Help me. I HATE exercise! - Exercise & Fitness Message Board

Uff-Da! · 12-11-2004, 05:24 PM

I suspect that most of you using this forum actually enjoy exercise. I HATE it. But I am totally out of shape and I know it would be healthier to get a reasonable amount of exercise. Does anyone have any ideas of what to do to get me MOTIVATED to do it?

My weight is fine; I'm right at what I consider my ideal. I'm a retired female, age 63, high blood pressure and high cholesterol both controlled with fairly low doses of medication. I suspect I could either get off the meds or reduce the amount further if I could get myself to just exercise regularly. Family history of heart disease and stroke, though not at a young age. My arthritis doesn't really restrict me too much, though I know I'm going to lose even more flexibility if I don't start moving. As it is, several first finger joints are totally frozen and I have reduced range of motion in a number of other joints.

About the only exercise I get regularly is going up and down the stairs about 10-20 times a day, as my computer room and sewing room are on one floor and other rooms on another. Other than that, I'm lucky to get the ambition to do more than 10-15 minutes of exercise a MONTH, putting a music CD on and dancing around the house or doing calisthenics to the music.

So where can I find some motivation to

?

hannasnana · 12-11-2004, 05:41 PM

Hi Uffda,

I am 50 and normally I love to exercise but I got into a slump last year. I just didn't want to go out and do my normal routine of walking and riding my bike. Many of my friends joined the new womens exercise program sweeping the country.....(you guess)...

30 min routine 3 times a week. I love it. I can drop in get my routine done and I'm done.......I found that I only need to do this program 3 times a week and I feel great. I found that if I eat healthy and exercise regularly I keep my weight down and my energy up.

Its so easy, I love it for me....

....maybe it would work for you?

Uff-Da! · 12-12-2004, 06:34 AM

Hannasnana, thanks for your reply. I can see that that might work for some people. But knowing me, I am certain that anything which requires me to get dressed, get into the car, drive somewhere, and get out of the car to walk through the wind and rain (which we'll have here on the coast until about April) has about zero chance of success. I'm retired and definitely a homebody. I avoid having to go out of the house more than once a week in the winter, even when that means getting my mail at the post office only once a week. So any exercise program is going to have to be something I do alone at home. Unfortunately, since I lost my husband last year, I have no one to even goad me into doing it.

I have an "Iron Horse" machine in the garage. It's seat is very dusty, as it has been months since I've been on it. (I had an exercise bike, too, but I gave that away a few months ago due to lack of use.) I have my music CDs I could dance or exercise to. (I did finally do that yesterday; first time in maybe a month.) The problem is inertia. Surely there must be some tricks to help overcome the psychological hang-ups and get in a habit of doing something like that. Because one day or a few days just doesn't hack it.

hannasnana · 12-12-2004, 08:55 PM

Hi Uffda,
I know we all need to find what works for us as individuals. Sounds like you live in a climate similar to mine. It rains most of the winter into April and even May. Its dark and dreary out and so one doesn't really want to go out.

I hope you find something that works for you.
Barb

Jess75 · 12-13-2004, 04:57 PM

Have you ever participated in an exercise program? I know that GETTING STARTED is the hardest part when it comes to fitness. Once you start being consistant with exercise and notice results, it becomes addictive for many people. Because you know you are doing a good thing for your body, you feel good AND look good! I read somewhere that if exercise could be in a pill it would be the most powerful medicine on earth! You just have to give it a try. Most aerobic activities start with a warm up and you will just flow right into it. Google "benefits for exercise" and you'll see how great it is, if you don't already know.