Exercise for the sake of exercise

[TheRealMeIsHere! 863]

I am getting soooooo bored with my exercise. I workout 2x a day with recumbant stationary bike, treadmill and/or a long walk. In between, I can't find enough to do to stay busy. Instead of exercising for the sake of exercising, I would rather have enough active & busy things to do, that I could cut back on my workouts.

Any ideas??

[James Marusek 5,244]

Physical labor is a good substitute for structured exercise. Last year on my of my projects I moved 100,000 pounds of gravel by hand and 50,000 pounds of landscaping blocks. I just took my time. I have a lot more stamina (the ability to perform physical labor) since my surgery. I have a long driveway (about 800 feet) and during winter because I am in the Midwest, I need to shovel snow. This is also good exercise.

Structured exercise seems more like make-work to me. It is in my opinion wasted effort. It seems like it could be better channeled into meaningful tasks.

[snowkitten 371]

Do u own your own house? Maybe you can renovate, or garden.

[Babbs 14,680]

Volunteer! Not only will it keep you physically active and busy, but it will make your heart feel good, too.

I know animal shelters are always looking for volunteers to walk the doggies.

[Rogofulm 2,440]

I collect music in my iPod and the exercise forces me to make the time to listen to it. New or old, every time I exercise is a different musical journey.

[linseeka 170]

I second the doggie walkers! ALWAYS needed!

I will say wait until your completely healed from surgery, nothing worse then a dog jumping up on you with love and slamming a heavy paw into your stitches (ouch) lesson learned... I'll try again after stitches come out later today!

[TheRealMeIsHere! 863]

Not really any opportunities for dog walking, where I am. Though that would be a great way to be more active!!

As far as physical labor, I would LOVE that, but I have severe ankylosing spondylosis, plus a host of other painful progressive conditions.

I wholeheartedly agree with James Marusek, regarding structured exercise, which is why I need ideas to be more active, naturally. Despite my disabilities, my energy is VERY high, and, I'm sure there are many things I could be doing.

I LOVE Zumba, but the schedules near me do not coincide with mine and can only do occasionally due to that and the pain it causes if I do it too often. I sometimes, just pace around, because I have nothing to do, and HATE sitting still.

Edited July 8, 2015 by TheRealMeIsHere!

[lovingdavid 119]

Have you tried the intensity balls just use that when you are watching tv or on your computer. Making asking a friend to join you to workout would make it much interesting ????

[pink dahlia 2,513]

Volunteer at the local Library with the summer reading program, help out at the retirement home, talk to the town Quilting group, they need people to quilt/sew/knit baby blankets for the newborns in the hospital or foster babies. The local Red Cross always needs help with blood drives, emergency packets, inventory etc. Talk to the local food Bank, or the Girl Scouts, you dont have to be strong to do stuff, you just have to be willing to lend a hand !

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

Try http://www.meetup.com/ and look for hiking, biking, recreational and volunteer activities.

If you're exercising twice a day, sounds like you aren't spending much time socializing with others. Meetups are a great way to meet new people. If you don't like 'em, don't meet up with 'em again.

[TheRealMeIsHere! 863]

I have looked into meetup.com, but it's not in my area. I have also tried to find hiking or walking groups as that would be right up my alley. I do not know many people in my area, so would love to join some kind of group or club and have been searching for years. The only way to meet people in this area are bars

What are intensity balls? I have to be careful, what I do, due to several progressive, painful disabilities.

@@pink dahlia I'm looking for things that are more physical, and burns calories, those things are mostly sedentary things.

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

Jeez, I give up.

Good luck.

[Mountaingal 322]

I had a friend who walked along the roads and collected cans so she could sell them and buy gifts for her grandchildren. She got her exercise that way.

[TheRealMeIsHere! 863]

I am on a waiting list for an apartment, which will offer more opportunities to walk places, rather than drive. That way I can do errands while getting my exercise. But that will be about 2 years. In the meantime, I just want to be, naturally, more physically active rather than planned workouts. I love all the suggestions, my disabilities and location limit me on a lot of options, though.

Even though I am disabled, I have TONS of energy that I really think would be better used in other ways.

Edited July 8, 2015 by TheRealMeIsHere!

[pink dahlia 2,513]

I was under the impression that because of your physical problems you were fairly limited , but I guess not ! However, you say you can't do certain things , but then want to exercise hard. Sorry, I'm not sure where to go with this because of others suggestions that you don't want to do or can't do. Give us a little more info and maybe we can brainstorm some ideas for you . Please ?