How to Keep Fit when you Hate Running

[Kaspian]

Rock climbing rocks!! <grin>

[John Hill]

If you really want to get in shape there are a number of different exercise programs or sports you can choose but if your primary goal is to lose body fat, walking is much more beneficial than running.

This article the best way to burn fat gives a logical reason why walking is better than running when it comes to fat burning.

John

[kiosan]

I like to do isometric exercise in the morning, it is also fun to stay at one leg or on head
After getting up, body's energy should be activated. For this there are some simple exercise also.
20 minutes and you are ready for new day!

[SmellyOrc]

Originally Posted by John Hill

This article the best way to burn fat gives a logical reason why walking is better than running when it comes to fat burning.John

I really disagree with that article. First off, walking does NOT burn a large amount of calories. Running does. Around 80% or so of the needed energy needed comes from fat. Yet, total calories burned is negligible.
When running though, the body gets only about 50-60% of the needed energy from fat. HOWEVER, total calories burned is WAY higher than when walking. The higher the intensity the higher the amount of calories burned, the more weight (most of it fat) you will loose. Scared of muscle loss? Eat your breakfast, wait an hour or so and then do your (high intensity preferred, not always possible, didn't look at OP) cardio.

Let's do some math:
30 minutes of running at a speed of 7.5 mph: 473 calories burned. 50% of that is 236.5 calories burned from fat.
30 minutes of walking (speed of 4.0 mph): 189 calories. 80% of that is 151.2 calories burned from fat.

Source: Bodybuilding.com - The Future Of Bodybuilding! Huge Bodybuilding Site.

Tips for keeping fit:
Take up a sport
Go swim
Bike!
The gym is also a good option

Basically anything that keeps your heart rate elevated around 70-80% of your EMHR (estimated maximum heart rate), that you enjoy doing and which you can keep doing for a while.

[Trustme]

Originally Posted by SmellyOrc

Wanna bet you're burning calories when doing that?

P.S. Do you know anyone with such patience.. I'd get bored after 1 minute of doing that ;D

I read in John Peterson's newsletter recently that Bruce Lee sometimes spent 5 hours without interruption doing these kind of things, like holding a ball of metal in one hand, arm straight, until he got tired - than he switched the hand....

[Alex Wu]

YOGA! I've been doing yoga classes (the hot variety that you do in a heated room) 3-4x per week for the last 2 months, and I've lost about 5-7 lbs. from it, and I'm noticeably trimmer around the waist, and I can now see the first outlines of a 6-pack. I was just over 130 lbs. when I started yoga, and now I'm down to about 125lbs. (so I wasn't heavy and didn't want to lose that much weight, but I intended to be fitter)

But aside from that, I've found that yoga is a great way to stay present in the moment, as you are being given instructions by the teacher (which leaves you with less time to think), and you draw from the energy and presence of others in the room.

Up until now I haven't been able to keep up regular solo exercise, but yoga has changed that.

[DailyGrowing]

play badminton.
that's easy

[jippykid]

I hate running as well, but I love playing running disc golf. Because I'm doing something I enjoy anyway, it doesn't really feel like cardiovascular exercise. Technically, I suppose it's not, because you have to stop and set up a shot each time. But when I'm finished, I'm usually drenched from head to toe, just as if I was pounding the pavement. For those of you who haven't tried it, I would encourage you to give it a whirl.

Redisbest - When you do move into the city, chances are there will be a disc golf course nearby. Now, though, is the perfect time for you to get into the sport. I'm assuming that since you are away from a city, you've got a lot of open space to practice. Buy a disc (disc golf discs are a little different than the frisbees you grew up with) and head out into an open field for starters. When you do get to the course, you'll know what to do!

Throw and run, repeat.

[ZoFlies]

I would definitely consider pilates. You have the choice to do pilates with many people or on your own. The thing I like about pilates is that I can be guaranteed to feel great after each workout session that I committ to doing. I can also be assured that it is completely healthy for my body. Every movement that you do in pilates is based on healthy anatomical alignment - so you are working out and restoring the body's natural alignment at the same time!
If you really want to burn calories... try a little bit of cardio (even 15 minutes works) before your pilates workout. Studies have shown that a little cardio before pilates keeps your heart rate up throughout the pilates workout.

Cheers to a body you love!
Peace.

[Susie]

Since you're too far a way from a city to take a class, I say get a good exercise video/DVD or two. A lot of people scoff at them but I bet they never tried working out to one...they can be really challenging and include aerobic as well as strength training...tae bo is good but there's a ton of workouts to choose from out there. Browse Amazon and read some reviews for the DVDs that interest you and give it a try. I personally am a runner but I've also had great results with regular use of workout videos at home. In fact I follow along to a DVD for my upper and lower body strength training, ab workouts, and stretching.

[Iko]

Honestly, you aren't going to keep it up unless you actually receive some sort of pleasure from it.

Yes, swimming is awesome but if you don't like it you won't stick with it.

Is there an activity that you enjoy doing? If not running, what about hiking? What about speed walking?

[dennis08]

Chair racing

= D

[Iko]

I lost 30 pounds chair racing.

[InTheZone]

Im sorry to hear you hate running - I believe it to be the most rewarding of activities. Maybe its your technique that needs work. I agree running is no fun if your technique is poor. Also if you can approach running in a different way, ie. dont worry about distance and times etc, it can be a great way to develop all kinds of skills.

I have a free running program for beginners - click here for details.

[Life Warrior]

I'm going to go ahead and put another vote for climbing. It takes a lot of effort to build gripping strength, but is very very rewarding and addicting when you get into it. The body-mind connection in climbing is on the same level as martial arts, IMO.

[douglasbedford]

Originally Posted by Dive Bomb

I listen to heavy metal music while holding light weights and start moshing/letting myself go with the weights in my hand. If you're into hard rock/metal, give it a try it's awesome and gives you quite the workout. Just be conscious of what you are doing in some sense so you don't pull anything or seriously injure yourself. I usually do it with light wieghts so its easy for me to move throughout the song.

i think this could be the next ti-bo. MOSH THE FAT OFF!!! you should try to market this.

people could dress in ripped jeans.

have ankle and wrist wights on and just mosh around. not only would it be a physical workout but a physical release also.

in my area they have fight clubs san francisco, ca but this could less violent version and fun.

I went to the recent rage against the machine show in SF 3 weeks ago and for the whole set was in front of about 40,000 people behind me and i can easily say i burned 1,000 plus calories during the 1 hour show.

you should rent out a studio and try it.

imagine 20 and 30 something rocking out with their favorite "rock T-shirt on" in a dance studio...