10 Ideas to Get You Exercising

Beautiful article. It is possible to look and feel better with some goals and getting in touch with how we really feel.
Whatever your exercise goal may be: weight loss, weight gain, or just wanting to look and feel better. These weight goals are easily attainable with a positive attitude, some structured weight goals, and just like you said ' feeling some satisfaction' after we do the work.
Good stuff

I love to excercise! But after i do the same routine for about a month i get bored and just stop. My idea thing would be dance! I just wish that i had the time, being that i work about 11 hours a day. that and its really hard tio go to a studio because there so expensive, so thats a downer.

Finding something fun has been my problem in the past. I don't like gyms or places like Curves; I'm very anti-social and don't like the forced chit chat in there. Instead, we've purchased a treadmill. My treadmill and my iPod are my best friends. I can zone out to my tunes for over an hour and get a great workout in.

Another fun thing I've been doing is playing Dance Dance Revolution on the PS2. What a fast and easy way to blow through a bunch of calories AND I can do it with my kids, so we can have a bunch of fun family time.

I've been on a great health kick for the last several months. I had even quit smoking cold turkey and feel great. I love reading websites like yours and being able to think to myself, I'm doing that now.

You list was right with the exception of sweating at the gym. Most all the times I've gone (YMCA) msot everyone is sweating. I personally am proud of it, however, I do wear clothing that doesn't have sleeves, soooo, perhaps I'm not THAT proud of it, so, well put!

Great article! Keep inspiring us!

I'd add one to the list - make sure you have short a long term goals. If you're just running "to get fitter" or "to lose weight", it's harder to motivate yourself. If you have more tangible goals - "I'm going to run 3 miles in 8 weeks" or "I'm going to lose 10 pounds by July" then it's much harder to make excuses to yourself.

Hi All

I'm 53 and already having 'tingling sensations' in my left leg and numbness in my joints. All because I never took exercise seriously and thought it's a bother.

Now I know better and am looking at approaching the remainder of my life with a new gust.

Thank you all and this is a great site.

wow. great to know that there are so many ppl who go thru the same angst i do:-)
but seriously, smoking and an exercise routine just don't go together. i tried and only found it making me very lethargic and depressed.
finally, i got myself doing simple yoga at home. just breathing exercises and meditation till i felt comfortable enough to do half an hour of walking without wanting a smoke.
it's worked for me coz now i'm able to jog for an hour or so atleast without reaching out for a fag.
start slow but go steady and take it from there.

I was told that in order to make something a habit, you have to do it every day, 21 days straight. I got myself out of bed every day, even on weekends, to workout for 30 minutes before work. For the first 2 weeks, I was miserable and would try to make excuses why I shouldn't go workout that morning. Too tired, didn't get enough sleep, I worked out really hard yesterday, I deserve a day off, etc etc. But I got past the excuses and made myself go, grumbling and all. I found that once I got moving, though, I felt great. Now when the alarm clock goes off, I get my workout clothes on automatically. There's no excuse thoughts that go through my head - it's just matter of fact. I'm waking up and going to the gym now. If I miss a day at the gym for some reason, I feel like my day is off. On the weekends, instead of going to the gym, I do something outside. But the key for me when starting to make it a habit was to do it every-freaking-day.

And yes, I was extremely embarrassed that I felt like I was huffing and puffing while all the seemingly fit people weren't sweating at all. After I started getting more fit, though, I realized that those 'fit' people not sweating weren't doing enough work. I'm working at higher intensity, with more resistance, and for longer periods of time. Most of the people on the elliptical machine barely have their heart rate above walking around the mall. Get up there and sweat - you'll only get better and better.

im 13 5ft7 and i weigh 11stone someone please tell me if i need to be on a diet!!!

roisin said:
im 13 5ft7 and i weigh 11stone someone please tell me if i need to be on a diet!!![...]

You are not overweight. Whoever is telling you you are, kindly go slap them upside the head. If it's you, slap yourself upside the head, then go get a nice ice cream cone and be nicer to yourself.

Wait, so I should feel embarrassed about the fact that I am drenched with sweat and my face is beet red? Reading this has made me suddenly self conscious about something that I never thought mattered to anyone.

Hey man, I hate gyms... They are boring and they stink (I mean this literally). Not to mention all of the dirte' looks I recieved from the chicks who live on lettuce and the dudes that live on liquified cardboard... I mean, energy shakes.

Not to dis gyms 'n all... But I'm not a very social person myself. I was lucky enough to recieve an elliptical as a gift, which, without it I don't know what I'd do. I do at least 30 minutes every day... No success yet, but man, I'll never know unless I just keep tryin' So I'll just keep tryin'.

True words... A little is better than nothin' ... That would be my problem... Back in the day, I'd figgure... "Hey man is missin' one day really gonna make me gain 10 pounds?" NO... But thing is, you miss one day you think... "Another day isn't gonna hurt, huh?!" And then... You fall off completely... Man, put in your favorite CD and just freakin JAM when you're excersizin.... Whether it's the Stones or Duran Duran be your pleasure... Listen to somethin' that will charge you up!

Peace,

Lynnleigh

That's pretty interesting article. Additionally I would like to mention that it's IMPORTANT to setup short-term and long-term goals. Once you reach one of the goal even if half of what you initially planned, it's still great motivation to keep working out.

To the author of "10 Ideas to Get You Exercising":

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LONG POSTING. I am at a serious redirect phase with my health and fitness. I have been "large" at different points of my life for most of my life. I've lost weight in healthy and unhealthy fashions throughout the years and at 42 am making the serious decision that I want to be active and fit for the rest of my life. I do clearly remember that the time that I lost weight by healthy means (changing eating behaviors, relistic excercise program and creative cooking at home) that I kept the weight off for at least 3-4 years in succession without an obsessive amount of calorie counting because I and my family just ate "low fat" and kept busy together. Again, I just want to thank you for investing the time it took to gather those 10 points. If anyone hasn't said so, you've reached your one "hopeless case" and have given her hope.

Alice

Amy said:
7. Stop thinking: All or Nothing[...]

Start moving. Just go for a walk. Walking is a perfect,easy beginning. Don't beat yourself up and go to the gym, especially if you are not used to rigourous exercise. Another great way to move is to listen to music. For many women the natrual sounds of Gabrielle Roth are so intuitive that you just can't stop dancing!
Even a minimal amout of exercise can clear your mind an djust plain make you feel better!

Alice said:
To the author of "10 Ideas to Get You Exercising":[...]

Alice said:
To the author of "10 Ideas to Get You Exercising":[...]

Alice, you are at the critical age where you need to decide to get off the dieitng merry go round and just focus on being healthy, it is so much more important than trying to be skinny!

I highly advocate #7. I used to be that all or nothing type.

I recently listened to a podcast from AudioDharma.org. It's called "The Importance of Skillfulness".

The lecturer uses the example of a person who has a goal of walking a certain distance, but not making it. The gist is he shouldn't view the whole walk as a failure just b/c he didn't get to the end point. The walk itself has value. Skills were developed along the way.

Nothing earth shattering here, but presented in a no nonsense way and a good reminder.

hi im brianna and i am 10 years and weigh 114 pound and u probaly would say that i shouldnt be worring about my weight and stuff but i have to or i wiil be obice but any ways i have a qeastion and that is why is my brother older then me and is 7 grade and he eats big macs all day and plays viodeo games and is not active in a sports and really does nothing all day but eat and watch tv and he 12 and he really tall and he ways 79 pounds why and another qeastion wat do u think i should eat and wat do u think i should eat from a anerexia person andi have tried throwing up and stuff but it was a little but after i felt happy and somtime wen my mom went to work an d i was really sick and i worked out side tell i fainted and wen i woke up i was i na bed and then i weighhed my self and guess wat i weighed the same!ihad my heartbreack moments at school were my crush said i was fat and the worst part was my best friend said u cant pick braydan up because hes a wrestler and he think at lunch he can pick any body up and that wen she said it and it and she said sorry and didnt relize wat she did but of course she call me every day an i dont awnser!but any ways i 5"4 and she so skinny but wat should i eat coming from an anerexia pearson or bulemia person and please dont say i t rong dont do wat i did and just dont eat orthrowup but i have tried that and it dosent work and just plz sombody awser me im dasprate and want to be skinny and were bikinas and stuff like that plz.:(

hi am just want to say somthing that i think thats really expiring for people like me and my sister to get of the couch and go to the gym.A lot of people are scared to go to the gym because people are already there and are now fit heres wat u could say and do.say every body has to start somwhere and i think thats a great saying for people who are scared that heath fit people will make front of them and its really mean for us people who r not skinny and heakthy and just fit yet to even stare at them just look at howmany calories because people are very sensitive about there weight no matter if ur skinny or husky judt worry about ur self oh and im sorry to for saying that but by the way i am 5 4 ans weight 114 pounds and im only ten and some one one please awser my first qoute right above i think/ by mail me plz

i mean write me back

Its the initial stages which are the toughest especially if you don't like to exercise or keep your body moving. getting out of comfort zone is important if you want to achieve anything. I did nt like exercising when i was a kid but now I cant live with out it.

i think it your exercise to have a good health

jj said:
"If I said to you "you must exercise for the rest of your life" -- how does that make you feel? Examine the feeling. "[...]

I'm only motivated for about half a year.. Then boredom gets me and I can't get off the couch. Hopefully I'll survive the winter this year :)
afvallen

Whatever your decision, you have to make it everyday, or your mind will beat you.

I think the most important thing is the will from within the heart to exercise regularly, as you mentioned in the beginning that if that is absent than don't bother to read the article further. This is the most important thing.

You said it all and you said it very well. Fitness is not just about how we look, that is just one of the benefits. Keeping our body in the best possible condition to live a healthy life is really what matters more. But of course, when we look good we feel good too!

Jillian

douglasmundy 44 look for soul mate 1 530 541-0323 lake tahoe douglasmundy@dslexreme.com

Wow, I never thought of #7 Stop Thinking- all or nothing like that. I always told my younger sister ,when she wasn't doing her exercises right, that she shouldn't be doing them at all. Well, now I regret that because she stopped exercising because she doesn't think that she is losing weight. She thinks that since it is hard for my mother to lose weight that she cannot. :( Now, I know better. Thank You!

I would also add do something that is fun and at the same time burns the calories off. I find the Wii game does this for me.

Do resistance training 2x a week and eat right. Forget cardio and how many calories are being burned...it's all guessing and fat burning is an all day process dictated by insulin, metabolism and other hormones. Find active lifestyle activities....forget cardio.

How can I incorporate exercise into my lief with 4 children, a full time job, and shool?

My big problem with exercising is ultimately getting off my duff and out the door. Once I'm on my way though, I'm usually fine!

Great tips!!!! I am a 40 year old female with 240 pounds to lose. Joined Weight Watchers and am excersising 20 min. in am at least 3 times a week and feel great!!! if anybody out there has some more tips that can help me please post.

It's a great list. It helps to get the excuses out the way why we might stop exercising. If we know what might stop us we can then plan strategies in advance to help us deal with those less-motivated times.

I have to say, that the one thing that keeps me going when I'm working out, is the music I listen to. Everyday, I have to fight with myself to go to the gym, or go for a run. But now that I've found music that I ENJOY listening to, I don't have to fight. I look forward to listening to some of my favorite songs, and the fact that they benefit my workout is secondary. I recommend that everyone visit www.workoutmusic.com and find the music that will do the same for you.

People think it's necessary to spend hours in the gym to lose weight, but that is simply not true. I have much better results both in strength gains and pounds lost when I keep my gym sessions short and intense. That means no longer than 45 minutes and it also means I am moving the entire time. 30 seconds between sets with reps kept in the 6-10 range.

Yes, it is exhausting, but we are at the gym to train and to lose weight. Gotta go for it. Also for the guys out there, stop focusing on the amount you're lifting and worry about the quality of your exercise time.

When planning for the week don't put try to do much just gradually build up.

I have the hardest time getting myself motivated for the gym i have tried to mix it up but i seem to always find something else to do i really want to loose some weight and shape up for the summer

The one about exercise being boring got me. i been exercising back to back now that i have changed that mentality i jog in place but in order to keep me motivated i listen to music for that certain period of time in order for me to stay focused on my timed goal