Trying to exercise

[bluebird98]

Hey I’m finding it hard to exercise. Even using those phone apps like 7 minutes seems too difficult. When I can’t do it I just give up. Does anyone have any advice or tips to staying committed to exercising?

[moreless Administrator 7 stone]

If the exercise isn't something you enjoy, bluebird98, you'll never stick with it.

Do you enjoy walking, swimming, dancing? Find something that's fun and if company would help you, join a group, or phone a friend

[bluebird98 in reply to moreless]

I enjoy walking and dancing but I think dance classes would be expensive. But I could try to walk more

[moreless Administrator 7 stone in reply to bluebird98]

You can also dance in the privacy of your own home. My granddaughter and I bellydanced, following a video

[S11m]

Exercise can help you lose weight and make you feel (and look) better.

Losing weight will make it easier to exercise.

Tailor your exercise to your requirements... and do not over-do it. Is your exercise app tailored for people who are fit?

I am 70, and I was disabled for half a decade, so, when they fixed my heart, I built up slowly from being a power-chair user to walking 30 to 50km a week.

[HereWeGoAgain72]

I know how you feel! I'm personally trying to re-frame how I view it and I hope I eventually trick myself into believing it! So instead of "ugh I have to do some exercise today", I'm like "wooo I get to go for a walk!" or "yay I get to go swimming!". I try and avoid things I actively hate and I definitely try to avoid overdoing it as it immediately makes me not want to do it again. At the moment I am setting myself very small challenges then I log them in my fitness pal and that's always a treat to do! I try and view it as unrelated to my weight, I ignore the estimated "calories burnt" (as I don't know if I believe them!) and instead just think - I wanna move a bit today, so I'm going to put an audiobook in and go for a walk. Sometimes I pick a shop that's like 20 minutes away and say I'll walk to that shop and back, because then I feel like I'm trying to reach something, have a little browse, then come back. It's more motivational than "I must run 5K"...no thank you.

If you're starting small, a walk round the block, or a 10 minute walk is better than nothing. Just view it as something you are treating your body to and not a punishment. PArt of the struggle I have, is I associate exercise as punitive and part of a diet for being "bad" so I shy away from it. I'm tryinnnnnng to retrain my brain that it doesn't need to be bad, it could be good and I don't have to do hours of it trying to buy calories. You don't have to be a gym bunny or a triathlon star, you could just do something small like 3 times a week because it's part of what YOU do. If there's anything you even vaguely like, then do a bit of that activity. If it's dancing/walking/swimming...just start by doing a bit.

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to HereWeGoAgain72]

A very positive, supportive reply, HWGA

[Hidden]

Hi bluebird98. I would think it is best to decide what type of exercise you actually enjoy. Walking worked for me, in the past. No costs involved.

I can't exercise for years because of health problems.

Weight can be lost through diet alone.👍

Good Luck.🍀

[Pegasus77]

Hi bluebird98 how about getting youtube on a laptop/tv and looking up dancing, yoga, excersize class etc etc the selection is limitless and you can do it at home trial and error until you find what you like and an extra bonus is it's free or going for a gentle walk somewhere scenic. I love walking, rain hail or shine I walk the 1 1/2 miles to my work and back every day. Good luck finding an activity that suits you.