Learn to Love Exercise
By: Denise Tausig,
SparkPeople Blogger
8/16/2012 6:00 AM
: 34 comments
: 14,114 Views
Not everyone enjoys exercising, but it doesn't have to be that way. You CAN learn to love exercise! I know some of you may be thinking to yourself that I'm crazy and that there is no way that you will ever learn to love exercise, but it really can happen.
For anyone who knew me before joining SparkPeople and going on my journey to better health, they probably would have told you that I didn't like exercise. Back then they would have been right, but I have changed that mindset. Now I honestly can say that I enjoy exercising. But how did I change my dislike for exercise? Well, what worked for me was trying various exercises and activities until I found what I liked to do. If you find something that you enjoy doing, or at least that you don't mind doing, then you are more likely to start to enjoy exercise and look forward to it. Any time I hear anyone say that they don't like to exercise, I always recommend they try a new exercise or activity. That usually helps them enjoy working out and sometimes even love exercising.
I like to do a variety of exercises and physical activities to help keep me interested and continue my enjoyment of exercise. So that is something else to keep in mind if you don't like exercise. If you are doing something that you don't like doing and you don't add in a variety of other exercises, then not only are you going to be less likely to do it, but you will likely be very bored. With my somewhat recent addition of fitness classes at the gym, I am definitely not bored and I am always looking forward to going to all of my classes. So you can say that I have learned to love exercise. But don't just take my word for it, you can find out how other members just like you learned to love exercise too!
Below is a collection of resources with a variety of other ideas that you may find helpful in helping you to learn to love exercise.
Quiz: What's Your Exercise Personality?
Keep Exercise Fun and Adventurous
Learn to Love Going to the Gym
Are You in a Cardio Rut? Break Free!
Discover Your Inner Athlete in an Adult Sports League
Add Adventure to Your Walks with Geocaching
8 Workouts You'll Love if You Hate to Sweat
The 100 Best Workout Songs from the '80s
Various Workout Songs from Coach Nicole's Favorites Lists
You can also join any of our ongoing Bootcamp Challenge SparkTeams or the Staying Fit = Having Fun SparkTeam to try something new and challenging, while also having fun!
Whatever you do, do your best to get out there and have fun with your workouts! It doesn't have to be something that you dread. If that is how you feel now, then switch it up and try something new to find the joy in your workouts.
Do you love exercise? If so, have you always loved exercise or is that a new found love for you? If not, are you going to try some new exercises or some of the tips in the resources listed above to help you love exercise?
 You will earn 3 SparkPoints |
Comments
I think this is part of the logic behind training plans like Couch to 5K, which recognize that beginners need to start slow and build up to new activities. - 8/19/2012 1:20:48 PM
- 8/17/2012 12:30:07 PM
Keep Moving! - 8/16/2012 11:16:47 PM
This site is great for being able to track progress. - 8/16/2012 10:26:20 PM
The only times I can remember not loving exercise was in P.E. classes, but usually less for reasons pertaining to the activity than either physical issues (being made to run in spite of a badly sprained ankle and doctor's note, for example) or stuff like being forced into shorts in chilly morning weather because it was the school uniform.
I like the challenge and I like seeing the improvement. I don't get involved in competitive exercises - aka sports - because I hate having other people focus on trying to outdo me. That just makes me not want to bother (feels like being the mechanical rabbit for the greyhounds rather than racing for the love of the wind in my face). I love competing against myself, though. - 8/16/2012 5:12:12 PM
Maybe "play" in the sense of playing a game with yourself. You could choose from any or all of the following"games"
1. I'll just work out for 10 minutes. If I feel like continuing, who's to stop me?
2. I'll start out reeaalll slow (though not so slow I put myself to sleep)
3. I'm learning something new about my activity or sport. What could I do if I just thought of this learning as just playing around ?... and that if I "failed" to improve (THIS time), I'll just ask myself, "What have I learned?"
4. On the other hand (and this is SO NOT ME (not that I care about that):) You could say to/about yourself: Damn, I'm GOOD at my sport! I'll just pretend Coach _______ is giving me a workout ...
Hey, it's all just a game.
Just like the rest of life. - 8/16/2012 4:54:11 PM
I tend to put off strength training. It feels monotinous. - 8/16/2012 3:40:45 PM
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