Exercises for lazy people?

(I searched the forums and found similar posts but not with the results I wanted so I do apologize if there's another thread like this one.)

A family member of mine who has been extremely unhealthy his entire life is wanting to exercise after seeing my improvement. I'm thrilled but it's very frustrating because of how picky he is. He hates running and is unable to ride a bicycle; there's no sport leagues in our area and whenever I come up with an alternative activity or invite him with me on my own workouts, he shoots it down saying it's boring or he doesn't like it.

Is there any inexpensive activities for him to get into? Every suggestion will be greatly appreciated!
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Replies

  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    Personally, I like running and lifting weights because I am lazy. I want whatever I'm doing to be over with as soon as possible, so I can go back to being a sloth. :drinker:

    But if he poo-poos every idea and never comes up with any ideas of his own, he doesn't want to exercise. He just wants to say he wants to.
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    What about exercise that doesn't really feel like exercise. Swimming, bowling, etc?

    And/or exercise that becomes habit. For example, if there's a store within 1-3 miles away and your family member could start walking there daily or a few times per week and just buying a newspaper, cup of coffee, etc.

    I am a person who doesn't really like organized exercise, for example I'd never want to be on a sports team and if I joined a gym I would probably make a million excuses not to go. I do a ride a bike regularly, but I also just walk to nearby places every day if weather permits. It becomes habit and is excellent exercise, especially when compared with sitting on a sofa ;-)
  • ThePrimalSpartan
    ThePrimalSpartan Posts: 59 Member
    Body weight workouts! Pushups, planks, side planks, squats, and burpees. All as fast as you can for as long as you can, for 2 sets. Then you're done! For me, it usually takes about 20-25 minutes, and you're constantly doing something different so there's little chance he'll get bored. Do this 2-3 times a week, along with lots of walking. 3-5 hours per week total. Should definitely see lots of improvement with a healthy diet.
  • workaholic_nurse
    workaholic_nurse Posts: 727 Member
    What about exercise that doesn't really feel like exercise. Swimming, bowling, etc?

    And/or exercise that becomes habit. For example, if there's a store within 1-3 miles away and your family member could start walking there daily or a few times per week and just buying a newspaper, cup of coffee, etc.

    I like this idea, need to try it on some of my relatives!
  • Exercises for lazy people = oxymoron. I know because I used to be lazy
  • NewMnky1
    NewMnky1 Posts: 264
    You may be looking for more, but people really underestimate the power of walking, even slow walking over time with produce results. I know for me I hated to exercise, would never have stepped foot in a gym, but just started out with some slow walks in a local park and once it gets easier you can up the pace and distance.
  • kylamaries
    kylamaries Posts: 291
    Exercises for lazy people = oxymoron. I know because I used to be lazy
    Good point!
  • sleepingtodream
    sleepingtodream Posts: 304 Member
    I think it's all about him finding something active that he likes to do...most likely something that doesn't seem like exercise. He has to truely enjoy what he's doing. Maybe nature walks, ballroom dancing, bowling, flying a kite, swimming, roller skating, kickball, gardening, trampoline...anything to get him moving. He's going to have to think outside the box. How great of you to help him out!!
  • amy_louise_hart
    amy_louise_hart Posts: 4 Member
    I have just started walking to work instead of driving...maybe he could try that? My ten minute car journey has turned into a 30 or 40 minute walk (depending on how fit I am feeling!) and I feel so much better for doing it, and it doesn't really feel like exercise. The only issue is getting up earlier! When I occasionally have to drive in I can really tell the difference - I feel much more tired and lethargic throughout the day. It is something easy to do and it does make a difference!
  • melmckay99
    melmckay99 Posts: 358
    How about Xbox kinect games? I find them pretty fun and you don't even realize you are getting a bit of a workout when you play the games.
  • iamkass
    iamkass Posts: 122 Member
    Boxing is great too. You can get good cardio without using your lower body too much and it gets a lot of frustration out. Maybe purchase a speed bag or a heavy bag. They aren't super cheap, but it's a one time purchase (until you love it so much that it wears out and you need a new one!)
  • byHISstrength
    byHISstrength Posts: 984 Member
    Maybe he is intimidated...try to encourage him as much as possible.
  • kylamaries
    kylamaries Posts: 291
    You may be looking for more, but people really underestimate the power of walking, even slow walking over time with produce results. I know for me I hated to exercise, would never have stepped foot in a gym, but just started out with some slow walks in a local park and once it gets easier you can up the pace and distance.
    Holy moly, and you've lost quite a bit of weight!! Nice work!!
  • lovenaire
    lovenaire Posts: 10
    Walk. It is amazing what just walking will do. Have them walk a dog through the neighborhood or something.

    Dance. Turn on the music, and dance like a fool till you fall on the floor laughing.

    Just turn off the TV. TV = couch = lazy.... its inevitable.
  • larsensue
    larsensue Posts: 461 Member
    But if he poo-poos every idea and never comes up with any ideas of his own, he doesn't want to exercise. He just wants to say he wants to.

    ^^^ This
  • MargaretSans
    MargaretSans Posts: 54 Member
    what about a video game system? Wii fit or something like that might help kick start a work out routine. I like to do wii fit yoga in the morning or do the obstacle courses when I need a little extra cardio.
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    Sounds like he doesn't want to exercise. When he really wants to start exercising, he will bite the bullet and stop making up excuses. That's really all there is to it.
  • kylamaries
    kylamaries Posts: 291
    How about Xbox kinect games? I find them pretty fun and you don't even realize you are getting a bit of a workout when you play the games.
    We've tried that! We have Kinect Adventures and Sports. On the days when I count that as my light calisthenics, he'll play them for a few minutes -- if I'm lucky -- and then quickly change it to a sedentary game when I leave the room. We bought the Xbox so he'd be more active! Kinda' ironic, huh?
  • oddyogi
    oddyogi Posts: 1,816 Member
    Personally, I like running and lifting weights because I am lazy. I want whatever I'm doing to be over with as soon as possible, so I can go back to being a sloth. :drinker:

    But if he poo-poos every idea and never comes up with any ideas of his own, he doesn't want to exercise. He just wants to say he wants to.

    Pretty much this..
  • AleciaG724
    AleciaG724 Posts: 705 Member
    Yep - I HATE to exercise... I agree with video games. I started out doing a dancing game on the wii, then moved to swimming because I have a pool in my backyard - it burns TONS of calories even "leisurely" swimming. Now my husband & I go on hikes in the hills & mountains near our house. It's way more fun & interesting with another person. I plan to join a gym in the fall because I want to swim laps. Good luck, but he may not try anything until he's ready.
  • dlpnrn2b
    dlpnrn2b Posts: 441 Member
    The wii fit has a large variety of exercises that are fun and once you get your heart rate up, you start to burn those extra calories. I've done them using a hrm and was surprised by the workout it gives. It can also be purchased fairly cheap now that a new system is out.
  • ames105
    ames105 Posts: 288 Member
    Walking, its easy and free. Its a place to start. As he has more energy and starts to see some of the weight come off, he may find an interest in more.

    That being said....a person who finds something wrong with everything isn't really that serious. I think we've all been there. Exercise is 'too hard', 'not fun', 'I don't want to sweat', 'I don't have time'...etc. Excuses mean they aren't ready.

    Good luck!
  • Sedna_51
    Sedna_51 Posts: 277 Member
    I think it's all about him finding something active that he likes to do...most likely something that doesn't seem like exercise. He has to truely enjoy what he's doing. Maybe nature walks, ballroom dancing, bowling, flying a kite, swimming, roller skating, kickball, gardening, trampoline...anything to get him moving. He's going to have to think outside the box. How great of you to help him out!!

    Yup! This this this. There are a lot of things (like washing cars, gardening, cleaning the house) that get you moving without fitting the exercise label. And you can do them at your own pace.

    Also: I am/was lazy (though I prefer to think of it as "efficient") because, in large part, I felt uncomfortable with my body, and I refused to work out with friends and family because I felt so uncomfortable about slowing them down and/or being jiggly in public. I started to work out a little bit by doing it alone at home so I could get used to grunting and sweating and doing all those things that happen when you exercise. Now I'm doing crunches on the floor while I watch baseball and feeling a tiny bit like a badass. (Tiny bit!)

    ETA: Finally, he's not going to change until he's ready to. You can provide support and encouragement, but he's the one who has to decide to live a certain way. And sometimes the more you press, the more he'll press back.
  • ncmedic201
    ncmedic201 Posts: 540 Member
    What does he like to do as far as hobbies, entertainment etc?
  • You may not be able to get him to agree to any "workout" at this stage. Try getting him to agree to walk to the end of the road and back (or somewhere just five minutes away.) Then, once you're out, walk just a few more minutes . . .

    Do that a couple of times, then bet him lunch that he can't make it out for a walk, just to the end of the road and back EVERY DAY for a week. Once he's out of his chair, he probably won't stop at five minutes . . . and the snowball starts rolling.

    WARNING BASED ON MY MISTAKES: If you're in shape, don't try to get your own workout in while you're helping someone else - they won't be able to keep up with you and get frustrated and you'll getting frustrated because they're slowing you down.
  • FasTnSloW
    FasTnSloW Posts: 1
    There could be some things you could do, you can find a sport that you really like, and get some friends who can play it with you, if you are too lazy, you could play some sports that aren't that vigorous.

    If you are looking for something you can do by just rolling off your bed are...

    1) Bicycle Crunches
    Considered one of the most effective ab exercises, this move really works the obliques. Here's how:

    -Lie flat on the floor with your lower back pressed to the ground (pull your abs down to also target your deep abs). Interlace your fingers and put your hands behind your head.

    -Bring your knees in toward your chest and lift your shoulder blades off the ground.

    -Straighten your right leg out to about a 45-degree angle to the ground while turning your upper body to the left, bringing your right elbow toward the left knee. Make sure your rib cage is moving and not just your elbows.

    -Now switch sides and do the same motion on the other side to complete one rep (and to create the "pedaling" motion). Do this exercise with slow and controlled motion.

    -Do 10 to 20 reps.

    2) Plank With Donkey Kick
    Kick your planks into high gear by adding a small leg lift. This move requires extra strength, as it will challenge your core while toning your booty and hamstrings. Here's how:

    -Begin in an elbow plank with elbows directly under shoulders, abs engaged toward the spine. Don't let the pelvis sag down or pop up.

    -Lift right leg off the ground, bending your knee so the sole of your foot is toward the ceiling. Keep your pelvis square to the floor.
    Don't let your pelvis twist.

    -Press your right heel toward the ceiling as high as you can without moving your pelvis or lower back. The motion will not be huge but rather concentrated on the booty and hamstring.

    -Lower the bent leg slightly and repeat for a total of eight to 10 repetitions. Then switch sides.

    Those are just 2 detailed examples, other exercises you could do are...
    -Single-Leg Bridge Lift- -Pilates Side-Lying Leg Lifts- -Mat Swimming- -Scissor Abs-

    Hope I helped you in some way :wink:
  • Kyllosis
    Kyllosis Posts: 66 Member
    I was exactly the same. He needs a bit of a push to get him going Why don't you ease him in to it slowly? Then, if he wants to get serious, he'll be able to manage it himself.
    Show him the ropes! Tell him you really don't care about him getting all stinky and you know exactly how he feels. It gets better,
    Take him for a 10 minute walk every day. Once he can manage that easily, bump it up to 15 and repeat. Start slowly so he doesn't get scared off.
  • Lesa_Sass
    Lesa_Sass Posts: 2,213 Member
    I started out by walking 2.2 miles a day. I would walk to get a lottery ticket, the whole way there and the whole way back home I would dream about what I would spend the money on. It worked for me. Now I am a runner and far far far from being lazy. It takes energy to make energy. Start small and work up is always my recommendation.
  • RunnerElizabeth
    RunnerElizabeth Posts: 1,091 Member
    I am both extremely active and extremely lazy. Once I'm out of the house, it's go, go, go, run, run, run. But I don't want to leave the house. I want to sit on my couch, watch tv and eat cookies. So forcing him to do something other than sit on the couch is up to him.

    As far as what he should do once he's ready to do something, I agree with walking. I don't own a car on purpose, they are bad for the environment so I walk or take public transportation everywhere or even run if it's feasible. I also do body weight strength training at home. I use the You Are Your Own Gym app so I can watch tv while doing it and it just prompts me on what excercise to do and for how long. I would recommend it because you can do it while watching tv. And the program is progressive, you start at your own level and go from there.
  • Tony_Brewski
    Tony_Brewski Posts: 1,376 Member
    I am dealing with this with a good friend. He always mentions my successes and asks if he can come with to the gym. Whenever I go I ask him and get no reply no response or some lame *&* excuse like "No I have to do the dishes" ... :noway: