How do y'll keep the exercise FUN?

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  • poisonesse
    poisonesse Posts: 573 Member
    I tried many types of exercise to see what fit me. I'm not that into organized exercise, and I don't like gyms... so tried using online exercise programs, videos, etc. But I found what I really enjoy doing is walking. I'm lucky enough to live in FL, and in an area with 5 wildlife management areas, a few State parks, and a 46 mile "rails to trails" system, so instead of working out with weights, or going to the gym, I grab my two dogs and I hike. 7 days a week, every morning, without fail! LOVE IT! We only get in 5-7 miles a day in the summer, it's too hot for the dogs, but come winter, we hike farther into the parks and get to see more. LOVE being that close to nature, so it works really well for me. ;)
  • Helika18
    Helika18 Posts: 3 Member
    I like to try HIIT. You can go on the Body Rock TV website and they have some quick 20-30 min amazing work outs. I can't exercise for extended periods of time because I get bored. I need short bursts that includes strength training and it does the trick.
  • dfwesq
    dfwesq Posts: 592 Member
    Besides hiking and walking for fun, I also try to run errands on foot, instead of driving. A 10-minute walk to the library or post office is 20 minutes of exercise.
  • shadowfax_c11
    shadowfax_c11 Posts: 1,942 Member
    Mouse_Potato wrote: »
    SharonAnderegg wrote: »
    My favourite is riding my horse where I get most of my cardio. All other exercise I do is to make me a better rider. So I do weight/interval training and yoga. I found a friend who wanted to check out my trainer so we go twice a week. It is in her home gym so no big public gym full of people which I found kinda depressing. Just the two of us and our trainer. Ditto with yoga. Tried many different instructors until I found my current one. Again a good friend loves this class too so we always go together. Also a small class - no more than 8 people but usually about 6. I don't like exercise but I really enjoy the benefits. Good luck.

    This sounds familiar. I also ride and I LOVE cross-training! I have found that my aerial arts classes increase my upper body and core strength so I am becoming a better rider. And I lift weights to make me stronger for the aerial arts training!

    I agree with everyone who said find something you like to do! Working out for the sake of working out can get old, but if you find an activity you enjoy you are more likely to keep doing it.

    Yep me too! I took up a martial art specifically looking for improvement in my riding.

    While I do have a job that burns a lot of calories I also get great exercise with just doing things that I enjoy. Riding my horse, martial arts and more recently taking a weekly hike in the park with a friend and her dog. My dogs are quite old now and just can't go for long walks anymore. I just picked up a set of ski-walking poles which make the hills easier to manage while adding an upper body workout to my walk.

    I am a firm believer that getting exercise should go along with having fun. The fact that it is fun is motivation to do it when you are too tired to move.
  • SundropEclipse
    SundropEclipse Posts: 84 Member
    I jump on the stationary bike when I'm watching Netflix or playing video games. Currently I can only go about 15 minutes at a time before my lumbar starts compressing, but it's better than sitting on that couch. :)
  • perkymommy
    perkymommy Posts: 1,642 Member
    Music!

    I don't exercise. I have a bad knee so I walk on my treadmill at home so I can control it. I love to listen to my music while walking :)
  • ocnldy
    ocnldy Posts: 123 Member
    There are SOOOO many options out there. I am super cheap so I don't pay for a gym or attend classes at this time. For outside running/jogging I really enjoy the Zombies, Run! app. Its a story to entertain you while you work out.
    You Tube is a great source also, a ton of videos, programs, and communities I am sure that you could find one that works for you. I have enjoyed the 12 week Ideal Shape challenge(no purchase needed) and Yoga with Adrienne is one of my favs, highly entertaining.
    Remember to ease in so you don't overwhelm yourself and fall off the wagon.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Treadmill and Netflix, honestly. I keep telling myself I need to do more strength training but I really hate it, so I don't bother. I like walking too so I try to walk at least 2 miles outside every day (ideally 4, but it's just too hot right now).

    If I could afford it I would probably check out the local kickboxing places though... that does look fun.
  • EHollander89
    EHollander89 Posts: 169 Member
    I love being outside, so I love to go running or take a long walk at a nearby park. Just being outside makes the time go by so much faster for me than using a treadmill. Having great upbeat music helps, too. I also am a member at a boxing gym - great stress relief and tons of fun while doing a full body workout. This may sound ridiculous, but I'm also a member at my local community center. They have tons of exercise machines, equipment, a pool, sauna, fitness classes, and personal training. I like having lots of options, and the price is fairly low.

    I'd suggest looking on GroupOn or Living Social to find a deal on something that peaks your interest. That is how I started going to my boxing gym. I drove past it every day and then saw it on GroupOn. Tried it out and liked it! I've also bought fitness related ones that I did not enjoy, but it's a cheap way to try out a few new options. I've seen everything from boot camp classes, boxing gyms, personal training, cycling classes, pole dancing, yoga, etc. Once you find something fun, the exercise won't seem like such a chore. Best of luck!
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I'm getting a new mountain bike soon...I mostly ride road, but we have some awesome trails here in the mountains of NM that I want to make use of...probably end up being a roadie during the week and hitting the trails on a Saturday or Sunday...
  • HeliumIsNoble
    HeliumIsNoble Posts: 1,213 Member
    Most of what I was going to recommend has been posted, so I'll just contribute two words:

    Zombies Run.

    It's a couch to 5k app with a zombie storyline.

    https://breakingmuscle.com/reviews/tech-review-zombies-run-5k-training-fitness-game
  • rtogetfit93
    rtogetfit93 Posts: 109 Member
    It may sound funny, but I like to do workouts that make me feel like a badass, basically.

    Boxing, lifting- anything where afterwards I go "I am getting stronger!". It makes it feel less like effort, and more like I'm pushing towards being a better person- someone who is tough, and strong, and can fight for themselves.
  • CSARdiver
    CSARdiver Posts: 6,252 Member
    HeliumIsNoble wrote: »
    Most of what I was going to recommend has been posted, so I'll just contribute two words:

    Zombies Run.

    It's a couch to 5k app with a zombie storyline.

    https://breakingmuscle.com/reviews/tech-review-zombies-run-5k-training-fitness-game

    I second this - great app. Several others out there as well.

    I look at exercise as a gateway. The increased fitness level enables me to hit off the road destinations and go further off trail. You just need to find a goal to work toward to make the exercise more meaningful.
  • spiriteagle99
    spiriteagle99 Posts: 3,745 Member
    I most enjoy walking and hiking. We have a dog, so walks are a daily part of my life. I go out with my husband and dog twice a day and it is a good time for talking and just enjoying being together. Because I can't hike as often as I would like, I took up running. It isn't always fun, but I enjoy racing and training is essential to doing well at races so I work hard at staying fit and improving my running. I really enjoy getting age group awards in the races I do. I have also found that although I don't always look forward to my runs, after I'm done I always feel physically and mentally better.
  • MostlyWater
    MostlyWater Posts: 4,294 Member
    I'm an Equinox member. We have new classes all the time.
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    saskiavanson88 wrote: »
    How do y'll keep the exercise FUN? :D

    I look at a road bike and knees feel weak. As a kid I used to wish I could fly, rising a bike is the closest I've ever come to fulfilling that childhood dream.

    I've tried indoor exercise but I can't.
  • mrseelmerfudd
    mrseelmerfudd Posts: 506 Member
    classes and sports!! i hate running and walking as its boring but ill run round a sports field because i love it. gym classes are also a great way to motivate you and push you to doing your best as other people are around lol
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    saskiavanson88 wrote: »
    Hey everybody, I hope y'll are doing fantastic.

    I am struggling with creating a exercise plan, I have always hated exercise and I still do, 1 min of exercise seems to take just as long as 8 hours of work. Okay maybe that's a little overdone hahaha but I just don't enjoy it.

    Now I could lower my calorie levels what I don't have any problems with, but exercising is not just to lose the weight it is also to be more healthy right? So I really need to get into it. I do some jogging in place and I have an exercise ball and resistance bands. I also have some walking dvd's.

    The jogging in place is just to get some quick steps but not sure if it is really effective and if I can count it as exercise. I wish I had some friends who would do exercise so we could go together but my friends are not into exercise either and they don't even want to consider it haha

    How do y'll keep the exercise FUN? :D

    I think about what I can do as the result of exercise, like hike the Swiss Alps like I just did!
  • OhMsDiva
    OhMsDiva Posts: 1,073 Member
    GrumpyHeadmistress wrote: »
    I'm not always that enthusiastic about exercising (particularly when it means running at 5am) but I reassure myself that (a) it's good for me and (b) I'll feel better afterwards. It's always true no matter how tired and grumpy I was to start with.

    That part.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    How to keep exercise fun?

    In summary, do fun exercise...
  • sofchak
    sofchak Posts: 862 Member
    Like so many others have already said, experiment until you find something you enjoy doing that doesn't feel like exercise. That would be rule #1.

    Rule #2 would be experiment with nuances to keep it interesting - like if you find running to be the "go to exercise" and you always run on a treadmill, try running on a trail, or running on a track, or running tempo, fartlek, intervals, weighted vest... or you could focus on increased distance or speed per mile to create mini goals. Overall, I find the nuanced part to be what makes the fitness goals I have "sticky" and likely to be what I will continue to do for years to come without getting bored with it all.

    Good luck!
  • jrwms714
    jrwms714 Posts: 421 Member
    It's all about finding something you like to do. And might help to do it with someone. Joining a gym sometimes means you find a community of like-minded people and that helps. I, too, have friends who hate to exercise, but the gym has given me new people who talk about it and actually DO it. Exercise is about health more than weight maintenance, although that's certainly part of the equation. So much research shows that exercise leads to prevention of many diseases and a longer, better life. If you can find someone to do it with and if you can think of it that way, that might help.
  • Noreenmarie1234
    Noreenmarie1234 Posts: 7,492 Member
    Francl27 wrote: »
    Treadmill and Netflix, honestly. I keep telling myself I need to do more strength training but I really hate it, so I don't bother. I like walking too so I try to walk at least 2 miles outside every day (ideally 4, but it's just too hot right now).

    If I could afford it I would probably check out the local kickboxing places though... that does look fun.

    Same I always do treadmill or elliptical and netflix. I always say "oh maybe I'll do some weights after" but I just get bored so easily lol.
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