Let me tell you a secret: I hate to exercise. I know I should do it. I know the reasons why I should do it. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve resolved to DO something, to MOVE this bod. I can, however, tell you how many times it’s worked. Never times, that’s how many.
I’m joining in Readers’ Workouts for inspiration/ideas/a kick in the pants.
The Relentless Reader 
Yay!So, what's the plan? I definitely advise having a plan.I love how setting a goal for so many exercise minutes in a month works. It gives me so much flexibility for meeting the goal. If you're starting from zero, I suggest 210 minutes for December — that's an average of 10 minutes a day for the rest of the month, counting today. If you crush that goal, you can always aim for higher next month. If you just barely meet it, then add 10% for the next month until you're up to something that feels good to you. Looking back, I'm actually quite amazed how far I've come from an initial goal to average 10 minutes a day.
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Try yoga – it gives powerful workouts.
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So here's what I learned about exercise: You have to do it regularly for at least 2.5 to 3 months before you begin to like it. You also have to find movement you enjoy. Work up to it slowly – make daily goals, and just get them done early so you can get them out of the way. Then one day you'll wake up and realize you WANT to move. I feel restless and horrible if I can't move now. It took three months when I first started to exercise regularly in 2011, and then I got bronchitis and was put on bed rest for a week, and I was so antsy and irritated – I *wanted* my exercise! Since then, I've realize how much I love it. I can't live without it anymore.
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Good luck!!!!!
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Welcome! Can't wait to see what you are doing.
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I think it's awesome that you've decided to get going toward a fitter you!! I didn't like exercise at all either, but if you make an effort to do it for a month or two, it grows on you and before long you WANT to do it. For me, working out first thing in the morning works best. Going to the gym wasn't an option for me, so I bought a some dvd's and a treadmill and started working out at home. I discovered I LOVE step aerobics. That's the key to it all I think, finding something you really enjoy doing. Then you'll want to do it.Good luck!!
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You can do it! You just have to DECIDE to do it. Think about how important it is for your health–regardless of your body type or size .. exercise is SO good for you. And like Amanda said above, you will eventually WANT to do it all the time. Then you will look back at this post and think \”Remember when I hated to exercise? Remember when I NEVER exercised? Who WAS that person?\” When my daughters were babies (they are now teens), my weekly exercise was going on a 20-30 minute walk a few days a week weather permitting ONLY. What a slug I was. LOL! A few years later when my youngest started preK, I joined a gym and would go 3 days a week. A few years later I was 3-5 days a week and now (in the last 3 years or so) I exercise 6-7 days a week. Sounds like a lot but I literally start to CRAVE exercise within 24 hours of my last workout. It's crazy! The bottom line is that you can get to that point, too. It just takes a few weeks of discipline. YOU CAN DO IT!*shakes pom poms*
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You can do it! I really need to do something like this. For me it's a matter of finding the time. :-S Of course, Joy's suggestion of just 10 minutes a day sounds so doable–and makes it all the more appealing.
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Good luck! I joined Miss Remmers' 25-day challenge and have managed to exercise more often than not AND eat within my calorie range every day. It's a long journey, and I figure challenges like this, with a similarly motivated group of individuals, will help me get to the point where it is not such an effort anymore to actually move. Although after 20 days, I'm STILL not there yet. I keep telling myself that what I am doing is half the battle.
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210 minutes for December is totally doable, thanks for the idea Joy! 😀
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Yoga is one of the many forms of exercise I've considered, lol. 😉
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It's really good to hear that it is something you can learn to enjoy! I'm thinking of just dancing in the kitchen for 10 minutes while I clean for now, lol. Maybe even do a bit of Wii playing with my kiddos.
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Thanks doll!
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Hi Heather, thanks! I'll definitely have a better plan in place for next week 🙂
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You guys are inspiring me! It's really good to keep hearing that it's something you grow to like/want to do :)Going to a gym isn't for me either..maybe someday but not today. I think I'd dig some sort of dance dvd though. Hmm.
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\”Remember when I hated to exercise? Remember when I NEVER exercised? Who WAS that person?\” <~~ I want to reach that point! Thanks so much for being part of my cheering section Christine 🙂
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Readers Workouts is a great idea. Good luck!About six years agp I began excersizing and moderating what I eat and I am down about 85 lb. from my highest weight. I have fallen in love with running in the last few years. One thing that has kept me motivated is that I listen to audiobooks when I excersize.
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10 minutes! Big deal right?? It's so doable!
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You're trying and that's more than I've done in a while 😉 We'll get there sister!
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Wow Brian! That is amazing, congrats!! I'd really love to run..omg I never thought I would say that. Ha! But I'm looking for that high that runners talk about. I'd rather get it from pounding the pavement than from a freaking cupcake!
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Good luck!! You can do it! I have had the same problem off and on since high school. Just finally started getting back into exercising regularly too. I like to do some yoga, some dumbbells, and ride my stationary bike—all in about 45 minutes or so. I also mark a big red X on my calendar… and it looks better with more X's! The hardest part is getting into the habit. I just turned 30 so I want to get back into the habit of exercising so I can be healthy for life!
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I've toyed with the idea of buying a stationary bike. I'm afraid it would be an expensive clothes hanger, ha! But I would love to be able to exercise while reading for sure. Good for you for getting into regular exercise. I love the big red X idea!
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Agree with this. Although I knew I liked running from early on, it took me 3 months to really settle into it and love it. Finding something you can enjoy is a must so try different things out and give them a fair trial cos you just never know!Running… well I love running and think everyone should do it health allowing. You can do the couch to 5 k plan thing and once your body adjusts. It's not so much the running high which you are forever chasing, not always meeting but the sense of achievement in miles or time or just getting out there on a cold winter day. It's also for me the sense of togetherness. Runners are such a different community I think that for some it is almost a religion. It's different from pounding it out in a gym, running is a complete mental and physical challenge and becomes more than losing weight. Many people don't run for that reason, but because they enjoy the act of running. I think that is a better place to be with exercise – doing it cos you enjoy it not so much for the health benefits. Also with running you can do races so even if all other times you run on your own (and even running on your own there is always the runner's nod to other lone runners) there is something fun you can do and social.
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UGH I can't handle exercise either.. I have many excuses to not do it. I did for a while there last year but that didn't last very long. Good luck to you!
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Thank you Marie 😉 I need the luck!
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Thanks. One thing that I have learned is to make sure one enjoys the good things in life. So don't knock the high that you can get from a cupcake! The trick for me is to not have that particular high three times a day!
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Good luck!I have the same problem too. I worked as an aerobics instructor for eight years, and when I stopped, I found it very hard to continue with exercice, when nobody \”forces\” you (well, your job forces you actually). And yes, I'm fatter than years before and yes, I want to be more slim and healthy.It's a challenge not to do it for a month, but to have a routine for all your live.(I really don't know if I'm using the correct grammar for these sentences, excuse me!!!)
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A routine for all of your life, that's a great way to put it and that's exactly what I'm trying to do!
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I love this idea, I'm going to start participating!I'm not sure if it would help you at all, but I've been using the free website sparkpeople.com for years. You can track your activity, food intake, other goals, all based on how you want to do it. There's one goal on the site to get 10 minutes of exercise at least 5 days a week, and I find that really reminds me to get moving even if it's just for a few minutes. There are also a lot of motivational resources and videos on various exercises…so it might be worthwhile to check out. I use it daily!I also take my Kindle to the gym, which helps me knock out reading and working out at the same time 🙂
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I think the trick is really developing a routine, making it a part of your week. When I read the title, I thought it's about reading & doing workout at the same time – maybe that would be an approach, really, like: listen to an audiobook while doing a workout, then you are doing 2 good things at once. Best of luck 🙂
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