Is there anyway to make excersise fun?

I enjoy excersise when im not thinking about it and its hard to do that when you at the gym or doing some video because youre there to excersise. Any suggestions on what i could do to keep my mind off it or even just elminate the gym all together?

Tue. Mar 7, 10:02pm

does your gym offer classes? I used to go to a gym that didn't offer any, i lost weight, but i got bored and wasn't working hard at my workouts anymore. i switched gyms and my new one offers pilates, yoga, spinning, kickboxing, strength training, etc. all included w/ my membership (rather common these days) and not only does the variety of options motivate me, but being in a room w/ other people doing the same thing to intense music makes the hour go by FAST! and when the class is over, i'm usually thinking about what i can try next! If this isn't an option at your gym, you could bring an ipod or discman or something to listen to music while you workout on machines, bring a book if you are on something stationary, workout with a friend (talking makes it go faster!) etc. When warm weather comes try more things outdoors-walking, biking, hiking, rollerblading! there are so many options, think about what you enjoy doing and look for a way to make that activity your exercise of choice! good luck!

Tuesday, March 07, 2006, 11:20 PM

I played Dance Dance Revolution last night for and hour and a half. I was completely tired and sweaty by the end of it; and I could have kept going for another hour it was so much fun. But, my bf wanted to watch NCIS :( It's a great alternative to the gym; although it's definately no replacement for strength training :)

Wednesday, March 08, 2006, 6:54 AM

Lift weights while you watch TV - do strength moves with your body while you do housework - go for a walk and talk on your cellphone the entire time.

-Star

Wednesday, March 08, 2006, 7:35 AM

Walk with a friend, before you know it you have walked 5 miles. I also got an arm band radio and wear it around the house and dance while I do my chores, doing dishes is so much fun now :)

Wednesday, March 08, 2006, 7:49 AM

Find something you love...

..and do that. If you don't enjoy it you won't stick with it. At the gym, I HATE cardio machines, but love some of the classes (yoga, body pump, pilates, boxing, spinning). I also hired a trainer to learn enough exercises to really enjoy lifting. 3 years ago I was a couch potato and now I'm a 5x per week gym rat--but only because I found things I truly enjoy.

Wednesday, March 08, 2006, 9:37 AM

Are there any sports you like? Join a recreational league! My fiance plays on a co-ed floor hockey league and loves it! (I hate team sports, so I just cheer, but some people like it.) I live in Chicago, I don't know where you live, but all summer long there are tons of beach volleyball leagues, and there's basketball, soccer, floor hockey, ultimate frisbee, lacrosse, tons of stuff! And there are lots of leagues for beginners or lower-level players. Then you'll be committed to playing a day a week - definitely one of your weekly workouts! If your team practices, there's a second. And you're being social, meeting people, and having fun!

Wednesday, March 08, 2006, 10:35 AM

I suggest exercising to your favorite fast music. You tend to concentrate on the music rather than your activity. The beat will also help you speed up your pace.

Wednesday, March 08, 2006, 11:11 AM

I am with the above poster. Go to powermusic.com. their music is specifically for exercising and you can preview to see how fast it is. music is a HUGE motivator for me - the cds aren't that expensive either, cheaper than a gym membership! Also, get some kick ass workout clothes. I have some awesome ones and I feel really good when I am wearing them! Good luck to you!!!!

Wednesday, March 08, 2006, 1:06 PM

While listening to music of your choice is a good option, that will also get a bit boring. Try downloading podcasts (Ebert & Roper do a 20-min segment every Monday, for example), or if you have a video iPod or a fancy Palm Pilot, you can catch up on all kinds of shows you don't have time for. Or join a gym that has personal TVs on their cardio equipment.

I also have a friend who prints articles off the internet at work in a large-ish font and reads them while walking on the treadmill for an hour. He doesn't even think of that as exercise time.

Ideally you could find a club sport (softball, swimming, judo, volleyball, etc) that you love so much that you would do it even if it burned zero calories...but that kind of depends on where you live.

Wednesday, March 08, 2006, 1:09 PM

YES!

Exercise is the most fun when it's not "exercise." Join a soccer team, a frisbee team, a dance troupe, a kayaking club ... do fun things with fun people! Making good social FUN a part of your everyday life is much easier than making plodding on an elliptical trainer part of your life. And your teammates or troupemates or whatever will make sure to keep pushing each other, as the success of the whole depends on the participation of individuals.

Wednesday, March 08, 2006, 2:14 PM

Of course!

Exercise naked with a significant other.... LOL

Wednesday, March 08, 2006, 9:54 PM

Here's a neat blog to read - she talks about making fitness fun. I'm not sure where I came across it. But, she's has a lot of interesting things to say. And it's pretty darn funny too :)

http://www.stumptuous.com/cms/displayarticle.php?aid=71

Check out the rest of her info too. I found a good dumbell workout on there somewhere.

Link

Thursday, March 09, 2006, 7:14 AM

Hate exercise, then don't>

Don't call it exercise, call it fun, call it house cleaning call it playing tag w/your kids. For a lot of people just getting started is the hard part. Use the Nike slogan "Just Do It" & put it up all over the house, office, car... If your not use to exercising becasue you hate it the find your nich, what do you like to do, dance, then spend 20 min in your living room dim the lights, crank up your favorite dance music & go for it non stop dance your but off moves! Into video games & competitive or want to get your kids moving too, get an eyetoy or DDR (dance dance revolution) wow the games on those are interactive & fun I work up a sweat boxing the opponent on the screen, karate chopping the little guys that come out to kill me! Park you car in the furthist parking space, use the stairs, the experts say every little bit counts, just keep moving. But remember the feelings right after your activity, the feeling of accomplishment, ephoria, sweat, happiness, that yeah I did it feeling, it's the best. Remember these feeling & use them to motivate you to your next activity.

Saturday, April 29, 2006, 1:26 AM

What suggestions do you all have if you don't have access to a gym? I"m limited to only running right now because there's nothing else availible, but I'm getting bored.

Saturday, April 29, 2006, 2:54 AM

I walk. It's summer, so I walk everywhere. Even when it sounds impractical. I end up getting in several miles every day, save on gas, and get in my exercise. I have a big purse to carry around my cute shoes, and wear my sneakers while walking.

Saturday, April 29, 2006, 9:21 AM

IF you have a significant other, try going to nightclubs on nights that they are teaching some kind of dancing--i.e. salsa, line dancing, ballroom, swing, etc.

However, beware and stick with water with lemon and don't drink too much alcohol or pop while at the bar....

My hubby & I got into swing dancing a few years ago--it was a blast and a way for us to avoid being sedentary, without feeling like we were "exercising" (he hates to exercise and would be content sitting at a computer 24/7 if I let him!)

Walking with a friend is an AWESOME way to exercise--without really feeling the pain. :-) Walk fast enough that you can talk without huffing. Next thing you know, you've walked 5 miles!

Saturday, April 29, 2006, 11:54 AM

During Lent each year for the past 2 yrs, my hubby & I made a commitment to only watch TV while exercising.

It really helped us to limit our TV time, as well as to get more fit!

Saturday, April 29, 2006, 11:55 AM

To no gym

If you have space in your back yard or your living room circuit or cross train. This is great for your body to mix it up & you don't need too much if any equipment. Set up 8-10 stations or different exercises 1/2 cardio, 1/2 strength or core work or a combination of both. Do each station for 1 1/2 to 2 min each. Try to work your whole body by working a different body part or 2 in each station.
Example: Push ups; jog in place; wide squats & upright rows; jump rope (no rope just pretend to jump rope, same effect no missing!) walking lunges w/bicep curl; front high knee lift jog; overhead tricept lift while holding down a wide deep plei' squat position. lateral jumps or hops; V-situps (save the situp workout toward the end..... pick any an all of your favorite workout moves put them together or do them seprately. Then do it over 2 or three times. This is a lot of fun & a hard workout that goes by superfast. Don't for get to write down your stations or set them up before you start it will go much smoother.

Saturday, April 29, 2006, 8:36 PM

I cut the grass once a week with the push mower good exercise and the yard looks great. If you don't live where you can do that almost 10 months of the year then walking is the best thing for you. I wear a walkman and sing along to the oldies and before I know it I have walked a few miles. I bought a pedometer at the dollar tree to see how many steps I take in a day. You will be surprised at how many you do take. It's only a dollar my kind of store lol.

Sunday, April 30, 2006, 11:56 PM

The best thing that's helped me stay motivated is to workout at home! I've turned a spare bedroom into a gym! It's complete w/ a TV, and a treadmill, bike, step and tons of weights and pilates equipment! for my birthday hubby's buying me a home gym to really intensify my workout! I agree that working out is a lot more fun when you don't think of it as a workout! I tend to watch tv while working out or doing a dvd and sweating which i used to hate has become a joy! also music of your choice while working out is another way to make the time fly! Good luck and let me know how it's working out for you...
Also joining a few groups on Peertrainer has helped me keep my focus..the best team i've joined is the 10 week focus team called Ten Week Focus that's starting today May 1st! Hope you'll join it it seems like its' going to be a blast!
Sunni! ;-)

Monday, May 01, 2006, 8:11 AM

I hate exercise as well. I have to keep doing things that are different because I will quit if I don't. I do the Ab Lounger while watching a favorite Anime, if I'm watching something scary, I do the Gazelle. One day I will do the yoga ball to an exercise DVD. I also push mow my front lawn once a week.

Another thing I do is Dance Dance Revolution, like several people said. It's VERY fun and if you can work up to the expert speed...WHOA, that's some sweat!

I hate the gym and classes, too, but my church offers free Line Dancing classes 2 times a week for 1 1/2 hours. It's sweaty stuff and learning and meeting people. I don't go all the time, cuz like I said, I get bored, but it's free, so you arent losing anything if you skip a time or two.

In the summer, the local pool offers water aerobics classes after closing. It's all women, and it's only 2.50 a class, and it's 3 tims a week for an hour. And it's just in the summer, so if you get bored, no big deal, it's only 3 months. I miss it when it's over!

My favorite DVD to workout to is called Custome Fit Interactive Training. There are nearly 2000 combos you can do with the DVD. It's like over 4 hours of stuff on there with real good menus. It's not beginner level, but a beginner could use the step aerobics just onthe floor and get a good work out to work up to the step. It is awesome!

I also got some DVDs of interest to me that aren't necessarily workout ones, like a belly dance dvd that I use now and then, an Irish dance class DVD (i was a dancer when I was younger), a tap dance DVD, and a couple of the strip tease dvds. They are a ton of fun to use on those days when exercising seems a waste of time.

Monday, May 01, 2006, 10:15 AM

I got the Harry Potter books on tape from my local library, and downloaded them to my ipod. And voila! All I wanted to do all day was go to the gym and workout and listen to them (I live with very noisy roommates, so to listen at home, I'd have to turn the volume up way too high for my poor sensitive ears). Totally motivating and beyond distracting. And my library has a million books on tape. I still have 2 HP books to go, but I'm already looking at what I want to listen to next.

Monday, May 01, 2006, 10:47 AM

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