I have the workout blues. I can't seem to find a workout that suits me. I used to enjoy walking on the treadmill daily, but now it seems like a boring chore. Even the gym seems intolerable. With weather as beautiful as this, who wants to be in a stinky dark gym? I would love to walk outside, but alas each time I find myself on the busy Chicago streets I almost get hit (no kidding). Workout dvds don't work for me. I always quit 10 minutes in.
I have accepted the reality that I HAVE to work out if I want to lose weight. Diet alone does not work anymore. But I am at a loss as to how to make working out fun again. Help!!!
WCA, I echo most of what is already written. A couple of other thoughts:
1. The home DVD thing seems like it might be a really good fit for you your urban environment and your career if you can find a way to make it work. If you are quitting on the DVD 10 min in not because of boredom but because you just don't feel great, I encourage you to see if you can't push through that a few times. 10-12 minutes is what it really takes me to get truly warmed up and into it and honestly, I mostly want to quit the first 10 min of any exercise I do. If I push past that, it's not usually so bad because my body stops moaning and groaning. I am not one to get an 'exercise high' but I do think I sort of get in the groove. See if you can't make a deal with yourself to go at least 15 and then give yourself permission to stop if you still feel icky. Also, make sure you are using decent DVD's at an appropriate fitness level for yourself. If you are a netFlix customer, that makes it really easy to mix it up but if not, keep adding to your library so you can keep the variety going. If you are trying to do some sort of kickbutt aerobics tape when you haven't been working out regularly, you might be setting yourself up for failure.
2. Following on D's suggestion, maybe consider getting a pedometer. That was really how I started to find ways to increase my activity through the day and it was really a very painless way to burn calories. It's not a cardio workout but mass over distance = calories burned no matter how slowly you move that mass.
3. You have the right idea about getting outside when you can. That can really add a layer of variety to your exercise so I encourage you to continue to seek ways to make that happen. It may mean buying some better clothing to let you be out in more inclement and/or hot weather but with the right gear, you can enjoy the outdoors a lot. For me personally, getting out into the mountains for weekend activity is key. I always sort of roll my eyes at myself on days like today when I was gone 8 hours for a 1 1/2 hour snowshoeing outing (there was a lot of additional socializing/shopping with my companions but also lots of driving) but I do enjoy that so much more than any other sort of intentional exercise and I guarantee there wouldn't have been any 90 min of exercise if I'd stayed home. This summer it will be biking and hiking. Maybe take some time to brainstorm activities similar to this you might enjoy and post it somewhere or schedule some of those outings with friends/family.
4. I have to emphasize the power of the buddy system. I know it can be very, very hard to find someone that works both fitness level and schedule wise but keep looking and keep an open mind. It's still the only way I get my day-to-day exercise done consistently. If she's not there, I roll over and hit the snooze button. Don't know what the heck I'm going to do when I move.
5. Here's the touchy feely, see if you can figure out your mindset question. Do you think you have to choose 1 particular thing and do it everyday to be a 'successful' exerciser? This was exactly the mindset I approached this issue from for a long, long time and it wasn't until I accepted that this week might be walking and next week might be a couple of hikes, etc. that I was really actually able to establish something more routine. Sort of weird but somehow giving myself permission to say "I'm going to do this today, this week, whatever but I might do something else next" really got me off the starting line.
Great suggestions. Both the lakeshore path and the Lincoln Park Zoo are a bus ride away. I never even considered taking a bus to walk. LOL. The weather is so beautiful these days it seems a shame not to be outside. I am going to hop a bus tomorrow!
I *love* swimming. But I tore up my shoulder in college (while swimming), and can't do it in a way I enjoy anymore. However, I did learn that I liked water aerobics alright, and I don't hate walking in the neighborhood.
Do you have access to a stairwell? 10 minutes of stairclimbing is hard (but good!) work. Or just two flights this month, three next month, etc. Maybe the first part for you won't be finding an exercise you love, but finding ways to incorporate more activity into your life. Riding three fewer floors on the elevator, walking THROUGH the mall completely before stopping at the store you went there for, or finding a shop you can walk to three times a week.
I love the zoo idea, too
Challenge Goals: *10 minutes of unplanned exercise five times a week *Gym time twice a week *Socialize at least once every two weeks.
Originally posted by Brie: Oprah is on record saying she hates to workout but she knows she has to.
I'm with Oprah.
If you read Fitness Magazine or articles in Prevention or whatever... they all have suggestions like, "Find an exercise you LOVE!!!!" I have to drive 4 hours to ski, or fly 5 hours to Hawaii (not to mention $2000+) to snorkel and honestly nothing that I really LOVE is convenient, so I do boring stuff 95% of the time. I have to say the boring stuff makes doing what I love that more enjoyable. Better to ski at a healthy weight and with knees that are not killing me.
I’ll never “LOVE” my knee exercises, but one of them starts hurting when I slack off, so I do them. But truthfully, I HATE some of them… but I do them. I don’t do 3 sets. I do one or two sets. I don’t do 40 mins of cardio. I do 30 minutes and very seldom do one minute more.
Yep, it is yet one more boring chore that I do most days… emptying dishwasher, shaving legs, making school lunch, flossing teeth, eating oatmeal instead of donuts, etc, etc, etc.
If you last thru 10 mins of video… do 10 minutes… every single day. 70 mins a week is better than nothing. If there is something that you can stomach doing 20 mins… do that… better to do 140 mins a week (which is pretty close to the recommended level of activity 30 mins - 4-5 days a week.)
Just thought that maybe it helps to know that you are not alone, and we are not all pedaling the stationary bike with a big smile and loving every minute. Some of us are counting the minutes and seconds until we are done for the day.
Denise
Posts: 8691 | Location: Silicon Valley, CA | Registered: March 17, 2004
I don't have any suggestions for your problem; I have a similar viewpoint. I just wanted to say that I appreciate the suggestions - especially Brie's about getting a buddy.
Several weeks before the new year, I called a friend I thought would be reliable to specifically ask her to be my buddy. If I make an appointment. I keep it.
What about walking at the zoo???? We live near a zoo and I know several people who buy a pass and walk around it in all kinds of weather. Are you near the Lincoln park zoo? That way you wouldn't have traffic except for getting there. Also do you live near any hotels? I bet some offer free fittness area time during off hours... the buddy thing is key for me...
I agree with the class thing. I know it is a more expensive route, but it is the only thing that keeps me going. I am committed because I paid for it and I know that the people in the class and the teacher expect me to come.
As far as what kind of class, try something wild and crazy. I LOVE my bellydancing class. I signed up on a whim, and I have been doing it for over a year now. I have a blast. The hour flies by and I am totally hot and sweaty at the end of it, and I don't even notice. I have even talked most of my friends into taking it with me so it is kind of like a mini girls night. I am not the world's most graceful or sexy girl, and I am sure that I look like a total fool doing it, but I don't care. It's just so much fun.
Another option would be to join our 100 mile challenge. Several other board members have joined me. Check out the 100 mile challenge thread.
How about finding a work out buddy? It may help if you have some company during your workouts to take your mind off not wanting to do it.
I have to say though that I LOVE working out in Chicago! Nothing is better than running on the lake shore! I know it can get crowded with bikers and other runners/walkers but I've never had a problem being mowed over.
The important thing though is that you may never LOVE exercising but if you look at as something you need to do for your health, it will just become habit.
Oprah is on record saying she hates to workout but she knows she has to.
Personally I hate the OB/GYN but I still go for my check ups ; )
Out of our beliefs are born deeds; out of our deeds we form habits; out of our habits grows our character; and on our character we build our destiny.
I suggest that you start exploring walking trails or high school/college tracks or parks where you can walk vs. walking in the busy Chicago streets. Surely, in a city that size, there has to be somewhere to walk that isn't out on the street.
I'm fortunate that, while I also live in a major metropolitan area, I live in the suburbs and, while crossing the street can be hairy sometimes, I never feel in any danger of being hit when I'm walking on the sidewalk.
Also, you say that you get bored 10 minutes into any DVD workout...have you tried much of a variety of workouts? Kickboxing is one of my faves and is generally not boring! I would recommend Janis Saffel's Kickbox Strike Zone.
Personal Healthy Habits Challenge - 10/1 to 12/31/08: 1. Exercise: Get back to consistently working out 3-5 X week. 2. Food: Get back to consistently preparing healthy lunches for the week with increased veg servings. 3. Behavior: Reduce intake of sweets.
Posts: 7313 | Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE | Registered: March 12, 2004
A class, that was my saving grace as far as keeping up the exercise routine. Mine was a "rusty hindges" thing for people with joint problems, but it was a lot of fun.
Then, I'd try varying what I did during the week, maybe two days this and two days that and a fifth day of something else. Or a combination that works for you. Someone here told me that maybe I was bored and needed to vary my workouts, exactly right. I got a friend and we both hate to exercise, but with a partner it was a lot more fun.
It's never too late to get it right.
Posts: 3473 | Location: Central USA | Registered: March 11, 2004
well- i have to tell you i don't like it either... but i finally decided it wasn't about liking it. I don't like going to the dentist but I do it. once i started doing it on a regular basis I started to enjoy it...most of the time.. Sorry- do I sound mean- i don't mean to sound mean.. my friends tell me I'm too straight forward. I can't do major exercising (yet) but I walk indoors, outdoors, walking tape (leslie sansone) dance tapes (which I don't do very well so sometimes just dance my own stuff while they are doing their routines and I can't keep up.) I plan to go to the gym and start a swimming class 1X a week for something new. Today I had myy coat and hat on ready to walk to the drugstore to pick up a perscription and it was raining...I was actually outside when i realized this w/ black eyed peas playing on the ipod....it would have been easy to just skip it but went upstairs to the treadmill. (or I could have done a dvd if you don't have a treadmill.) I was totally winded after 1 mile and I'm in a 'contest' w/ friends and relatives...but I had to decided that I had really done my bbest even if I don't meet my origional goal. So if you quit 10 min in- go 11. then 12.. then back to 11 if you have to.. trust me, I have every excuse in the book not to exercise and it's a total choice. Signed.. mean girl
