I don't exercise. I train. I always have goals in mind: running in the 5K Race for the Cure, say, or backpacking across Eastern Europe. I guess it's just psychological, but exercising sounds like something you're supposed to do, while training is something that athletes (ha, me an athlete!) do because they like it.
You definitely have to find something you enjoy. Or, if you want to do something you don't enjoy (like me and weight-training, my constant nemesis) you have to define why you're doing it. For me, 'because it's good for you' is not motivation enough. But if I say instead 'I weight-train so that when I go rock-climbing next time I have an easier time' then I'm more motivated. I'm not exercising. I'm training.
Which isn't to say that it's always easy. I get lazy, I get busy, I get blah. I'll go a week without doing too much. Weight-lifting is a constant foe of mine, and I really need to stretch more. But having goals helps.
This same strategy is how I approach eating. I'm not dieting. Right now, I'm trying to eat healthy as a vegetarian. To me, that's just psychologically different than 'dieting', even if the end results might be the same.
I agree with Scuttle and dharma, you have to find something you really enjoy doing or you probably won't keep it up for any length of time. I belonged to a gym for a few years and thoroughly enjoyed the step aerobics classes they had, plus I actually enjoyed working out on the weight machines. It helped relieve so much stress.
A couple of years ago, my twin girls and I started horseback riding. I had ridden and had horses when I was younger and thought the girls might enjoy it. Well the three of us became really addicted to riding and a few months ago started working at the barn two nights a week for riding privileges, raking aisles, cleaning stalls, watering, etc... plus the riding we get to do. Good old physical labor and we love every minute of it! To me it doesn't seem like the dreaded word "exercise" but it is a great work out and I am seeing a lot more toned muscles and feel so much more energetic these days. We have also been taking bike rides along the canal road near us on some of the beautiful sunshiney days we have had recently and have so much fun doing it.
To me the key is to find something, anything that is fun and keeps you moving so you don't feel it is a chore. Mowing the lawn, working out in the garden, taking a hike, swimming, playing volleyball or some other kind of sport. The people with little children, I used to put my oldest daughter on a child seat and take a long bike ride. She loved it as much as I did or when she was real small, I would put her in a Gerry and take long hikes with her, she usually fell asleep with the rhythm of my walk and the fresh air.
I had some trouble last Fall when I hit menopause and was getting really irritable and started gaining a lot of weight. It seemed the more I gained the less I wanted to move. I was totally miserable, cranky and not too great to be around at that time. I wasn't hardly exercising at all just horseback riding once a week. When I realized I wasn't doing myself any good, in fact I was creating a vicious cycle, miserable, weight gain, lethargic, etc... I decided to get my act together and I feel like a different person these days, exercise is such a mood lifter and stress reliever I realized I can't live without it. It is literally saving my mental health and my quality of life. I am so much more limber, confident and happy when I exercise. Wow, I sound like a preacher here and I think I wrote a book. As you can tell I am a little passionate on this subject because I think it is so important for us and it has helped me so much. I am a totally different person when I am exercising and feeling good about myself.
I just read your post and was happy to find a fellow "horse crazy" person! I re-started my horse passion about a year ago after being a young horse crazy person 15ish years ago. It never goes away, does it?
Anyway, I agree that when you find an exercise that you really enjoy, it's a lot easier to keep doing it. Besides the horse activities, which right now I can only do on Fri, Sat, Sun- I love to put my headphones on and walk to music. Gives me a lift! Granted, sometimes during the week, I have to walk really early before my hubby leaves for work (6:30) or after I get home from my job at night (9 or 10). I have a 6 yr old and almost 2 yr old. I also walk my 6 yr old to kindergarden every weekday......I have no choice in that, no 2nd car...but unless it's rainy or whatever.....I "hoof it" LOL!
It is nice to see someone else on the message board that likes horses also. I think you are right, once bitten by the horsecrazy bug you never totally get over it no matter how long you stay away from horses. I know a few ladies up at our barn that were away from riding for a while and are now back enjoying it again. I noticed you are living in New Jersey too. Where do you ride? I am riding up in Hillsborough at a stable called Blackhorse. It is very family oriented and there are lots of nice people up there.
I ride in Shamong Township, Burlington County (southern NJ). Our barn is called Tails and Trails. (cute, huh? ) It's in the Pine Barrens not far from Atco Raceway, if you've ever heard of that. Anyway, I know where Hillsborough is because my SIL lives there. What a nice area! The drive up there for us goes right through Princeton and it's so pretty.
How neat that you share this activity with your girls! I have 2 boys, 6 and 2.
I actually got the confidence to go back to my horse-passion after I lost 30 lbs on WW. I still have much to go, but my instructor is/was so cool with it. I told her right from the get-go and she's been great. I lease one of her horses. I don't own my own. (someday....) She told me she would help me get back those muscles. I remember feeling those @#$%* muscles after I rode the first time! LOL! It's great exercise, isn't it??
I was like you Ally-oop, I lost a lot of weight about three years ago and decided when I checked into riding for my girls to ride myself and I have never regretted it. My weight went up for a while and is now going down again, but I never stopped riding, it has helped keep me sane. Yes, it is good exercise, I remember the day after my first lesson, I could hardly walk. I think every muscle in my body ached. The girls and I don't own horses right now either, but hope to someday. I love the name of your stable, very creative!
The canal road that goes along the river through Princeton and on towards Trenton is a great place to go with bikes or to walk. Sometimes I see horses along the trail. I bet your boys would enjoy it!
Hope you have a great weekend. We will be heading up to the barn soon!
To me it doesn't seem like the dreaded word "exercise" but it is a great work out and I am seeing a lot more toned muscles and feel so much more energetic these days. We have also been taking bike rides along the canal road near us on some of the beautiful sunshiney days we have had recently and have so much fun doing it. 
It's great exercise, isn't it??
