I'm gearing up to join in the July exercise challenge, since that is one piece that is still missing from my life. I'm doing great with the food, but I think things would move faster if I were getting exercise, and I want to tone up as I lose, so I don't end up looking like a deflated balloon.
The problem is, I hate to exercise. I've been walking with a friend (when the moon is full and we're both motivated), and also doing some laps when we're at the pool. I need to find something I'll enjoy enough to keep doing it.
The only time in my life I enjoyed exercising is when I did Jazzercise. I loved it because it was like dancing, and I could really get my heart rate up. But I had to give it up because I started getting hip pain. I could have done low impact, but it wasn't as fun.
SO, my question is - what kinds of exercise do you enjoy? What would you recommend I try?

I love to swim! I don't swim for real but I use the kickboard and swim laps or just doggy paddle or walk the lanes. Love it!

I love doing many different machines, started off on the tread worked my way to the elliptical then the cross ramp then to the stair climber and then to the bike.
and I would work myself up to a mile on each. It totally felt great knowing that each time I made changes I was accomplishing something great. What ever works for you would be awesome. Try everything running, swimming,walking machines, combinations of weights to do what you like. I had to work my body up from doing cd workouts at home to get myself in some kind of shape then I hit the gym.

I hate to exercise too. I've posted this before, but what I do is mow grass...with an "old fashioned" reel lawnmower that I ordered this year. I cut the backyard with "my" mower and my husband cuts the front with the other lawnmower.
I try to cut the backyard about 3 times a week. It takes me about 40 minutes to cut it and it is a "reel" workout! I can really feel all those muscles working...it is not really hard to push, but "different" than the self propelled one and the bonus is that my yard looks great and manicured all the time.

I also called our local hospital yesterday when I saw that they are offering pilates classes and I think I may sign up after my company leaves next week and my daughter has moved to LA...this week is a little hectic. The class is only one night a week. My daughter's boyfriend is a personal trainer (a doll!) and he told me that he actually only trains once a week (of course he is fit!) and he said a good hard once a week training should be enough since I do so much yardwork.

I joined Curves a couple of years ago when one opened here and I really hated it. I didn't mind the exercise as much as I minded the stupid "games" and one of the "trainers" drove me nuts telling me I was using a couple of the machines "wrong". I told her countless times that I had had back surgury and I knew that I was not doing them the way most people should, but I could not put that much strain on my back and had to do the machines putting the strain on my arms and legs. I finally quit going.

i'm going to learn Dance Dance Revolution....

i hate exercise.

I LOVE TO EXERCISE!

This is actually the first time I've used a diet plan to lose weight. Usually I just up my exercise. However, sometimes I end up practically flat out in bed because I push too hard. Before we came over to stay with Tom (it had been two months since we'd seen him) I decided I wanted to lose a few pounds so I looked cute and I was running five miles three times a week and doing an hour on the elliptical three times a week. Plus walking everywhere that I could. I'm a little bit of a nut and I seriously think I might be a little addicted to the exercise-induced endorphin rush.

BUT...

I always hate it at the beginning. I spend the first five to ten minutes (fifteen if I'm running) grumbling to myself about how stupid it is and how much it hurts and whinewhinewhineblah. Then I get into my zone and I'm fine after that. So, my advice is to stick with something for more than fifteen minutes because you might end up liking it.

My favorite thing to do is the elliptical. Totally non-impact, and you can go forward or backward to work different muscles. Arms and legs going equals more calories burned, and if you keep your hands on the moving part, you really can't "cheat" by leaning on the machine.

I HATE running, but I convinced myself to do it anyway. After Avery was born I made a goal to be able to run five miles (I had never run more than a mile at a time). It took me about seven months, but I worked my way up to it. I started off at a slow pace for a mile and then ran at that same pace and length for a week (three times a week). Then I upped it by a half mile at the same pace. Same deal for the next week. Then I upped it by another half mile at the same pace. Same deal for that next week. Then I upped the speed, but kept my mileage the same. You get the picture. I started off running one mile at 5.0 mph and ended up running five miles at 6.7 mph (I increased my speed by 0.5mph until I got to 6.5 mph and then I increased by 0.1 mph per week because I knew I was about to hit my personal limit.) Like I said, it took me seven months, but I did it. Having a goal kept me motivated.

My other current favorite thing to do is yoga. I go to a class every Saturday. It's lovely.

I've done The Firm series (loved it!), Tae Bo (whew, that's a workout), Denise Austin's shows on Lifetime, and various pregnancy workout tapes as well.

Hope that helps!

Kara

I loooooooove yoga. I have no coordination what so ever! I have on demand through my cable company and they have a section devoted to yoga, so that is how I start my days. I never realized until I tried it how much of a workout it actually is, using your own body as a weight machine so to speak. So far I have only found a couple of poses that I really just can't do.

Beyond that it is walking for me.

My favorite energetic activity is dancing, especially to the old disco tunes. I made a 2-hour long compilation of my favorite disco and dance songs from the 70s and 80s. I use it to keep me moving on the treadmill, or I turn down the sound on Leslie Sansone and just follow her moves along with the tape when I really want to have fun.

Otherwise, I like the Firm quite a bit and Gilad. I'm 51 and I have to exercise in order to lose or maintain weight. My metabolism is just too s-l-o-w otherwise.

Schmoodle, how about throwing on some of your favorite tunes and dancing up a storm for about 20 minutes? Thats a good start.

L

[QUOTE=Pacergal29;1749508I have on demand through my cable company and they have a section devoted to yoga, so that is how I start my days. [/QUOTE]

That sounds like something I would like...how do you get to it with on demand?..so many options to look at when in there!

I hate exercising. I really really do. But I do try to walk and once I get into the groove then I am ok. I want to start running but I have been saying that for 3 years. Not sure if it will happen. Once I get back from vacation that is my goal to make myself do it. This is where the bribe thing just might work for me.

I like classes that are more "dancing" than exercising too...I just started take a hip hop class at my gym that I really enjoy. I'm also looking in to a "hooping" group that meets here in Richmond. It's dancing with a hula hoop, and it looks really cool! Plus, all those hoopers have amazing stomach muscles!

I really enjoy step because I can engage both mentally and physically (I find I "think" a bit too much on the treadmill...) and I like ball classes (done with those big inflatable balls). The ball classes are a nice way to build muscle without using machines.

OH MY WORD Liannie! How hilarious is Gilad?! I love to watch that show. I think I burn as many calories doing the routines as I do laughing at him!

Kara

Megan, I love your idea of being creative with the numbers on the treadmill! That will be a fun thing to do next time I hit the gym!

Kara

I love to dance and found a workout video that I just love. Its the Richard Simmons Disco Sweat . I love it, it's 70 minutes but it works every part of your body plus it's fun to sing along to the songs because the time passes by. I also like to walk and do leg and arm excercises in the pool.

Thanks for all the great ideas. I have to admit that I'm intimidated by the thought of "going to the gym" and using machines. I've never done that, and I wouldn't know where to begin. You guys reminded me that I did take a yoga class once a long time ago and loved it. As a matter of fact, I think I have a yoga workout book around here somewhere. I think the reason that I liked Jazzercise so much was because it was made up mostly of actual jazz dance moves and felt like real dancing. I tried the Jackie Sorensen aerobics around the same time and didn't care for it because it was mostly calesthenics set to music. I think I'll try starting an at home yoga routine, stick with my swimming and add some water exercises, and start looking around for a real, actual dance class for fat, middle-aged ladies, or some good tapes to try at home. Does anyone know where I could find a program of good water exercises?