What would/does get you to exercise?

Several friends have invested in a Wii, as they have a variety of exercise programs, and they love it.

@Pied_Pfeffer- I’ve got that on my list of goodies to search for because they are so much fun and several people in the house can do it together.

I enjoy competing in soccer, so what get’s me to go practice is me hoping to be better every single time.

I don’t like the way I feel if I don’t exercise. I use the pool and the indoor track at school (if I run on asphalt or concrete I get shin splints) or I walk – park the car far from entrances, walk the dog, take the stairs, walk to the Post Office, etc.

My dog gives me all the encouragement I need to get outside and exercise. Just one pleading look from those big brown eyes is all it takes.

Don’t buy a wii, or at least don’t buy a wii fit. There’s just no excuse that exercising should cost that much when it’s so freely available. It is really difficult to encourage someone to exercise without offending them, I’m not sure what to suggest, unless you suggested doing it together so that you could motivate eachother to be healthy.

@ninahenry- I’m looking for a wii fit on Craigslist, I can’t see paying so much for a new one either. We live in an area where the temps are between 100–120 during the summers so whatever we can do inside with air conditioning is going to have to do for now. I’ve done several things on the wii fit and it’s FUN as well moving. It’s probably the best way I’m going to get my bf to do yoga with me.

MUSIC! I love dancing. Pump up the volume and I will funk it up alone or with what ever company I can find, including my 5 year old son. Dance Dance Dance!

I have a Wii and two “games” for it, Wii Fit and Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2009. Both were gifts from my mom who had raved about both of them before buying them for me. She started eating healthy food and using those two games and lost about 50 pounds and a lot of inches in about 8 or 9 months. I also have a Billy Blanks Tae Bo DVD. In addition to those, I go outside and practice baseball and soccer with my son. We also go for walks when it’s nice outside.

I do it because I know the health risks that run in my family and most of them can be decreased by maintaining a healthy weight. I recently stopped drinking diet coke. My husband completely supports me and has said that he won’t drink them in front of me when he gets home if that will help me keep from wanting them. He also said he’d start working out with me if I wanted him to.

@Seaofclouds You’ve got a wonderful husband.

@Neizvestnaya I just looked up Wii prices, and while not cheap, it doesn’t seem like it is any more expensive than a gym membership or owning a dog, once the costs over time are added up. And yes, the friends that own one and have family members have mentioned that they enjoy the time together, as well as feeling more fit over time.

@Pied_Pfeffer Thanks. He really is great and treats me like a queen. I’m very blessed to have him by my side.

I get myself to exercise. What more motivation do I need? People aren’t meant to be inside online all day, we’re supposed to be outside killing our lunch.
I feel like being lazy is cheating your natural instincts. I’m not understanding why people think its so hard to exercise. I don’t think the day begins until you sweat.
Being a smartass is easy. But it actually takes dedication to get off that ass.

And wii isn’t a “real” exercise. I’ve got the fit and wii fit plus. These games will give you an extremely mild work out.. but its nothing to be routine about. They’re games.

@meagan Several friends feel the same way you do. One is a road warrior and works out 2x a day no matter where he is as he has a membership to Gold’s Gym, which allows him access to any of their locations.

And you have hit the nail on the head by stating “What more motivation do I need?”. Motivation comes from within, and the path to get to the same result can vary widely. If it takes a Wii, a Jillian Michaels website membership, gym membership, buying a video or home exercise equipment, it all starts with what works for each individual. And may we all get to the point where we are living a healthier lifestyle.

@meagan- I don’t expect the wii to compare to our treadmill or other exercises but I like the fun factor as an addition to.

@meagan Actually, the Jillian Michaels game is real exercise. You set your difficulty level and you move non-stop (if you do it properly and don’t cheat). In between different exercises, you run in place. Each time I do it I’m hot, sweaty, and tired. It does give you a workout. I agree that Wii Fit doesn’t really give the same workout.

I didn’t / don’t have encouragement. I just did/do it on my own. It can be done alone, if you put your mind to it. It’s a bit more challenging, yes, but when you reach the end of your rope, you will find the motivation within to keep going.

I also don’t like running outside, I don’t like sweaty gyms where everyone goes to see everyone else and besides, it never made sense to me to get dressed to drive to sweat to drive back, to shower to dress again. How much time does that take? I would talk myself out of doing that before I sat up in bed!

So, I always, always exercise at home….preferably on a machine of some sort. I can roll out of bed and onto the machine, watch TV or listen to an internet radio show while I exercise. I do Pilates every day and have for three years (on a machine). Every day except Sunday, that is. I motivate myself by remembering what I looked like before and what I look like now. Pilates is the only exercise I have been able to stick with. It strengthens you and lengthens you and helps you to walk straighter. It reshapes your body, too and works on your core. And this combined with a good diet worked amazingly well for me. I just psyched myself up (and still do) every day. I think that now, seeing the changes is a motivator. Wanting to stay healthy and fit, is a big motivator. When I went into single digits in clothing…....whoa. I thought I had gone to heaven…I had to check and re-check. That’s what has kept me going now.

I really did do it on my own. Oh, and I never, ever weighed myself. I just kept with the diet and noticed my clothes getting smaller. I know that sometimes from week to week we fluctuate in weight, even if we are keeping to the diet…and I didn’t want to get discouraged. So, I didn’t check my weight for about nine months. I don’t recommend it, but it worked for me. I knew my vulnerability.

Yard work.

Being cancer-free for 14 years, wanting to outlive both my cat and my mother, feeling better, having almost no back aches, buttoning my pants, wanting to outshine my sister (that’s only occasionally).

I keep a treadmill in a cool basement with a view of the TV. It is convenient, easy and I get to watch Jeopardy! and show-off to myself, except for sports and pop music.

I’ve never thought of machines being necessary because the simple exercises I’ve always done since childhood have worked so well but as I’ve aged in the last 5yrs then I notice I need something else and have given into the machines which it turns out I really like! Now I’m wondering if sitting on an exercise ball instead of chair all day will be better for me. I’m telling you, if I could find a large hoppity hop then I’d use that as my work chair and in showroom entertainment!

1) Something that eliminates my chronic pain.

2) Wii exercise program with that step up platform.

I will settle for #1

I am going to start walking like some of the neighbors because, if I don’t, my knees are going to get worse. They’re not bad but I don’t want to push it. I really want it to be under 84 degrees first but that might take ages. I also have a bike.
No One around here rides a bike. I can’t understand it.

@Aster
I gave in and bought the treadmill because our weather is so horrible that walking in it defeats the whole purpose of better health, we’d never get around to it. Biking is fun and I miss it but it’s one of the most dangerous things you can do out here, the car drivers are treacherous. I thought the treadmill would be goofy and “not real exercise” but I am now convinced since it kicks my butt every few days. Craigslist yielded us a very nice machine for a small small budget. I’m now keeping my eyes open for a similar quality stair stepper.

Being late for class.

@Neizvestnaya The type of chair you describe does exist.

Seeing people in better shape than I am
Looking in the mirror

I never got the whole encouragement thing. I, personally, find it annoying. If I’m going to work out, I will. If I’m not, then I won’t. But I suppose it’s good for people who like it.

@Pied_Pfeffer- That’s exactly what I wanted! Gonna google shop for it later :D Thanks

I really hate “exercising.” Instead I opt to do things that require muscle, such as yard work. When I do house work I stretch as much as I can.

I’m freakin lazy. I however love sports and love exercising, strangely enough. But what gets me going is good techno music. No joke, I listen to 2–3 techno songs on good headphones and I finish an entire day of exercise and start cleaning up the house. Its scary, actually.