what doesn`t work for me is getting on the treadmill. After 5 mins or so, i would find some excuse for why i should get off. What has worked for me are classes at my local ymca. The instructors there are really cool and are constantly encouraging us to keep going even if it means walking in place!

One of the instructors at my gym made a comment once that really stuck to me. She said that even if your having a terrible day and just can't work out just walk in the gym. Even if you walk right back out or only stay five minutes, it's all about staying in the habit of going there. So if you're not doing the gym and doing something at home, put on your workout clothes and sneakers and do something even walking 5 minutes to form that habit. And as you lose weight and get stronger you will be able to do more and more.

It's okay. I spent the last year living in a tiny little town in Peru and the water only comes in one temperature, cold. I forgot that my location thingy no longer says Tumbes, Peru.

Usually I could just heat up some water and take a bucket bath, but after work (I'm an archaeologist) I just wanted to get all of the dirt off of me, so it was cold shower time. Plus all the other times I would wake up late and have to take a cold shower in the morning.

And that's when there was running water...but that's another story.

Anyway, I like exercising now but I still loathe cold showers.

I'm going to second this. Any exercise is better than none. I have a tendency to get all or nothing about exercise & I've learned the hard way (slacking off after not having "enough" time), that consistency (exercising a certain no. of time per week) is more important than having an ideal no. of minutes/activities in a workout. It's far easier to get back on track after a few consistent, but less than ideal workouts than to have to start all over again from the beginning.

Ive really enjoyed reading this thread and its made me think. Doesnt happen often

Im not sure if I like, loathe, love or hate exercise because I just dont do any! Okay I take the dog for a walk - but hes a pomeranian and it doesnt take much to tire him out. I also take the kids to the park - but then I sit on the bench and read a magazine while they play I dont do any real, sweat it out, exercise but Id love to. So why dont I?

Maybe its just the thought of it I love. A couple of years ago I went through a 3 month phase of visiting the gym daily and I loved the results although I began to get a little bored with it. That gym closed down and I gave in since the memory of it being boring stuck with me. Id love to go swimming or do kick boxing but I feel too self conscious to go out and actually do either of them.

Since Christmas Ive been telling myself Im going to buy a fitness dvd to work out to at home. Then once Im feeling fitter and seeing the results maybe I will actually venture out to do some swimming or take up that kick boxing class Im dying to do. 10 days later and as many trips past shops that sell fitness dvds and Ive still not bought any. But after reading this thread and realising Im the one who has to make the change, drag my *** off the sofa and get up and get sweaty Ive decided Im going to buy that dvd tomorrow before work and get it started when I return.

Woohoo

I hate climbing ANYTHING.

Well the family and I went out snow sledding about 2 weeks ago - and now I can't wait for more snow!!! I had a BLAST!

I think incorporating something fun into your exercise can help make you look forward to it

This past summer, my husband and I started bike-riding. I hadn't ridden a bike in more than twenty years and I was over 250 lbs - omg my legs weren't strong enough to give my big butt a ride!

At first, I couldn't even make it around the block. But I kept going every day, going a little farther each time. Then I wanted to venture out of the neighborhood but there are (small) hills a few blocks away and I couldn't make it up those hills. But I kept trying and eventually I was able to get over those hills and explore.

There's a bike trail nearby and so we started riding every day on the trail. By the end of summer we were doing a minimum of 5 miles each evening and then 10-15 miles on weekend days. One day I noticed that my calves had changed shape - I actually had visible muscles!

I hate exercising. Before actually getting on my bike - on any given day - I can tell you that I also hate bike-riding. But I don't. I love bike-riding, not the stationary kind - I mean the outside kind with the wind blowing in your hair and new sights to see and enjoy - love it!

It's the first ten minutes that I hate!!!!!

Every single time I get on my bike, my knees hurt. My thighs hurt. My back hurts. My ankles hurt. My calves hurt. I pant and complain, "OMG I can't do this!" For the first ten minutes. Then everything warms up and starts running smoothly and I start enjoying the feeling of being alive and moving.

THEN - about twenty minutes into the ride, something else happens. I feel good, I feel strong! Not just physically - I mean I feel GOOD! The endorphins kick in and suddenly I find myself in the best of moods.

I still hate exercise. If it weren't for that first ten minutes, though, I'd be doing it nonstop, all day, every day.

Really good thoughts here. I am so glad to have found this community, and to be able to talk about these things with people who don't just think I'm lazy.

It sounds like walking might be a good way to start. I've order the first Walk away the Pounds dvd from the library, so I'll give that a try. If it doesn't work for me, I'll try something else.

I will try to keep in mind that exercise doesn't have to be an all or nothing thing. I think that I tend to think of it that way, so when I have to stop for a while (at any opportunity, really) I give up on it for the duration. It sounds like I really need to start thinking about it as part of a lifestyle -- or even more so, simply as part of my life.

Your post is very inspirational to me Eileen...wonderful to see exercise through your eyes. Almost makes me want to go buy a bike

This could go under the Power of Thought thread, due to the fact that I had to change my whole line of thinking when I began again this time. About everything!!

This wasn't going to be another "Diet". It wasn't something with a start date and end date. It was going to be a "Lifestyle". Incorporating healthy, good for me foods that I love and could live with for the rest of my life. New coping stratagies other then stuffing myself and my emotions with foods. I was never "comforted" after. In fact, falling face first into food always made me feel worse. Especially when I had to look in the mirror afterwards.

Same with "Exercise". I can't stand to exercise! I know this, I hate it, it's Work! Bleck I work hard enough. But what I want to do is ... " Body Build". I'm not back into wl yet, but no matter what I do... be it walk, yoga, squats using a ball and my wall. Or my counter and hanging on while I am waiting for the coffee to brew. Playing with my children, bowling with my family, I am "Building a Better Body"!

Eh, I am a wordy woman... Bottom line...

Diet = Lifestyle
Exercise = Body Building

Two little changes in thought had made a world of difference in me.

for some reason reading this made me laugh... it must be late

As I mentioned, I find music really helpful. If anyone wants to share workout playlists, let me know, I'll post mine. Maybe we can get some new inspiration from each other's musical choices to keep the variety going.

Lisa, I'd love to see your playlist. I tried to PM you back, but apparently I can't PM until I've made 25 posts. But I am definitely interested in seeing what you use to inspire you to keep going!

Lisa

Sure, here's the playlist (mine is a bit 80s centric). Also, there are certain albums I really like (particularly U2 & B-52s), so I'll play those too. And I'll try PMing you again to see if you can reply, though it sounds like you won't be able to because of the post thing.

Another One Bites the Dust/Queen
Move This/Technotronic
Goddess of Love/Bryan Ferry
Stand/REM
Orange Crush/REM
Under Pressure/Queen & David Bowie
Live & Let Die/Guns & Roses version
We Care a Lot/Faith No More
Pressure Drop/The Specials
Mixed Emotions/Rolling Stones
Vertigo/U2
Love & Peace or Else/U2
City of Blinding Lights/U2
All Because of You/U2
Crumbs from Your Table/U2
Original of the Species/U2
Obsession/Animotion
Good/Better than Ezra
Beautiful/Christina Aguilera
Under the Milky Way/The Church
Veronica/Elvis Costello
Ray of Light/Madonna
Hey Ya!/Outkast
Message of Love/Pretenders
Don't Get Me Wrong/Pretenders
Hippiechick/Soho
Better be Good to Me/Tina Turner
Mayor of Simpleton/XTC

Lisa, love your playlist!

I appreciate this thread because I, too, struggle with 'enjoying' exercise. While I am not exactly the poster child for good physical habits I will say that whenever I do go to the gym I ALWAYS feel better when I leave than when I arrive.

That seems to be enough for me.