "working out".. also like o thers have said get some good music to listen to that helps as well

TinkrBelz

I believe that you have got to find what you love. I do not like ellipticals or treadmills either. I get super bored. So, find what you like. I like lifting weights. But, I took a Zumba class and a Crunk class at my gym last year and I loved them. In fact, now I am the gym's Zumba teacher. I say, try different things and different types of classes. And I think it will click that you LOVE this. Personally, if it has dancing in it I am going to love it.

But, if you do not like the exercise that you are doing, you will not keep it up. Find what you love to do!! So, if you are like me and love to dance...look for a gym that offer some sort of dance/workout class.

I need to add, I do not do well working out at home. Too many kids and things to do at the house. I have to go to the gym to workout.

vjrose

Music is my thing, but if your gym has lots of different torture devices like mine does, go find out when their trainer is in (or the one who demos the machines) and get them to show you how they work. Then get some music and go for it. Have a friend who does that ski looking thing, she says she puts the same music she uses when she's skiing and just closes her eyes and pretends she going cross country, lol. I do a lot of rowing and I did that a lot as a kid so I have lots of imaginary places to go. On my off days I play on the Wii fitness plus, flapping around like a chicken is a better workout than you would think, lol.

Princesslenox

What helps me get through 45 minutes of walking on the treadmill is listening to music, watching my favorite cartoon spongebob and imagning where i want to be physically.

mizzdivat

You gotta have some bangin music, do exercises you like such as: dancin, walking, yoga, etc. Having good music when I exercise is key because then i'm not so focused on the exercise and it goes by quicker. Good luck dear

p0stdramatic

Group fitness!

karenhs2

Buy a new dog? I am typing this before heading out the door with my boxer who insists on his walks. It is motivating but of course you don't want to get a pet just for that. sorry that you don't have yours anymore. Come to think of it, I used to like the treadmill when I could talk to my best friend but after I lost her, it lost its appeal. so I am thinking you really need something new, too.

I would suggest continuing to try new things until you find something you do love (or at least like a whole lot). I personally detest treadmills - any other cardio equipment at your gym you can try to mix it up? I am not a big fan of lots of cardio anyway, I prefer strength training. Currently looking into getting some kettlebells for something new.


Here is a video I found this morning about a piece of equipment to make and use at home:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmAYUO1XKYY&feature=player_embedded#!
And there is a dvd workout for it here:
http://bcbhf.com/store-2/store/#ecwid:category=1144216&inview=product4668979&mode=category&offset=0&sort=priceDesc

I have been doing Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred in January with a goup on here. I am just about sick of it but it was a lot more fun doing it with a group. Maybe try different classes at your gym. You never know what will spark you and really turn you on.

thatsnumberwang

I second previous posters - try out a lot of different things if you can, and see what you like and get excited about. If you have a gym membership, try their different classes, try more weight training, try music you love, even audiobooks. It's a personal experiment - enjoy the process!

wdwghettogirl

Do what's fun.

The things that are fun and you don't notice the "exercise"

Like dancing
swimming


My fun is Aqua Zumba where it's more fun than exercising. The hour class is over before I realize it!!

^^^ This! If you're not enjoying yourself, it becomes a chore and you won't stick with it. If you have a Wii or a Kinect, there are lots of fun games that get you up and moving. We just got a Kinect and bought Dance Central to go with it. It is SO much fun! It even gets my hubby and my younger bro off the couch and moving. Fruit Ninja is another one. I've heard Zumba is super fun, too (there are classes you can take, or Zumba for the Kinect).

Look into dance classes, martial arts, swimming, find some walking/jogging buddies (MFP is a great place to find buddies). Find an event to train for, a 5K, a Warrior Dash, something that will give you some motivation to continue training. The important thing is to keep moving and do what you enjoy.

20dee

Go to your local animal shelter and take the dogs on a walk/run. You and the dogs from there will benefit from the exercise and time will go by quickly. You will leave there with a smile:)

thekateb

If you like to dance at all and have it available, I HIGHLY recomment ZUMBA!!!! It is SO much fun and you can burn between 700-900 calories in an hour. You don't even notice that you are working out and the hour is over before you know it

acantu59

ZUMBA! 'nuff said... :happy:

missym357

I don't love exercise, but have gotten past that point of every minute of it being sheer willpower. Taking group classes that I enjoy makes a huge difference for me (zumba is fun fun fun!!), good music, and seeing and feeling results drives me. Once you get past a certain point, it gets easier and I daresay, you may look forward to your workouts and dread having to miss them. Once you have invested enough time and effort into yourself, you won't want to let it go.