Do YoU Love or Hate to Exercise ?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Do YoU Love or Hate to Exercise ?
15
Mon, 08-17-2009 - 12:21am

Aileen asked this awhile ago,
So I thought I would share these tips.
Think they would work for you ?
Let us know :)


10 Tips for Exercise Haters


 


Reviewed By: David Slotnick, M.D.




Everybody has heard about the health value and importance of exercise. And yet, most of us continue to avoid working out. Just three in 10 American adults get the recommended amount of physical activity, according to the National Institutes of Health.


Exercise is an important investment in your long-term well-being. Yet, many people cannot stand the thought of working up a sweat on a regular, or even occasional, basis. Following are 10 tips that can make exercise more palatable.




  • Find activities you like. If you positively loathe the thought of running or pumping iron, don’t do it. Instead, concentrate on activities you do enjoy. Racquetball, dancing and biking are all examples of fun activities that also provide a great workout. Even active housework or yard work offer enough exercise to help boost the health of your cardiovascular system.



  • Establish goals. Exercise is more likely to seem like drudgery if you can’t see light at the end of the tunnel. Set benchmarks that you know you can achieve. For example, plan to swim 10 laps in a pool three days a week within one month of beginning your routine. It’s OK to make your goal more challenging or more modest, so long as it is achievable. The satisfaction you feel upon achieving a goal will help to serve as motivation when setting your next target.



  • Create mini-workouts. Does the mere thought of 30 minutes of nonstop toil cause you to break out in hives? If so, create an alternative workout plan that consists of “bite-sized” mini-workouts. For example, try three separate sessions of moderate activity that last for 10 minutes each. You can plan these sessions before work, during your lunch break and after work. The number of total minutes you are active is what counts, not the fact that these minutes occur consecutively.



  • Reward yourself. Achieving a new goal may feel more satisfying if you occasionally splurge on a celebratory reward. This is a great motivator that does no harm, so long as your reward isn’t a huge chocolate sundae. Try to make your reward healthy, but remember to keep it fun. For example, treat yourself to a smoothie after one workout each week. Or, purchase new shoes after achieving a cardiovascular exercise goal.



  • Schedule times to exercise. People who dislike exercise often plead that they are too busy to work out. Yet, it is vital to your health that you wring enough spare minutes from most days to squeeze in some exercise. By scheduling a consistent time to exercise, you make activity a priority and send a message to yourself and others about your commitment to personal good health. Exercise can also be a great way to get some “me” time, well-earned time away from your other family or work obligations.



  • Exercise early. Studies have shown that people are more likely to stick with their exercise routine when they schedule it for the beginning of the day. Early exercise has two major benefits: it gets the workout over with early and provides you with a boost of energy that jump-starts your day.



  • Vary your activities. Perhaps nothing dooms a workout routine more than boredom, especially among those who dislike exercise in the first place. Adding variety to your workout can keep things fresh and exciting. For example, you could use the treadmill one day, go swimming the following day and take a long bike ride the day after that.



  • Try teamwork. Working out with others is a great way to make exercise more interesting. Make new friends by joining a gym or taking an aerobics class at a local community center. Or, call up your old college friend and talk to her about becoming a walking partner. Exercising with others makes the time pass more pleasantly and can help keep you motivated.



  • Get a personal trainer. Some people swear they hate exercise, when deep down they are merely intimidated by it. A personal trainer can help create a comprehensive workout program and guide you through its paces. Trainers are also great motivators who can help track your progress.



  • Make it a family affair. In a world where families are too busy to eat together, it may seem like a pipe-dream to suggest household group exercise. And yet, few family activities offer such a potent opportunity to bond with your clan while also promoting good health. In addition, you’ll be modeling a commitment to healthy living that will benefit your kids for the rest of their lives.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-02-2003
Mon, 08-17-2009 - 8:00am

i take a 45 min walk every morning with the dog ... i hafta say, when I'm sitting here THINKING about it ... I'm like *ugh* i don't wanna go LOL

but once i make myself get up and get outside, i love it :] it's helped to think of it as "just walking the dog" and just something that needs to be done, and to not think "exercise"

 
 
 
 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Mon, 08-17-2009 - 9:29am
Understand this completely Monica,
So glad you have yoru furkid to walk
Don't you feel just great afterwards ?
Keep doing this as it's awesome for you both :)




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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-02-2003
Mon, 08-17-2009 - 9:37am

yes I always feel amazing afterward :) i'm always glad i made myself get out and do it

i dont ALWAYS hate it though ... yesterday i got bored and went out and took an extra 20 min walk so i guess some of the good habits are kicking in :)

 
 
 
 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Mon, 08-17-2009 - 9:45am
I know what you mean Monica,
Awesome on those extra minutes!
Now maybe you can sneak something else in later
Be very proud of yourself for accomplishing all you do :)




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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-30-2003
Mon, 08-17-2009 - 11:04am
Hmm...I love to hate exercise lol? Actually I used to really hate it, but upon seeing results and feeling better I really like it now. I definitely hate some of it though. I think most machines are boring but I love my classes. I am not a morning exercisers though as the article suggests. I can barely open my eyes, never mind work out!
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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-07-2008
Mon, 08-17-2009 - 11:15am

Hi Hugs...Did I stir up a mini storm?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Mon, 08-17-2009 - 12:40pm
LOL LIz,
Yes the results definitely help motivate us don't they ?
Good for you on enjoying those classes though.
And if you're paying for them ..
You'll surely keep going :)




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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Mon, 08-17-2009 - 12:42pm
Had I realized I had this article,
Would have added it to your question ..
Which was a terrific question, btw !
Good to hear you do many of these.
Most important is they work for you :)




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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-07-2008
Mon, 08-17-2009 - 12:50pm

Yes they do Hugs...for me I know they do. I do understand that people are still struggling even though they are active and it is hard.


iVillage Member
Registered: 05-29-2009
Mon, 08-17-2009 - 12:59pm

I exercise all the time and I love it.


I think I have always been a walker,
Even when younger I'd walk a ton


Now if I could only run that much LOL

Click & Get Fit & Healthy with friends!

 


yougogirl

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