How to make exersicing fun?

[Haris]

I want to make it fun for me. I'm walking on the treadmill for around 30 minutes per day (just started exercising), it's getting boring every day.

Apart from Music - I don't have iPod or any mp3 player. What can I do to make exercising fun?

[Akashic_Librarian]

Make it a desire. Cultivate your passion for it. That makes it fun. You can't get things to make it fun. You have to want to do it. See your new body, say to yourself how you want that buff look, think about it all the time, remember why you are doing that exercise, remember and relish in it.

[VacMan]

Some quick ideas:

-Get a workout partner
-If you have physical goals take progress pictures to track your progress
-Track your improvements in physical activites (Like weights or cardio)
-Switch up your routine periodically to keep things fun
-Instead of running on a treadmill, try running outside around an area that is visually stimulating
-Set a goal to compete in a bodybuilding competition/run a in a race.
-Read about the subject of gaining weight/loosing weight/benefits of working out etc.

Mainly though, if you are just working out because you are supposed to... then you probably won't find it fun. If you are working out because you want to get to a specific goal, then things become much more fun and exciting.

[Angela]

For me, music makes all the difference. Are you not interested in getting an iPod, or perhaps one of those inexpensive cd or tape players?

If you do get an iPod, I found a site where you can determine the beats per minute you want, and it'll find songs for you at that bpm.

[Brad Isaac]

To further what VacMan said about Read about the subject of gaining weight/loosing weight/benefits of working out etc.

Doing research into the area you find boring, actually decreases boredom. Read everything you can on treadmill workouts, search for jogging on the Internet, talk to some runners in your area. By researching, you automatically find the people who are authorities on the subject and who are most enthusiastic.

Their enthusiasm is contagious.

[Natasha]

Try alternative forms of working out. For example, instead of just running or walking, why not make it more fun by doing Parkour? Some others:

Wall Climbing
Dancing (Swing, Hip Hop, whatever floats your boat. Even playing DDR can be a great workout!)
Martial Arts
Or anything else that seems fun to you!

[openeyes]

Exercise is an integrated part of my life. From the time I was a freshman I'd walk two miles to the grocery store with my roommate and carry a few bags of groceries back each week. Then I got a bicycle and made the trip twice a week, in addition to riding my bike to class and most everywhere else. Though I now have a car, most of my errands are still done by bicycle. In addition to that I have a chin up bar ($15 on amazon) in my doorway that I use most days, along with a jump rope that I love using.

There are plenty of activities that are more fun than a treadmill, such as dancing or martial arts (which I've done daily for years now). Particularly see if contra dancing is available near you. Maybe take up an intramural sport. Even if you do go to a gym (I'll be lifting weights with a friend tonight), an elliptical machine is more enjoyable and effective than a treadmill. I also use an infrared sauna that I built in January, which is said to burn a few hundred calories in a 30 minute session. I'd use it more often but I'm not particularly trying to lose weight (the only time I was at all overweight was when I ate too much bread), and don't want to eat any more than I already do. For me it's mostly for deep tissue cleansing.

[rene_stpierre]

I exercise (push-ups, sit-ups, free weights and rope jumping) in the basement with my 1 and 3 year old kids playing around.

My 3-year old boy climbs on my back for the push-ups and my 1-year old girl comes to give me kisses when I raise my head doing sit-ups.

When it's time for rope jumping, I give each of them a little rope to play with and imitate daddy.

I can watch them play and interact with each other while I exercise, something I cannot do when I am at work.

They provide me with fun company but can understand to leave daddy alone when I do an exercise that could be dangerous for them.

I enjoy it very much!

René

[JasonS76]

definitley get a workout partner.
give yourself a reward at the end.
picture what it would be like when you get the results you want.

Those three work for me everytime!

[ArthurHung]

What kind of sports do you like? Find an athlete that you admire and research about him. You may find that the determination and grit that you read or see about that athlete will inspire determination and grit in you. You don't have to do any exercises or specialized training like him if those exercises don't help the body type you want to achieve. But if you find out some doable exercises that the athlete you admire uses, it gives a whole new meaning to that exercise. At least for me it does.

[shesaboutspirit]

Great tips here. If you're visually motivated, post pictures that inspire you. I'm female, so what inspires me is something like a gal with my similar shape, but with great tone. Yeah, usually underwear ads...but it's helpful to me. Something to work towards.

Also, mix it up...treadmills can quickly become a drag. I couldn't do it without music...unless it's walking outdoors, which seems to have it's own kind of music.

Best of success to you all,

Pam

[Sunnybayes]

while you are walking, meditate, or practice visualizing your favorite goal. Then that goal or idea will become closer to reality and as it becomes more discrete, and that light bulb about that goal will go off in your head as the weeks go by, and it will feel awesome and the time that you spend exercizing will just fly by.

[neil007]

Originally Posted by Haris

I want to make it fun for me. I'm walking on the treadmill for around 30 minutes per day (just started exercising), it's getting boring every day.

Apart from Music - I don't have iPod or any mp3 player. What can I do to make exercising fun?

Dont run on a treadmill! Run in the open air - its much easier.

[aaronmp2003]

Exercising will never be fun unless you find ways to enjoy the exercise session itself - mentally and/or physically. I know so many exercises that I could workout every day for weeks (or months!) and never do the same exercise twice.

However, what I ENJOY is being outside, so I just run through the basic resistance exercises (push-ups, squats, crunches, arm/back exercises, etc.), and then I take it outside for brisk walking, rollerblading, bicycling, or jogging.

Find some exercise modality that you actually enjoy doing, otherwise you will just start to dread working out at all.

[endless]

If you workout at home, you can start doing some bodyweight exercises for a change of pace.

I have a few exercises you can do at home with a visual and descriptions at my bootcamp site. Richard Rigor's Rigorous Bootcamp - Home

No weights or machines needed.

It'll surely eliminate boredom, but I'll tell you this - it's very challenging in a good way.

Richard

[Keith]

Originally Posted by neil007

Dont run on a treadmill! Run in the open air - its much easier.

This is a matter of personal taste. Go with what works for you. Or mix it up between the two.

The treadmill will let you know that your 5 minute run was 20 metres further than last week. That's pretty motivating and it's an amount of progress that isn't really noticable in open-air running.

[bettyboo11]

Find the best gym for you in your area.. if you really love your gym, you'll be more motivated to go!

I recently joined an all women's gym.. I LOVE the girly. sorority-like (in the best way possible, not at all catty! Perhaps lack of competition for men in that place is what does it..haha) feel to it..they even announce over the loudspeakers whenever a male walks into the building! lol. There are beautiful, fit girls mixed in with Bridget Jones types, to every body type and age.. many women who look like my Grandma's age but are still very fit..very inspiring!

The gym smells like roses, seriously.. so much open space and well circulated air.. the spacious locker rooms have Kiwi Mango Shampoo and a eucalyptus steam room to die for..mm!

All this after trying to attend the meat market gym around the corner, which felt like many hamster wheels crammed into the smallest area ever. Sorry guys, it's so much more fun to work out without you!

Anyways, now I can't wait to get myself to the gym, even tho it's a bit farther away. =) I'm not sure if you're a woman or a guy, but either way just try to find a place to exercise that you will truly enjoy..that was the secret for me.

Peace!
<3 BettyBoo

[Love]

I agree--find something you like doing more than exercise. If you really like rock climbing, you won't notice that you're doing exercise. If you really like swing dancing, you can work up a sweat (honestly) without thinking about all the aerobic exercise you're doing. For me, I love capoiera (brazilian martial art-dance) and do it once a week. It busts my chops and I grunt and squirm more than anyone else there, but I do it because I love to play capoiera.
What do you like to do?

[tracefl]

Allow yourself a special priviledge that you can only have by physically working out at the gym. I take a notebook & pen and draft topics for articles that I want to write. (Granted, they aren't the most legible words since I'm on the treadmill at a fast pace, but it's only for me, so who cares.) The combination of added adrenaline, pen + paper and time to myself allow my brain to visualize great things that will manifest into my success very very soon!

[SmellyOrc]

Originally Posted by tracefl

Allow yourself a special priviledge that you can only have by physically working out at the gym. I take a notebook & pen and draft topics for articles that I want to write. (Granted, they aren't the most legible words since I'm on the treadmill at a fast pace, but it's only for me, so who cares.) The combination of added adrenaline, pen + paper and time to myself allow my brain to visualize great things that will manifest into my success very very soon!

If you can still write while walking/running on the treadmill, you're not going fast enough

[Jehosephat]

I agree with those suggesting sports or dancing or anything that is exercise without seeming like exercise. If you're just getting in shape there are a lot of lower impact sports that can get you going or if you feel up to it you can do something like basketball or soccer where you're running constantly. When you play a competitive sport you spend most of your time concentrating on winning and the exercise just comes as a side effect of that.

[elai]

Make the exercise so intense that you have concentrate fully on your body. It will take all of your attention. You wont be bored since all of your attention is in controlling your body.

[TSchmitt]

I recently started running again on a daily basis for 30-minutes plus. After the first few days your body becomes accustomed to the stress and each day becomes easier and easier. In fact, I feel more motivated to exercise now that it's become habitual. While I wouldn't call it fun, the changes you will see in your body are what will keep you going back to the gym day after day.

[Rosi]

Anything outside or with friends is not as boring as being on a treadmill always looking at the same thing.

I would suggest sports which you can do with friends for fun. Choose things your friends will think of as a fun activity rather than as a fitness activity.
eg.
roller blading
nordic blading
cross-country skiing
cycling
ice-skating
mountain hiking
dancing
swimming at a lake
frisbee in the park
beach volleyball
horse riding
going for a walk in the countryside

The list could go on for ages. All of them will help you get fit and I'm sure there are a few on my list which you would find fun and enjoyable.

[napieed]

One thing I find useful is to make a '5 minute' deal with myself. If I don't feel like doing something I should, I do it for 5 minutes. When 5 minutes is up, I can stop if I still want to. Once you've exercised for 5 minutes, you won't stop until you're done.

It's also helpful to keep some motivational messages in front of you.

For example:
Let the mind control the body, not the body control the mind. --Jimmy Johnson

Find some here:
Quotation Collection Quotes on exercise
and here:
Quotation Collection Quotes on health

[GeorgeJ72]

Get a partner and give yourself a reward for completing your exercise regimen.

The partner will help motivate you and the reward is always good

[NathanSII]

This may sound silly, but do it for a member of the opposite sex you have a fancy for

[tomn8er]

simple one word answer: sports. The most fun way to get exercise imo. Hopefully you like at least one sport that can provide a good cardio workout. I also cannot stand running, especially on a treadmill, so I play soccer, basket ball, and do martial arts instead. Exercise should never have to be a chore.

[MinhYoung]

Watch TV while you do it (if you can)- helps take your mind off of it.

[Tempest]

If you're just walking, get a book. I StairMaster and stationary bicycle with a book in hand as well. But then again, I love to read