Exercises For People Who Hate Exercise

Health and Wellness - Exercise

By: nwgirl 18-Jan-2011

Introduction:

There are those people who love exercise and can't wait to run or spin or whatever. I'm not one of them. Not only will I do anything to avoid exercise on a regular basis (I am the Queen of Excuses), I also need some form of enticement or bribery to get me to do it. I know I should be enlightened by now and should have just incorporated exercise as a healthy requirement for my body, yet I resist. Here is my list of exercises that I'm able to get myself to do despite all my kicking and protesting only because there's something in it for me, besides the exercise, of course.

Walking

Walking is great for listening to your new music uninterrupted. Pick a fast-paced playlist so you walk faster and oh, wait...that would be exercise and would burn more calories. Never mind; just crank up the tunes and put one foot in front of the other.

Yoga

Breathe. That's it; that's all you have to do in yoga. The instructors are so focused on how you breathe that they only sort of care how well you do the yoga poses.

Bicycling

If bicycle seats were even a little bit comfortable, I think I would actually enjoy it, but for me to enjoy bicycling the seat would have to be about a foot wide, filled with gel and be covered in cotton balls.

Other than the seat, biking isn't so bad because it's repetitive and I don't have to think other than to avoid running over the neighborhood animals (had a few close calls). What's in it for me is that I can go really, really slowly by adjusting the gears, so I barely pedal and I'm still moving. I don't think I could walk any slower. This way I can delude myself into thinking I really did something when I really didn't. The cool thing is (warning: sappiness ahead) my older daughter loves to go with me on bike rides so we have some girly-girl time.

Running a 5K

Yes, I actually said "running." The "what's-in-it-for-me" is the t-shirt I get when I run a 5K. I only need two or three t-shirts to wear around and people think I'm all athletic and dedicated. Little do they know I probably shaved five years off my life with all the whining I did before, during and after the runs. And if you think you can't run a 5K, I'm telling you that you can because I actually ran one where the people who were walking were faster than me. Not kidding.

Zumba

Zumba is one big dance party with possibly the loudest music allowed in commercial areas. Zumba exercise is so much fun that you'll be distracted from the fact that you're getting a great aerobic workout. And don't worry that you aren't getting all the moves right; just shake your body in all the shakable places and it will look like you meant to do that.

Final Thoughts

These fun exercises are especially good for people who avoid exercise at all costs because it's so easy to be distracted by something else that you forget you're actually working out.

Give this list a high five!

Comments

Post a Comment

Marilynda 2/22/2013
Flag This Comment

All good suggestions
clewand550 1/28/2012
Flag This Comment

Good list.
tracyann 4/9/2011
Flag This Comment

Great list.
gerrielynn 1/20/2011
Flag This Comment

I love this article! And, I love your outlook on exercising as well. Fun article on exercises for eople who hate exercise. (that's me too!) High 5
Amylaine 1/19/2011
Flag This Comment

Zumba is my favorite type of exercise at the moment. I love to just put the speakers up loud and dance. It does not matter if you are doing it just right as long as you keep moving.
workhomeunion 1/19/2011
Flag This Comment

You hit the nail on the head with number one, walking is excellent for those who don't like to exercise, especially if you're walking and talking with a friend. hi5