Bored With Exercise

[Prinie]

Insight? Tips?

I use to run track for 2 hours a day, 6 days a week in the winter and spring, tennis 6 days a week for 2 hours in the summer. Got to college and use to run outside for 30-45 minutes a day doing a lot of sprints or went to the gym for an hour and hit the elliptical, weights, etc. In the summer of junior year I did a lot of tennis and running and that was my thing as well as kayaking. But now I'm bored with all of it and I want something else to do.

I did fencing, salsa, hip hop dancing in college and none of that got to me.

Anyone here doing Kickboxing? What'd you think of it? I haven't done it since I was 13. Did it help you tone up? I currently weigh between 123-126lbs at 5ft5 which is fine. I'm healthy. But I would like to tone up a bit.

[Medusa locked]

Wow, you've been active.

It seems to me that running and tennis don't inspire you anymore. I encourage you to keep trying new stuff as you have been, but I will add that, rather than just randomly trying new stuff that seem interesting and seeing if it hits you, I suggest that you ask yourself some guiding questions so that you can get a better sense of what exercises provide that inspiration.

What movements do you already enjoy doing?
What movements would you enjoy doing that you haven't already considered?
What physical qualities, skills and abilities do you admire and would aspire to learn and master?
How do you want to feel both, during and after the exercise? (answer with specific feelings)

These kind of questions are good for getting a clearer guide when searching for a new activity that you plan on doing long term.

I haven't tried kickboxing but I'm a martial artist and I think it definitely the type of thing to try out. The beauty in all martial arts is the variety of movements, tempo and intentions in their practice. I struggle to see how anyone can get bored with a martial art, other than that they didn't stick with it long enough to let the form ingrain itself into their body. Once you get a feel of a specific system, your hooked.

Keep searching and good luck. I'm sure there is some exercises or sport inspiring enough for you to take up long term.

[Prinie]

Originally Posted by Medusa locked

Wow, you've been active.

It seems to me that running and tennis don't inspire you anymore. I encourage you to keep trying new stuff as you have been, but I will add that, rather than just randomly trying new stuff that seem interesting and seeing if it hits you, I suggest that you ask yourself some guiding questions so that you can get a better sense of what exercises provide that inspiration.

What movements do you already enjoy doing?
What movements would you enjoy doing that you haven't already considered?
What physical qualities, skills and abilities do you admire and would aspire to learn and master?
How do you want to feel both, during and after the exercise? (answer with specific feelings)

These kind of questions are good for getting a clearer guide when searching for a new activity that you plan on doing long term.

I haven't tried kickboxing but I'm a martial artist and I think it definitely the type of thing to try out. The beauty in all martial arts is the variety of movements, tempo and intentions in their practice. I struggle to see how anyone can get bored with a martial art, other than that they didn't stick with it long enough to let the form ingrain itself into their body. Once you get a feel of a specific system, your hooked.

Keep searching and good luck. I'm sure there is some exercises or sport inspiring enough for you to take up long term.

Thanks Medusa. I was going to answer all your questions here. But it might be too long of a read. I still do tennis and running but I'm very sporadic with it. If I decide to take up kickboxing, I'm going to sign up for a class, put my name down for a time and day (hopefully 5 days a week!) and commit myself to it.

[Clint Cora]

I would say try different things as well. I would do another vote for martial arts too but keep in mind from my own observation and personal experience, kickboxing may get stale at some point as well because there are only so much you can do in terms of techniques compared to standard martial arts where you have an unlimited number of forms (including weaponry, which I specialize in) to discover.

But kickboxing can be fun so it's worthwhile to incorporate into your portfolio of activities. You might want to revisit some past activities too as sometimes you just need to take breaks from them.

If you live in a winter region with snow, I would most definitely suggest an outdoor winter sport as well. And once you take on some sports that you really like, you can approach your general fitness workouts as supplements to help you perform better at your sports. That's what I do to get through my general fitness work which usually is not as much fun as the actual sporting activities. But at least with that approach, I still do them.

[Prinie]

Thanks Clint!
Yeah, I'm almost always willing to play tennis with someone (on my level or a little higher) and I'll run with a friend occasionally if they ask me to. But I want something I can do all on my own, on my own schedule. I doing some research on kickboxing now. Who knows, maybe it'll spark my interest in other martial arts later.

Originally Posted by Clint Cora

I would say try different things as well. I would do another vote for martial arts too but keep in mind from my own observation and personal experience, kickboxing may get stale at some point as well because there are only so much you can do in terms of techniques compared to standard martial arts where you have an unlimited number of forms (including weaponry, which I specialize in) to discover.

But kickboxing can be fun so it's worthwhile to incorporate into your portfolio of activities. You might want to revisit some past activities too as sometimes you just need to take breaks from them.

If you live in a winter region with snow, I would most definitely suggest an outdoor winter sport as well. And once you take on some sports that you really like, you can approach your general fitness workouts as supplements to help you perform better at your sports. That's what I do to get through my general fitness work which usually is not as much fun as the actual sporting activities. But at least with that approach, I still do them.

[Medusa locked]

With kickboxing, there is a variety of kickboxing styles to consider. I disagree that it can get mundane. With choices between traditional kickboxing, muay thai kickboxing and burmese kickboxing, it gets interesting at how a few stance variations can change up the feel of the moves entirely.

[Roby]

Get bored is depend on your thinking, so plan or fix some target, For example if you play tennis don't simply play fro a particular time, go for a tournament or aim for higher in whatever you do.

[Clint Cora]

Originally Posted by Medusa locked

With kickboxing, there is a variety of kickboxing styles to consider. I disagree that it can get mundane. With choices between traditional kickboxing, muay thai kickboxing and burmese kickboxing, it gets interesting at how a few stance variations can change up the feel of the moves entirely.

Respectfully, how many kickboxing students do you see over the age of 45? I've been in martial arts for over 36 years and from what I've observed, folks tend not to stay in kickboxing (in any style) for the long term, unlike what you can find in more traditional martial arts where there is more of an art element. And you definitely find more older folks in traditional martial arts compared to kickboxing.

Kickboxing, MMA and extreme martial arts forms (either open style or wushu) are young people's martial arts. We just don't see many over 45s in these forms.

[Prinie]

Oh you adorables. Thanks you all.

I found a place that does kickboxing, MMA, and...one other kind of wonderful cardio. It's pretty good and the way it's set up, I can go 5 days a week for one hour because it fits with my nursing school schedule. I'll push to do a semester long of it and see how much I tone, how I feel, etc. If it makes me sweat, sweat, sweat and feel the burn? It's most likely got me.

[wanzulfikri]

If you are feeling bored maybe you are the type of person who loves to do new things. That is good because boredom can propel you to try new sports and exercises all the time.

[Prinie]

Originally Posted by wanzulfikri

If you are feeling bored maybe you are the type of person who loves to do new things. That is good because boredom can propel you to try new sports and exercises all the time.

lol thank you and I like your signature quote.

[Roby]

I think you are loaded with full energy and you are bold too. How are so energetic?Do u take any supplements?

[Prinie]

Originally Posted by Roby

I think you are loaded with full energy and you are bold too. How are so energetic?Do u take any supplements?

No. No supplements.

[Prinie]

Thanks everyone for your posts. I just wanted to give an update before signing out that I joined a boxing gym that does classes in Kickboxing, Boxing, Brazilian Jit jutsu, Muy Thai, Strength and conditioning, etc. I already own a pair of gloves from when I was 13, I just have to get "wrist bands". It wasn't too expensive actually. I signed up during the month of their discount and will only be paying $89/month. Much better than being subjected to about $130/month so I do feel fortunate.

I'm going to try and commit to going 4-5 days a week for one semester and see how that goes. I do think this could be a very fun and intense workout for me. Something else to look forward to and a definite change from my usual activities!

I don't know about you guys, but I'm really excited about the upcoming year!!! I'm wishing all of you the best and hopefully it will go well for you all!

Blessings <3
Prinie