Who exercises for fun?

[newmark]

In a survey I read that half the British people would rather die a year early than lead a healthy lifestyle. This didn't really surprise me. However, what did surprise me was that only 4% of the population there exercise for fun.
I imagine that most of you who are reading this do not fall in the first category. My questions are:
How many people here exercise for fun? And not out of duty.
And what exercise is fun for you?
For me the answer is martial arts and whenever I have the opportunity swimming, snorkelling and white water rafting.

[Kate Saltfleet]

I enjoy the classes at my gym. There's a really good crowd there and we have a laugh.

[Adrienne]

I dont exercise for fun, but i play for fun.
What i mean is, I dont go to the gym and walk on a treadmill for fun, i find that boring and a little pointless.

But i love to take walks, hike, white water raft, play volleyball, basketball, rock climb, swim, jump on trampolines (esp the big ones so you i can do flips), paintball, water fights, slip and slide, and a whole bunch more. I like to have active fun!
Basically i would rather take an 8 hour hike in the woods even with snow on the ground then be in doors and so an hour on the treadmill.

I dont know if this is true for anyone else, but i find i work out better and harder and longer if i am having fun. Basically if i on a treadmill at the gym, i watch my heart rate, get to the target zone and then my mind wonders until the hour is passed i am glad it is over. If i am outside walking, i may, walk fast, jog, run, skip (yes, i really will skip, its fun ) and enjoy the experiences more and will work out long because i am having fun. I also find that when i test my heart rate, i am still where i need to be.
A couple weeks ago i played sand volleyball for a little over 5 hours (i usually play 2 hours) and even tho my feet were really sore, i was still happy to be playing and having fun. This for me is soooo not true when it comes to a gym (unless i am in a pool). In the gym, i am constantly watching the clock for when i can get out of there.

Adrienne

[Ninja]

I have this baby:


And use it to play StepMania!


I'm such a geek, I even exercise using my computer

It's loads of fun and it has done wonder for my stamina. I used to get tired after 10 minutes when I first started playing, but now I can last well up to one hour. I do it for fun though, the increased stamina is just a nice bonus

[openeyes]

Most of my exercise comes from biking to different places I already planned on going, such as the post office, grocery store, or even the IMAX 33 miles away. Beyond that I sometimes hike, swim, and rock climb.

[cheech]

I'm like you guys. I don't go to the gym, but have found things I enjoy that also provide a good workout. For me, that's dancing and rock climbing. There are so many possibilities, though, I feel like everyone should be able to find some kind of exercise they enjoy

[sheffy4]

That comment about British people not wanting to exercise made me laugh out loud. But don't they play a lot of tennis? Maybe I'm stereotyping
I don't really blame them though because the modern world has made exercise an extraneous "must" in our lives that makes it seem like a chore, while in the past just daily living was exercise enough (at least for the poor folk who had to walk everywhere and do physical labor around the house/farm).
I paid for a year membership to the community gym here last fall, and I wish I hadn't because now I never go. I realized that I get really bored just exercising on a treadmill inside, alone. I get much more enjoyment from group classes, and if I am going to jog, I go outside so it's more interesting and fulfilling.

[VacMan]

I think working out can be really boring.

And can get very tedious.

That's why I try and find ways to MAKE it fun.

If it's not fun, I don't want to do it.

But you have the choice, do you want to do boring repetitive workouts, or would you rather find fun things that you like to do, and then make them into a workout.

I'd rather do the second.

[Remiel]

A zune adds entertainment to working out for me. I just load it up with audiobooks.

I also have fun doing taekwondo. Thats exercise and self defense .

[Vantage72]

Originally Posted by newmark

In a survey I read that half the British people would rather die a year early than lead a healthy lifestyle. This didn't really surprise me. However, what did surprise me was that only 4% of the population there exercise for fun.

Those 4% were liying

[Jarrod]

I do martial arts which I really enjoy (practice almost daily) and I play basketball once a week.

I sometimes wonder if I should do more targeted exercises though

[Dave Kaminski]

Originally Posted by Adrienne

I dont exercise for fun, but i play for fun.
What i mean is, I dont go to the gym and walk on a treadmill for fun, i find that boring and a little pointless.

But i love to take walks, hike, white water raft, play volleyball, basketball, rock climb, swim, jump on trampolines (esp the big ones so you i can do flips), paintball, water fights, slip and slide, and a whole bunch more. I like to have active fun!
Basically i would rather take an 8 hour hike in the woods even with snow on the ground then be in doors and so an hour on the treadmill.

I dont know if this is true for anyone else, but i find i work out better and harder and longer if i am having fun. Basically if i on a treadmill at the gym, i watch my heart rate, get to the target zone and then my mind wonders until the hour is passed i am glad it is over. If i am outside walking, i may, walk fast, jog, run, skip (yes, i really will skip, its fun ) and enjoy the experiences more and will work out long because i am having fun. I also find that when i test my heart rate, i am still where i need to be.
A couple weeks ago i played sand volleyball for a little over 5 hours (i usually play 2 hours) and even tho my feet were really sore, i was still happy to be playing and having fun. This for me is soooo not true when it comes to a gym (unless i am in a pool). In the gym, i am constantly watching the clock for when i can get out of there.

Adrienne

Ditto.

I skate, walk, play ddr, and just generally screw around to keep myself active.

What a blast!

[Spartan]

Originally Posted by sheffy4

That comment about British people not wanting to exercise made me laugh out loud. But don't they play a lot of tennis? Maybe I'm stereotyping

Why would you make this stereotype?

I think exercise can be fun, depends on how intense the exercise is. Higher intensity = more pain = less fun!

[Rockchick26]

My favorite "excersise" is dancing. It doesnt seem like excersise to me because it involves music and putting yourself into the state of NOW,and its natural to move to music. Whenever i dance,i could go for 2 hours straight without getting tired,and i just wanna keep going! I usually bounce/dance on my mini trampoline to it.

Also walking is fun for me because i love being out in nature and it calms your mind. So i'd walk even if there were no physical benefits. And dance,too,of course!

[Spartan]

Originally Posted by Dave Kaminski

Ditto.

I skate, walk, play ddr, and just generally screw around to keep myself active.

What a blast!

What is ddr?

[Gewyne]

I have a active life I do
Tai chi on Monday and Sunday
Gym Monday, Thursday and Saturday
Work Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday (I cycle to work)
Study Monday, Thursday and Sunday

I enjoy it (I must be in that 4% somewhere), 1 hr at the Gym just means I miss some breakfast TV in the morning and sets me in good stead for the day. Cycling to work is handy 3 days a week, and I enjoy my Tai Chi classes as well. I think I will miss this rather relaxed slow placed lifestyle when I finish my studies and go to work full time again.

[The David]

Dance Dance Revolution. It's a video game that doesn't make you fat

I exercise for fun, if I exercise at all. I'm not exactly diligent, but it is something I enjoy. That 4% surprises me; however, I would never lead a healthy lifestyle just to get an extra year. I would lead a healthy lifestyle to add more to the year I am currently in.

[Excellent Lodestar]

Well,

I think I actually fall into this category...Exercise has always been "fun" since I can remember. I saw it as self improvement at it's most basic level, I guess.
one I my earliest memories is of me in front of the TV in my PJ's and a binky in my mouth transfixed by Jack Lalanne...Weird, i know. Man, Jack is still going strong @ 93!!

I'd prefer to play Soccer or Basketball, But i have no problem with boring machines, because I make sure my workouts Aren't boring. It's all what we tell ourselves in the end anyway, and i "sell it" fun every time.

Twisted, but true....

[Lenie]

The only way I exercise if it looks to my brain like I'm not. So swimming in the ocean, walking to go get candy, and chasing down my dog when she sneaks out are going to have to be the extent of it.

I remember once, when I had a metabolism, I'd wake up first thing, put on my roller skates, and hoof it to the gas-mart a few blocks away every morning for a coffee and a newspaper.

Or if I live in a place with really consistently great weather, like SB CA. I'd totally take my bf's skateboard and that was my transportation to work and back. From W. Canon Perdido St to E. Victoria, it was a good little ways. No need for coffee, I'd be all awake and ready to work when I got there.

*sighs*

[newmark]

It's good to read all the different ways everybody has to exercise. I've met quite a few people who have told me that they hate all exercise, but I really believe that with thought, and perhaps a look at the above replies, anyone can find a fun way to exercise.
It's also good to see that I'm not so strange in not liking working out in the gym. Like many of you I prefer to exercise outdoors.
If I'm having fun exercising I always have a higher energy level after, even if my muscles might be tired.

[The Cloud]

I find that I enjoy running and lifting. It requires a lot of focus, and that simple feeling of being completely into what I am doing is peaceful even if I am fighting against a hundred pounds of iron

[Dannyboy1]

Originally Posted by Spartan

Why would you make this stereotype?

I think exercise can be fun, depends on how intense the exercise is. Higher intensity = more pain = less fun!

I enjoy using weights because you can really shape your muscles and have fast dramatic results. I disagree that pain=less fun. I've grown to like a little muscle burn because I know I worked the muscles well.

[jippykid]

Anyone else like to play disc golf? Disc golf - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

There isn't a ton of equipment to buy -a $7 disc will set you up, and the courses are usually free to play on.

Just about everyone I share the sport with hesitates at first, but it's really a neat game with a lot of intricacies.

This site has a pretty comprehensive list of courses around the US.