[lelggren]

I have recently started exercising again after a long rebellion.....we won't get into that....lol But, I was wondering what all of you do for your exercise, and how do you keep it from getting too repetitive? I work out at our apartment fitness center, and so I do mostly treadmill and bike.

[sydneya]

I walk outside three times a week with a group of friends. Three times a week I go to a fitness club that was set up by the hospital on a diabetic grant. At first it was only for diabetics. Then they opened it to the public. It has several machines that we take forty seconds on each machine, the music stops and we move to the next. Forty seconds doesn't sound like much but it works. On those days, I walk to the fitness center (only two miles). On those snowy icy days which we have every once in a while, I put Leslie Sansome in and do her Walking away the Pounds video.
Now, I say I do these things--but I have just started the plan. I'm just starting after "a long rebellion". (actually, a long lazy period rebellion.)Not LOL. Wish me luck to keep with the motivation.

[Ritehsedad]

I try to bike to work whenever I can. This time of year its 2-3 days per week. I count each day as 1 hour, with my goal each week of 3.5 hours. I make up the difference on the exercise bike. This has been a bad week, I was only able to bike to work yesterday.

[valc3]

If I'm at the gym and have a need for change, I'll break up my cardio workout into 15 minute increments. 15 on treadmill, 15 rowing, 15 elliptical, 15 bike, etc. I'll also reverse the order I do them in. If I'm out walking or hiking, I take a different route. Sometimes music helps.

[Mark C]

I walk five + miles per day on a predictable route. I track it with a GPS and kind of make a game out of it. I also use an iPod to listen to and set my pace.

[Cinnabon]

I always watch a movie or good TV show at the time Im gonna jump on the treadmill.

[jen_slc]

It's difficult to keep exercise on machines from getting repetitive, apart from changing up the routine/machines you use and listening to different music while you're doing it. I had a mixed tape I listened to ALL the time as a freshman in college and now any time I hear any of those songs, I get sucked back into my days on the stairmaster, lol. Machines actually drive me crazy - I much prefer classes. Ok, so the classes get a bit repetitive after you've been going for a while, but it's so much better than the machines imo. You could maybe find a place near you that has classes as well as machines? Plus when it gets warmer you could buy a cheap bike and go biking or head up into the mountains for some hiking/walking. I don't think that's ever boring/repetitive, there's too much to explore.

[am1977]

Probably any type of exercise can become repetitive after awhile . I think that's why people give up on it...it's hard to remain motivated. I go exercise every day, but, believe me, it's hard some days. I have to literally drag myself there.

I think what's really important is to find something you truly enjoy...whether it is taking aerobic classes, or dance, or joining a gym and using their equipment.

Good luck!

[DeusXM]

Why not take up a sport instead of exercising? If you're just going to be a hamster and run on the spot, of course you're going to get bored. But a good competative game of squash or tennis or basketball or volleyball or football or whatever certainly won't get dull.

[lelggren]

I wish so much that I was even ok at doing sports. But, sadly, I am so bad at them. I can hit a tennis ball sometimes, but I have never, ever been good at sports. I think that may be part of why I have been so heavily involved in music all my life. But, I suppose that I can look into it. Thanks for the suggestion!

[someone]

Originally Posted by lelggren

I wish so much that I was even ok at doing sports. But, sadly, I am so bad at them. I can hit a tennis ball sometimes, but I have never, ever been good at sports. I think that may be part of why I have been so heavily involved in music all my life. But, I suppose that I can look into it. Thanks for the suggestion!

So what if you are no good? It is still excercise..

[lelggren]

True, it is still exercise, but if I am bad at it despite trying to be good at it, then I am not going to want to do it. I want to find something that I will stick with and that I will look forward to. Especially since I am just starting to get back into it again. I'm not saying I won't try a sport, but sports have always just come difficult to me and that has made them not fun for me.

Originally Posted by someone

So what if you are no good? It is still excercise..

[Lynne1]

I enjoyed training for a 1/2 walking marathon for the ADA. You don't have to train for any particular distance, but just choose something slightly challenging and it will give you a goal to shoot for which will make your training more fun.

The ADA has walks every year and you could train for that. They also have longer walk/run events. They even provided on-line training for the 1/2 and full marathon. Also, runnersworld.com has training guides for newbies...and remember that you don't have to run...walking is great!

I hope this helps.

[DeusXM]

I wish so much that I was even ok at doing sports. But, sadly, I am so bad at them.

Then find someone else who also isn't good at them to play with. It doesn't have to be really competative either - just having another person around and passing a ball back and forth can be reasonably entertaining, and good for you.

Besides, if you don't practise at a sport, you'll never be good at it. No-one's ever brilliant at anything the first time they try it.

[amylo]

Go dancing! Most fitness clubs do classes, and you wont even notice you're doing exercise. Clever, huh?!