So many of us struggle to consistently exercise. Sometimes the issues have to do with making the time, or busting all our excuses, but for many people avoiding exercise comes down to never really finding something they enjoy. If you enjoy moving your body it won’t feel like work, but rather will be something you look forward to and carve out as me-time or sacred appointments in your diary!
I love trying new classes at the gym – sometimes I struggle with the “feeling stupid” aspect that might hold me back, but I have learned you are only a beginner for a little while and that will pass. Then you can offer tips or support to another newbie and realise you actually know what you are doing.
Maybe you hate gyms or need a buddy or need to up the fun factor…Maybe you need to seek out a team to join (most sports have total beginner levels too) or form one with some friends. Keep trying different workouts and activities until you find something you look forward to doing rather than having to psych yourself up and talk yourself into doing. If you need a total push and tips check out my post yesterday for simplify your life – maybe something there will resonate and get you off the sofa or away from the computer today.
If you have never found exercise you love try new things until you do
Active games on video game systems like Wii, X Box etc
Aqua aerobics, step aerobics or regular
Barre class / ballet workout
Basketball
Belly Dancing
Body Attack
Body Balance
Body Combat class
Boot camp
Bosu
Burlesque
Callisthenics
Circus school – go the trapeze
Cross fit
Cycling or a cycle class
Dancing – so many kinds to try or simply go nuts in your living room
Exercise DVDs – of every description, in the privacy of your own home (very popular ones include P90X, 30 day shred, Tae Bo, 10 minute solution series)
Fencing
Golf
Gymstick – my current love
Hiking
Horseback Riding
Hula hooping – can get weighted hoops
Ice skating
Interval training
Jump rope
Karate
Kayaking
Kettle balls
Kickboxing
Kids games and fun- tag, hopscotch, cartwheels, handstands, monkey bars
Kranking – upper body workout
Netball
Obstacle courses
Paddleboarding
Pilates
Pole Dancing
Power walking
Racquetball
Rebounding – mini trampoline
Resistance bands
Rock climbing – indoor or outside
Roller blading
Roller Derby
Rowing machine or crew on the water
Sailing
Skiing – downhill or cross country
Soccer
Softball
Squash
Surfing
Swimming
Tai Chi
Tennis
Touch/ flag football
Trampolining
TRX fitness
Ultimate frisbee
Volleyball
Wake boarding
Weight training or Body Pump classes
Wii Fit
Windsurfing
Yard work / gardening
Yoga
Zumba
So tell me what’s your exercise of choice? Do you love it? (If it is not on the list I will add it!)
Find your simple,
Deb
Linking up with Diary of a SAHM for IBOT since it is Tuesday and I heart Jess
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
Twitter: Slowyourhome
August 14, 2012 at 7:51 am
I’ve recently joined the gym and am loving it! I usually go at 5am and do a mix of high-intensity cardio (running, rowing) and strength training. I love the alone time, the physical exertion and plugging in a great podcast or two.
I’m looking to add spin too and eventually – once I’m fitter and stronger – to start in the local roller derby league.
Brooke {Slow Your Home} recently posted..4 Common Happiness Traps – Are You Falling For Them?
Twitter: findyoursimple
August 14, 2012 at 7:58 am
how could i forget roller derby – i keep hearing about more and more people joining in there. love it. good on you for getting to the gym that early – that is one thing I cannot convince myself to do – especially in winter. once it warms up we get awful birds that wake me before sunrise all through spring and summer (right out my bedroom window) so am hoping to get out the door and run 1-2 times a week instead of spending an hour and a half trying to get back to sleep LOL
Debra Dane recently posted..Asking for help
Twitter: Slowyourhome
August 14, 2012 at 1:59 pm
I know – mornings have always been a hard slog for me too. But in the last six months I’ve started getting up at 4:30-5:00am to write (when the kids have been sleeping through that is – I’m not THAT keen
) so now I’m just swapping out 2 or 3 mornings of writing for gym time. Then I have a reprieve on the weekend and get up at 5:30.
I can’t wait for the warmer weather to make it more bearable!!
Brooke {Slow Your Home} recently posted..4 Common Happiness Traps – Are You Falling For Them?
Deb, what a geat list!!! Im a big fan of body balance and yoga – especially when you just need to be grounded again and not think
#teamIBOT
Lyndal recently posted..a better place
Twitter: findyoursimple
August 14, 2012 at 9:11 pm
I have to give them another try now that gymstick has improved my core and balance a bit (i was always the lady falling over in BB and yoga)
Debra Dane recently posted..Jewellery Organising Creative DIY Ideas
Oh I feel tired looking at that long list
we have absolutely no excuse … I’ve started skipping by the sea when I can. 200 skips and some push ups on a seat. I feel my muffin top bouncing away and I know one day it’s not going to bounce so much if I keep it up. Thanks for the inspiration.
Bachelormum recently posted..Music brings harmony to children’s minds
Twitter: findyoursimple
August 14, 2012 at 9:12 pm
wow skipping is an awesome workout! keep it up – i think anything by the sea would be good – i miss living near the water.
Debra Dane recently posted..Asking for help
Twitter: happylan
August 14, 2012 at 9:33 am
Great list Deb! I do not exercise nearly enough. I enjoy the treadmill (accompanied by some rockin’ tunes), walking – would love to do more bushwalking, and I would love to take a yoga class.
Happylan recently posted..Seeking Solace
Twitter: findyoursimple
August 14, 2012 at 9:13 pm
Go on and do it – i usually use music to get me going more (not sure how people run with silence but i want to try someday LOL). bushwalking is good because there is so much to distract /entertain you that it is not boring!
Debra Dane recently posted..Celebrating 1 year
Twitter: dilishlife
August 14, 2012 at 9:36 am
What a great list Deb. I found a dance exercise DVD in the back of the TV cabinet last week when we rearranged the lounge room. I bought it on a whim years ago and have never tried it out. Going to give it a whirl tomorrow….Will report back! D x
Di-licious recently posted..Feeding kids: Yummy chicken noodles
Twitter: findyoursimple
August 14, 2012 at 9:14 pm
let me know if you do it – i am determined to try my exercise DVDs =i just don’t motivate myself if i am at home – i miss body combat (no good class times now) and own Tae Bo but never did it once in the many years it has been on my shelf (with 2 other dvds LOL)
Debra Dane recently posted..Return to work series {The Temping track}
I excercise at home, cause it’s the only opportunity I get.
Step aerobics is my favourite, but because of an ankle injury, I’m using spin bike ATM.
My butt is very sore!
Jess recently posted..The Super Woman Myth Myth
Twitter: findyoursimple
August 14, 2012 at 9:15 pm
love sore – it reminds me i worked my ass off ; )
i hope your ankle is doing better xx
Debra Dane recently posted..Simplify your life {Week 33: Move your body}
Twitter: aparentinglife
August 14, 2012 at 2:52 pm
I am a fan of running, well at least since Feb this year I am a fan of running, before then I didn’t think I was able to run but turns out with patience and consistency anything is possible. Great list of activities you have come up with
Rhianna recently posted..Silence, Noise and Angel Connection
Twitter: findyoursimple
August 14, 2012 at 9:16 pm
patience, consistency and winning the mental game – thinking you are a runner is half the battle
Debra Dane recently posted..Simplify your life {week 32 Balance}
Twitter: DTlilsquirts
August 14, 2012 at 8:22 pm
I did zumba and ended up in hospital with appendicitis..
though the doctors informed me that wasn’t why I got appendicitis.. I never went back..
I want to do zumba again!
Yvette Bowyer recently posted..Honeymoon Part 1
Twitter: findyoursimple
August 14, 2012 at 9:32 pm
funny how we will forever associate 2 things together… go do the zumba class or dvd…xx
Debra Dane recently posted..Return to work series {The Temping track}
I’m a fan of the incidental exercise, like housework, gardening, walking the dog etc.. but it’s just not cutting the mustard anymore
Love that list, there’s a few there I’ll have to google to work out what they are! And a few that have given me a bit of inspiration to try something new
Kirsty recently posted..The big issues: Part 1
Twitter: findyoursimple
August 14, 2012 at 9:37 pm
i hope you do try something new – you might just find your groove…
Debra Dane recently posted..Celebrating 1 year
LMAO I dont even know what a lot of those things are thats how out of touch I am
I love just good old fashioned walking or even better bike riding with the kids. Its easier on those cranky legs of mine xx
Sonia Life Love Hiccups recently posted..So I have This Friend of a Friend ……..
Twitter: findyoursimple
August 14, 2012 at 9:38 pm
i had not heard of some too – i had asked others and had heard of some my friends were doing (one recently took up fencing – very cool). getting back on a bike is on my life list (have not done so in 10 years!)
Debra Dane recently posted..Grateful for compliments, feedback and checking in
Love the list, my fav is alway walking/jogging I live near the beach so exercise with scenery is my idea of heaven
Julia kuku couture recently posted..Maksim’s Bookworm Part 1 – The Invitations
You’re a fab little list maker/brain-stormer/ideas person aren’t you!
I love moving my body and find that changing and charging up my routine keeps me motivated. At the moment that means one long run, one spin class and one pump class every week and dancing….there must always be dancing!
kirri recently posted..Stop beating yourself up!
As I LOVE walking with a sleeping baby in the pram, I will make the most of these last few months while my now three year old is still having a lunchtime sleep… come summer it will be too hot to walk and nap in the pram at lunchtime and by the time it cools down again I suspect he may have grown out of his daytime naps. All I need to do is make myself walk the full time though, not get him off to sleep then sneak into Macca’s to have a coffee and read the paper!
Kate recently posted..All the lonely people…
Twitter: mummy__issues
August 17, 2012 at 9:50 pm
I have just bought myself a yoga dvd. Pre-kids I did a lot of yoga and it was a big part of my self care. It has been really hard to get to classes and I am a bit fussy so I haven’t been to one since three days before my eldest child was born. I finally let go of the idea of finding the perfect teacher at the perfect class at the perfect time and thought I can do this at home with Miss 4 when the toddler is having a nap. It’s not perfect, but it’s better than nothing.
And I am still loving running. Very thorough list Deb! x
Lee recently posted..Chill out mama
Do you know what FINALLY worked for me? I was really struggling motivational-wise. But when I finally got fed up of being overweight, slow, unfit, I got myself down to the beach and alternated walking/jogging starting from 2.5 kms back in Feb/March, to doing 7.2kms running this past weekend. The view, the fresh air, the other people around me exercising was just what I needed to get motivated and to keep going.
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