Advice for someone who doesn't enjoy excercise
heather4life4
Posts: 37 Member
I have recently started back to MFP again for the 2nd time. This time around i have 2 kids, very actively involved in sports and so we are usually on the go. Any suggestions for someone who does not enjoy exercise, i haven't found anything that really draws me in and i want to stop what i am doing or not doing and work out. How do you find this frame of mind? Any suggestions on things to do for beginners? Needing a place to start.
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What are you hoping to gain from the exercise? What is the reason/purpose?0
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Walking?1
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Have you tried doing short (15-20min) body weight workouts at home or outside? That is usually how I get clients started with working out who are a bit resistant to exercise/going to the gym.
Everyone is different, but in my experience, it typically comes down to two things:
a) overwhelmed from all the information out there about working out, so a fear of not doing it "right"
b) not sure where to start/fear of injury
Working out doesn't have to be for hours at a time 5/days a week, especially in the beginning. And as long as you're moving your body in a purposeful way...that counts.3 -
I think it really comes down to finding an exercise/activity that you enjoy. Something that doesn't feel like a chore. Maybe practice sports with your children? Take family hiking trips? Biking, dancing, gardening, sports, walking, running, yard work, etc.
You don't have to carve out a section of time to "exercise" to get/stay fit. You can work extra activity into your day. Take the stairs, walk or bike instead of drive when possible, walk more and sit less.1 -
Walk on a treadmill and watch something. I have a few shows that I exclusively watch when I'm on the treadmill.2
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Melissa_Leanne86, thank you! Yes i do feel overwhelmed with everything. I am not comfortable with anything exercise. It's scary to me to be honest. And since i don't understand it, then i don't know where to start.
Thank you Chef_Berbell, i sure can walk while the kids are at sporting events and i enjoy walking outside. In Iowa it's been not too bad so far weather wise. So i hope that it continues so i can do that. I do enjoy that.1 -
When I first started, I lurked around these boards for a while. I paid attention to the people who always gave good advice (in my opinion) and I noticed that the women whose bodies looked like what I wanted to look like all had one thing in common: they lifted weights and they didn't follow any fad diets. I started researching beginner programs and started. I also got my diet in check. That's where I found that frame of mind because I had finally found exercise that I loved and wanted to keep doing. I also learned that I didn't have to go balls to the wall every day with exercise to lose weight. I lost the bulk of my weight working out mostly 4 (sometimes 5) days a week and it no longer felt like a chore.
Eta: I'm not saying you have to lift weights. I'm just saying this is what lit my own fire.6 -
I was always the one with a note to miss PE at school (whenever I could!). Now I work out 6 days a week - 20 mins aerobics DVD workouts in the morning, similar or Wii Zumba in the afternoon except when I have a class - I do a Zumba class on Wednesday and clubbercise on Wednesday and Friday (the BEST fun!) at a local school. Other than that its just walking here and there, trying not to use the car for short trips (a mile each way or less). Once you find something you enjoy its a whole lot easier - I did try Zumba class at my local sports centre but it was not so much fun as the one in the school hall, which is friendly and has people of all ages and sizes. Clubbercise is even better as its in the dark with disco lights and glow sticks and no-one can see if you go wrong!1
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Experiment and find something you enjoy. Having kids means you can try things together, or at least at the same places, so you do not have an "excuse" to not go. For example, in my case, I have found that there are several places within reasonable distance from my house offering swimming classes for kids and at the same time the adults can swim in a different pool or different lanes, and there are also several places for dance or martial arts offering classes both for kids and adults. If the kids exercise outdoors, like soccer etc, you can always just walk while they are havign practice, or jog or go for a bike ride.2
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Anything active that you do recreationally can be exercise...exercise doesn't have to be droning away on some piece of equipment or jumping around your living room to a DVD. Broaden your perspective. I love riding my bike, so my primary form of exercise is cycling...I also enjoy hiking in the mountains from time to time and I hit the rock climbing gym 2-3 times per month. I also enjoy lifting and do that a couple times per week.
Also, despite popular belief, you don't have to be going balls out all of the time...really shouldn't be. Most of my cycling is pretty moderate...about 10-12 miles 4x per week which takes me about 40-45 minutes depending on tempo and usually a longer ride on the weekends. People really seem to underestimate the benefit of a mere 30-60 minutes per day of moderate exercise activity...every seems to think you need to be puking and going for hours on end, and that's just ridiculous.5 -
Thank you everyone for your advice, help and words of wisdom!! I greatly appreciate it and need to learn it isn't about being ridiculous about it, but to make the most out of what i have and where i am at in life. And i need to learn to take some time for myself and not feel guilty about it. Thank you to everyone who has posted!!1
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Why not get involved with the children. Do they need helpers with their sports eg setting up or taking down. Games in the park or at beach or in garden. Skating, swimming, nature hikes etc. Doesn't have to be in the gym.0
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_dracarys_ wrote: »When I first started, I lurked around these boards for a while. I paid attention to the people who always gave good advice (in my opinion) and I noticed that the women whose bodies looked like what I wanted to look like all had one thing in common: they lifted weights and they didn't follow any fad diets. I started researching beginner programs and started. I also got my diet in check. That's where I found that frame of mind because I had finally found exercise that I loved and wanted to keep doing. I also learned that I didn't have to go balls to the wall every day with exercise to lose weight. I lost the bulk of my weight working out mostly 4 (sometimes 5) days a week and it no longer felt like a chore.
Eta: I'm not saying you have to lift weights. I'm just saying this is what lit my own fire.
Mia speaks truth. There are a couple of things you can do (not necessarily to the exclusion of one another)
1) find something you love (as above)
2) re-define exercise and re-discover play -- going for a hike at a leisurely pace, snorkeling, paddleboating on the lake, playing catch, walking along a nature trail, all these things are "exercise" and yet super approachable. If you can slowly start adding more positive, fun activity to your life, "exercise" will stop being a negative thing in your mind.1 -
heather4life4 wrote: »I have recently started back to MFP again for the 2nd time. This time around i have 2 kids, very actively involved in sports and so we are usually on the go. Any suggestions for someone who does not enjoy exercise, i haven't found anything that really draws me in and i want to stop what i am doing or not doing and work out. How do you find this frame of mind? Any suggestions on things to do for beginners? Needing a place to start.
Keep looking - keep trying new things. Hula hoop, pilates, rebounding, yoga, ....just a ton of different things out there.
You-Tube is great for test driving workouts for free. These are good starter cardio workouts: https://www.youtube.com/user/walkathomemedia
Anytime - anywhere.
Being active can mean taking steps. Try playing a sport yourself. Go hiking on the weekends. If all else fails find the thing that you tolerate, make a schedule.....stick to it. You don't go the the doctor because you enjoy, you do it because it's the healthy thing to do.1 -
I started exercising last year as I noticed I just couldn't eat like I used to and keep the weight off so I reluctantly started running. I HATED it at first... Well, for the first 2 months I despised running and would put it off as much as I could. So, to make sure I had a goal I signed up to a half marathon which I'm doing this weekend.
I'm not a runner or ever been athletic, and I can admit to actually enjoying it now. The only reason I joined a gym was because my boiler broke at home so needed somewhere to shower until it got fixed. I now go 3x a week whilst running 3x, and I'm feeling much better for it. Turns out I like weights but not a fan of running machines!1 -
Cardio machines with a tv or a really energetic playlist to keep you pumped.0
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Walk walk walk! There are TONS of people here whose only purposeful exercise is walking. Getting a little bit of higher paced cardio and some strength training as well would be optimal, but sometimes optimal just ain't gonna happen, and something is better than nothing!
I also know a lot of moms who do short DVD/internet workouts and their small children like to jump around with them as if they are doing it too. Challenge your kids to races around the house.
And just keep trying stuff until something sticks. You can check out Fitness Blender for lots of different free workouts you can do in your living room.0 -
heather4life4 wrote: »Melissa_Leanne86, thank you! Yes i do feel overwhelmed with everything. I am not comfortable with anything exercise. It's scary to me to be honest. And since i don't understand it, then i don't know where to start.
Thank you Chef_Berbell, i sure can walk while the kids are at sporting events and i enjoy walking outside. In Iowa it's been not too bad so far weather wise. So i hope that it continues so i can do that. I do enjoy that.
I often times add walks throughout my day - a chronic knee injury prevents me from running, but I often will hit 5-6 miles/day, including some great hill work near my house... definitely gets the blood moving. If you enjoy walking outdoors.. there you go - exercise.
I also suggest trying some activity based classes.. kickboxing, or dance, as example. It doesn't have to be labeled "exercise" to give you what you need.0 -
The two things that work for me..1. Dance Fitness class and @. Get a dog to walk0
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I would say stop thinking of being active as "exercise." I was in the same boat for a while until I found a few things I love: water aerobics/Aqua Zumba, hiking, swimming, and walking my dog in the neighborhood.0
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Keep and open mind and try new things - walking, weight lifting, running, biking, spinning, pilates, yoga, boxing, TRX, barre, circuits, Zumba, hiking, dancing, swimming, kayaking, etc. There are so many options, and I'm sure you can find something that you like especially if you keep an open mind and don't rule out all exercise. I think people forget that there's more than just going to the gym or doing exercising videos at home or just rule out all exercise because it initially makes them feel uncomfortable or out of place.
Are you outdoorsy? Very social? Maybe you can recruit a friend to walk with you, run, hike, or take a new class? Go hiking or biking with your kids?0 -
@heather4life4 , My wife is also not likely to choose to exercise. Yet even so, when she sees me working on one of our cardio machines in the living room she often will use the other, which is a treadmill. This week she decided to walk to Paris, so she's keeping a log of her mileage to see how long it takes. Paris, Texas is closer. Maybe a social sort of thing like that is what you need. Do you have friendly neighbors you can recruit for this?0
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Definitely find something you enjoy, then start out slow. When I just started walking is all I did. Then I got a fitbit to track my steps and totally got hooked on getting 10k-15k steps a day. On one of my walks I felt like I wanted to go a bit faster so I ran for about 30 seconds and felt like I was dying. But eventually I was able to run more and more and I just completed my first 5k race last weekend.
I still do not enjoy strength exercises, but it is a necessary evil if I want some definition and less loose skin
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I love the idea of quick pops of exercise for someone starting out. And stuff you can do at home and don't need any machines for. Perhaps a simple 15 minute brisk walk with some kettlebell swings & squats then push ups. It would be 30 minutes all in and gives you some cardio and strength training -- and fun.1
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Start with walking.
Good luck! 0 -
Zumba is great if you find a good class.0
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heather4life4 wrote: »It's scary to me to be honest. And since i don't understand it, then i don't know where to start.
okay, then i think the place to start is with anything that is 'small' enough NOT to be scary. doesn't matter what it is or how little it is, and i'm not meaning to belittle you by putting it like that. you're mostly wanting to give yourself the chance to experience exercise in some other context than fear-and-loathing.
the rest comes later, iyam.
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When I started I did not enjoy any excessive anymore. But I looked at what I used to enjoy over the years. So I upped my yoga, found an aquarobics class and started with what I used to love way back when. It was hard to do but I kept thinking I used to love it, there must be something in it.
I started walking, as that was easiest to fit in and did not need investment much. Though at that stage it felt like a chore to do, but these days it is my go-to thing to do and I love hiking now.
I found that over time I have take up things that I used to hate with a vengeance, but now love doing. There are other things I still don't like but don't discount things you have tried and did not like for the future.0
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