Confession about exercising...

Don't be embarrassed. Exercise isnt' always fun. The trick is to make it fun. I always hated it too, but I've realized in the past few weeks that when I eat right and get a little cardio every day, I feel SO much better. I have more energy, I'm in a better mood, it's just good all around. So I like to do it now. But I've also found something to make it fun for me. I do Wii Fit Plus and EA Sports Active 2, and they're fun because I get instant feedback on how well I'm doing, so it's kind of like trying to beat my own high scores.

I don't know about P90X, except that I've heard it's REALLY intense. I know I wouldn't be ready to take it on, personally. I think you have to have some base level of fitness before trying it. Other people can weigh in more on it though.

Whatever you decide to go with, try to make it fun. Whether it's good music, or maybe watching a movie while you run on the treadmill, or whatever, if you make it fun and change it up from time to time, you'll be more likely to stick with it. Good luck!

Not everyone !! :laugh:

I do not exercise except cycling to and from work 20 minutes each way ... when I lost 84 pounds a year ago, I got into exercise really heavily and was really toning up and I looked much smaller than I actually weighed .. but exercising at a gym is not for me, I prefer being with my son and boyfriend, otherwise it gets selfish, spending all day at work, then nights at the gym and I'm not prepared to give everything up for it.

My friends and I go for 2 hour walks, a couple of times a week (when the weather gets better) quite brisk walking (take the kids), so with that and the cycling it's enough for me .. I'm happy to accept who I am at 43 - I know how heavily you can get into all this exercise, obsessed even only for it to falter a few months later having purchased all the equipment, all the new work out gear etc, etc.....Am still paying for a gym now I don't use ...

Im not ashamed I don't go to the gym, or run, or use any hi-tech equipment .. It'll only gather dust in the long run anyway.

So - u r not on ur own, but at least you want to do exercise ...... go with what feels right for you, don't worry what others are doing, even if you just walk the dog / run up the stairs etc .. it's all good stuff

I tried P90. I love exercising, but I HATED that video. I did not stick with it. I recommend trying to stick with something you enjoy that burns calories.

I totally agree with "ajweekley". Exercise isn't fun, unless you make it fun, or find something you'd like to do. And like ajweekley, I too Wii Fit Plus, and also an awesome game for the Wii called "Just Dance 2" Dance to your favorite songs, shed the pounds, and have fun doing it.

gawds I sound like an advertisement for Nintendo lol But yea, it's key to keep it fun and interesting. But it's not just exercise it's watching what you eat. I found all the exercise in the world wouldn't do me any good, I'd go till I couldn't but as soon as I got watching what I ate, I was slowly at first cause I've just kinda started about two weeks ago, but it does put you in a way better mood about yourself, and about the day.

But yea, I digress...

My wife reached her goal weight and the most strenious "work out" she did was walking and Wii Fit. She just started Zumba a few weeks ago.

I agree with the others. Don't do P90X right away. You will likely not complete it. In Fact, I only know one person who has.

Find something active that you like to do. Tennis, golf, cycling, swimming, hiking, geocaching (www.geocaching.com), frisbee golf, anything that gets you moving. You don't have to exercise for exercise sake. I wrote a blog last week that touches on this subject: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/iplayoutside19/view/i-worked-out-today-i-can-eat-that-63625

(I love geocaching!)

For now, listen to your body and just eat right and get some light exercise. The rest will fall into place.

Good advice.

Hmmmm. I guess you call it exercising but I call it taking my dog for a walk, snowshoing through the forest to hear the wind , or hiking with my dog through the hills, skating with my little girl who actually skates better then me. I guess its exercise but to me it's spending quality time with myself, my daughter and my dog. If it helps me lose a few more pounds all the better.

If you are a scale watcher, then P90x is NOT for you. You will build muscle, you will get stronger, and you will see big changes really quick in your physical appearance. Having said that, the more muscle you have, the faster you burn. I didn't lose much (maybe 5 lbs) on P90x like other have claimed to but now that I am done with my 1st round and moved on to more cardio based exercises, the weight is falling off quicker than it was before I did P90x because I have more muscle.

The nice thing is that the video are different daily, and you aren't just doing the same BORING repetitious things that you would do on a treadmill.

If you like a challenge like I do, then go for P90x. I say give it at least 4 weeks and you don't just feel good about how your body is looking and feeling, then switch, but at least give it that 4 weeks.

I haven't worked out in probably for 6 months before starting P90X. I was in the worst shape of my life! But I'm still a pretty athletic guy and I've always enjoyed working out. So I don't know if I'd listen to others about you need to be some what in shape before starting or not. But I do know that P90X is tough. If you hate exercise and normally quit after a few weeks, I honest don't see you sticking with it. It's 60 mins of high impact work out. From lifting weights, yoga to cardio.6 days a week! But you will see results. At the end of my first week I noticed my stamina was way up. I drop about 10-15 afters 2 weeks. I'm sleeping a little better and just more energy. I love this program!

Hi
what about joing a class thats fun, something that you can meet people and work together in? Any of the BTS classes will give you this eg bodypump, bodycombat, rpm etc etc give it a try ! good luck

I really dislike the gym-- people always turn on the TV there (I really dislike television, and find the noise of it in the background detracts from anything else I'm trying to do), so I prefer running alone along the wooded trails near my home, hiking with my best friends, walking the dog-- anything outdoors, really. I've also found that I REALLY love yoga. It is wonderful, and I feel so great after going that I actually WANT to go as many times a week as I can make space for. I go to the gym every once in a while, but I don't live there by any means.

I think that's honestly the most important thing-- finding something that you truly love-- because then the exercise isn't a chore anymore, but a beautiful thing that helps connect you to your body, your loved ones, the outdoors, or whatever your passion is.

I hate exercising. I am a naturally lazy person. Even when I was a kid, I would rather read a book than play a sport. Now, I like watching a movie, reading, taking a bath, etc, WAY more than exercising. I dread it before, I hate doing it during, and I am tired and hate it afterwards. That's honesty.

However, I KNOW I am not going to get anywhere if I don't exercise. I love food. I love food much more than I love being lazy. That was the decision I had to make: laziness or food. Food won. So I allow myself a few more carbs and a few more calories than I think a "dieter" should eat (MFP has me at about 1540 a day before exercise) but I also work out 6 days a week (minimum) and try to burn about 3000 calories a week on average. For me, it was about finding something quick. I do a lot of 30 minute programs, I have kick boxing and dancing and interval training.

When I am really not feeling motivated, I head outside. I have realized that walking forces me to exercise because once I am out there, I can't get back any other way. I HAVE to walk home. I usually start losing oomph about 25 minutes in, but then I realize I am only 1/2 way home so I keep it up. The faster I walk, the faster I can get home. It's absolutely ridiculous, and I know it, but it works!

Like others have said, P90x is REALLY intense. If you aren't already in pretty good shape, you could burn yourself out or even injure yourself. There are a lot of high impact exercises that can be hard on your joints, but if you are in OK condition and you don't have joint problems you could try it. Especially if you already have it.

Good luck!

I enjoy outdoor exercise only. I wasn't successful at sticking with it until I realized I didn't need a home gym to walk or run. I just needed to walk out my front door. Easy to say from Sunny Florida, but if you really want to do something, you'll find a way to do it. Good luck.

Confession: I hated all forms of formal exercise up until this past year. I liked being active - hiking, walking the dog - and being strong enough to rearrange furniture and stuff like that, but the thought of exercise for exercises' sake... bleah.

But I was jealous of my older brother's ability to run in 5k races with his 25 year old daughter. I envied them, but didn't think I could do it. Until a friend of my niece's was talking at a party about the Warrior Dash, a 5k obstacle race where you jump fire and crawl through mud, and get a viking hat and a beer at the end of it all. It sounded like a crazy good time, and the friend wasn't exactly Ms Athlete, and she was going to do it. It was six months away, and I made that my goal.

Somewhere along the line, probably when I started seeing major changes to my body and health, I realized... this exercising thing is kind of fun! I'm a convert! It became a habit. I'd be lying if I didn't say there weren't some days when all I want to do is stay in bed, but more often than not, I look forward to exercising because I feel so damn good when I finish. (And admittedly, some days, it only feels good when I do finish...)