Exercises for lazy people?
Replies
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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.
^^^
This! My ex used to encourage (push) me, and I resisted. It wasn't until I found something that motivated me internally that I got off my butt and started moving. If your cousin is competitive, you might try one of the many walking challenges that pop-up online and often in the office. It's summer time now, so activities in the pool might be a inviting way to increase activity levels. Ultimately, it's all about motivation and being "creative"...0 -
It sounds like you have tried very hard to find different activities for him to do...... where is HIS trying!?
I think you should talk to him - reiterate to him that this is HIS life and HIS journey and, unless he is paying you, it isn't your job to find things he'll like to do to get off his butt.
I'm sure he'd say walking is boring... he changes the games so that he can sit instead of being active with the xbox? Self-sabotage. You will get worn out trying to motivate him when he needs to find that motivation on his own.
You didn't get where you are by someone else doing all the work.
There are a lot of good suggestions in this thread but sometimes you have to take a step back and let them find the motivation on their own and then be there to help support them. Once they're doing the walk on their own you can offer to go when you see they're struggling with getting out the door, etc.
Good luck! I hope they can commit to getting more active and increasing their health and fitness.0 -
walking
kickball
playing catch
Frisbee0 -
There's only so much you can do. When they are ready to make the change they WILL come up with something that they are willing to do.
I have a friend who came to me because she said she was getting fat and wanted to start going to the gym with my husband and I. I was down with that. She got a membership and for a week and a half she was meeting us at 5:30 and working out with us. She was crabby, complain-y and was (from what I saw) doing a half hearted job. She had an excuse as to why she couldn't do "as much" (too sore to ride her horse) and I haven't seen her at the gym since last Tuesday -- MAYBE. I did all I could do to get her there, texting her the day before to make sure she'll be there, letting her know if we were taking a rest day in the morning etc. but aside from my going to her house, dragging her *kitten* out of bed and forcing her to the gym there's nothing I can do.
When she is 100% serious about it she'll come around and I'll be there to help her out again.
The point is that while your family member has said they want to start getting in shape the reality is that they don't. Laying down on the couch is easier than getting up and moving. When they decide that they're serious they'll come around.
Good luck!!0 -
Try something that gets them moving, like walking or swimming to start out.0
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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.
agreed when I first started at 560 lbs, I could barely support my own weight so I got a script from my doctor for aquatic therapy so I could use water displacement to allow me to stand long enough to be able to exercise.. The majority of the time I was in the water I walked in the therapy pool from one side to the other.. I did this the first 17 months and lost 170 lbs... so yeah walking is good........0 -
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.
^^^
This! My ex used to encourage (push) me, and I resisted. It wasn't until I found something that motivated me internally that I got off my butt and started moving. If your cousin is competitive, you might try one of the many walking challenges that pop-up online and often in the office. It's summer time now, so activities in the pool might be a inviting way to increase activity levels. Ultimately, it's all about motivation and being "creative"...
Exactly this. I have wonderful, supportive friends and family who've (gently) encouraged me to eat healthier and get more exercise for years, but it didn't stick until I found my own sources of motivation. You can provide the spark, but he's got to keep feeding the fire.0 -
No such thing. You have to want to do it.
Former "I hate exercise of any kind" person here.
After you begin to want to do it and begin doing it, you still have to make yourself do it most of the time, even if you know it is necessary and want to have success. Eventually it starts becoming something you want to do.0 -
Getting them out of the house and away from the hypnotizing aspects they are currently accustomed to, to have fun is always a good start. Don't call it exercising, call it something else.
For example, disc golfing is fun, requires little effort, (some skill) and gets the blood moving. They are outside and away from the TV, the refrigerator, and the things that keep them being a sloth. It's fun and doesn't seem like exercise, (what little it is) but it is a start. Some people lack the drive to accomplish something or they don't want it that bad yet. They haven't woken up to a visual in the mirror that offends them yet. They haven't had enough internal ridicule to actually do something about it.
It's like trying to tell an alcoholic to just quit, or a smoker to just stop. It doesn't work like that. They have to WANT to be sober or clean, they have to desire the goal, in this case of fitness. You won't be able to change the habit, what you can change is their environment. Little baby steps are the key to getting someone off the couch IMHO.
Once you can get them away from their element and have some fun, then you can add little motivators, incentives and goals. After that, they will begin to create their own goals that you can help them with. It will take some time to actually get them to "workout" with you. From my experience, people like your friend have been conditioned to be in a constant state of comfort with little to no effort, without a need to step outside of their existence. Something has to trigger them into wanting to change and if you can find the small incentives, then you have a chance, otherwise you'll be hitting your head on the wall frustrated with them.
This is all just my humble opinion, but opinion based on decades of working with people with zero motivation in all aspects of life.0 -
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.
^This. It sounds like he may be in a contemplation stage, which is a step above pre-contemplation, but he still has some emotional and mental challenges to overcome (that you can't do for him) before he'll progress to an action stage. Don't do more work than he's willing to do. It'll only frustrate you. Just make suggestions and be there when he's finally ready to take action. Be straight with him, too, in a polite manner letting him know that you've made suggestions and he doesn't really seem interested, but that you'll be there for him when he's ready.0 -
Good responses from everyone. As an overweight person myself (but getting there) I would have to say I used any and all excuses possible to not exercise. Bottom line, just didn't want to. And being so overweight, it makes it hard and its hard because you are overweight. Viscious circle.
Once I finally decided to JUST DO IT my mindset changed. Now that I've lost weight, it's easier to exercise and exercise is helping me to lose weight. Sure I still have the same old excuses, and I'd still rather not exercise but I do it and I'm always glad I did and feel better after.
Unfortunately you can't help anyone else until they are ready. This I know.0 -
You can also work up quite a sweat doing seated shadowboxing, which obviously doesn't involve any kicks, just punches. Easy to do while sitting on the couch watching TV. It's a nice "starter" exercise before graduating to an actual class.0
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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.
agreed when I first started at 560 lbs, I could barely support my own weight so I got a script from my doctor for aquatic therapy so I could use water displacement to allow me to stand long enough to be able to exercise.. The majority of the time I was in the water I walked in the therapy pool from one side to the other.. I did this the first 17 months and lost 170 lbs... so yeah walking is good........
It is funny how things change though, like I said I started out walking and did only walking for the first 6 months, then once I could do more and had more energy I got a personal trainer who I train with twice a week (finally got over my gym phobia). I now do cardio 5-7 days a week (in addition to my personal training) and have started a C25K, not sure I am going to like running, but at least I am willing to try it LOL! Sorry to babble, my point was really that once you get your body moving, it will tell you what it needs, I can no longer go hours on end (with the excpetion of sleeping) just sitting on the couch, I have to move!0 -
He honestly just sits on his butt and plays Xbox games or watches videos on YouTube. He gets virtually no exercise and eats pure junk.What does he like to do as far as hobbies, entertainment etc?0 -
Thanks for the lovely responses! I think I'll invite him out with me when I walk the dog this evening and see if he's interested. He knows I'm a speed-walker (I have rather long legs and I prefer running, so I really can't help it) but I really have to slow down with our 14-year old pup so hopefully he won't feel too intimidated.0
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I agree with all the people that said walking. Make it to a destination so it doesn't seem like work. Walk to the store, a friends house, the dog, to the park etc. Start off just around the block and it'll eventually build up to more0
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Horseshoe pitching..............................with the horse attached of course.
A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
Thanks for the lovely responses! I think I'll invite him out with me when I walk the dog this evening and see if he's interested. He knows I'm a speed-walker (I have rather long legs and I prefer running, so I really can't help it) but I really have to slow down with our 14-year old pup so hopefully he won't feel too intimidated.
This! Dog-walking is perfect. I hope you have fun together!0 -
Zombies, Run! - www.zombiesrungame.com/ - is a good combination of fitness and geekiness. There's a 5k training plan, too, but the main app plays almost like a video game. You run from zombies, collect supplies, and build your base. Logging his exercise on Fitocracy might appeal to the gamer desire to level up.0
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Zombies, Run! - www.zombiesrungame.com/ - is a good combination of fitness and geekiness. There's a 5k training plan, too, but the main app plays almost like a video game. You run from zombies, collect supplies, and build your base. Logging his exercise on Fitocracy might appeal to the gamer desire to level up.
^Great suggestions! He might like Nerd Fitness, too.
I agree with all the walking comments. Walking is great!
Does he play first person shooters? Would he be open to say a paintball outing?0 -
You'd be surprised at what can burn calories, especially in very heavy people. I weighed 320 lbs when I started. And I was very nearly bedridden. I started very very slowly. I started with very easy, simple yoga videos from youtube. I walked. And started gardening. The gardening is what's been the constant for me. I go out every evening and rake pine needles, pull weeds, and water. In the mornings I give everything a light water. Anything that gets someone moving, especially when they're lazy couch potatoes, is going to burn calories. I also found hasfit.com, they have super easy beginner workouts, which I absolutely love. After just over 2 1/2 months I'm down to 290. Just be keeping track of and changing what I eat, and getting off the couch everyday. I don't always workout, but I do keep myself moving.0
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(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!
Hate to break it to you..but unless your friend makes the commitment and effort to better himself..he's not going to do anything at all that you come up with.
I know you want to help, but he needs to do his own research and figure out what will work for him. And he'll do it if he wants it bad enough. You can't be doing the work for him. And yeah, even trying to figure out what he can or will do. It's one thing to look around for ideas. it is another to expect someone to do all the research and plan out your success.0 -
Gah. Just put the exercise into perspective - Give me a choice between running and cleaning house - running will win 9 times out of 10.
If you're going to mope about exercise being borig - switch the tv off and see how boring not doing anything is...0 -
Its like this. My mom got me a Nintendo power pad because I was lazy, but liked video games.
But I could go 5 trillion times faster by sitting on the ground and punching the pad instead.
Point is, don't but a power pad.0
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