Activities for Exercise

[Artista 8]

I am not a fan of the gym. I dislike the whole concept and I've never enjoyed going (even when I was young and in decent shape). I prefer to do something fun that just happens to make my body exercise. Things like hiking and swimming. I even like playing Beat Saber on VR. I do have an exercise bike I got in April that I've used for ten minutes, once. I'm fairly certain riding an actual bike this early on (surgery isn't for a few weeks) and early in my process would be a challenge. So, my question is, what things do you do that are physical activities outside the gym? My #1 fitness goal is (once I'm a little smaller) to rent a kayak, and hopefully buy one next April (my 50th birthday!). I've never been physically active on a regular basis, so I'd love some ideas of things I've never considered before - I can't wait to get moving!

[SleeverSk 635]

The only exercise I have done is a bit of walking, and recently I bought a kayak and I now kayak for around 2 hours once a week when my shifts allow. I dreamt last night of running on the beach does that count as exercise? 😅😅 I had big plans of joining the gym etc but it hasn't happened yet.

[Artista 8]

22 minutes ago, SleeverSk said:

The only exercise I have done is a bit of walking, and recently I bought a kayak and I now kayak for around 2 hours once a week when my shifts allow. I dreamt last night of running on the beach does that count as exercise? 😅😅 I had big plans of joining the gym etc but it hasn't happened yet.

I'm not sure dream running counts, but it sounds like a nice dream! Because it's been so hot and we can only have one air conditioner running at a time, I've been going to bed early with my husband and naturally waking up at 5:30am (I am usually a stay up until 2-4am type night owl). I'm thinking I'll keep it up next semester and avail myself of the pool at the college before my morning classes. I love swimming, and once I'm cleared for it, I think it will be good way to get some exercise in. Plus, I'll be able to justify the ludicrous "activity" fees I pay every semester!

[kcuster83 1,504]

If you have a buddy, I like to play tennis for fun and good exercise. Sometimes basketball. Really any sport that you find fun is good exercise and keeps you moving.

I always wanted to be an avid runner but just cant. haha Even after loosing a ton of weight and being the most fit of my life I just CAN NOT RUN!

[TheRealMeIsHere! 863]

55 minutes ago, kcuster83 said:

Even after loosing a ton of weight and being the most fit of my life I just CAN NOT RUN!

I'm with you on that! I watch people run and wonder how they do that 🤣 it looks like it would be fun though 🤷🏻‍♀️

[FutureSylph 377]

Right now I'm getting my exercise by dancing in front of the air conditioner. Crank up the Bob Seger and let 'er rip!

[Smanky 747]

I wish I was running, but I have an ongoing knee problem that I really need to get an MRI for. Have a horrible suspicion it may be osteoarthritis. So my desire to return to my non-gym "happy place" has been foiled. I do love the gym, and have yet to join the new local one after a recent house move. So my new low-impact activity is bike riding. I also love a nice walk (great for listening to podcasts), and have plans to re-learn to rollerskate. Because my heart never really left the 70s and 80s aesthetically, and if I was young, I'd be all over roller-derby.

[Artista 8]

16 hours ago, Smanky said:

I wish I was running, but I have an ongoing knee problem that I really need to get an MRI for. Have a horrible suspicion it may be osteoarthritis. So my desire to return to my non-gym "happy place" has been foiled. I do love the gym, and have yet to join the new local one after a recent house move. So my new low-impact activity is bike riding. I also love a nice walk (great for listening to podcasts), and have plans to re-learn to rollerskate. Because my heart never really left the 70s and 80s aesthetically, and if I was young, I'd be all over roller-derby.

Roller skating sounds like a blast. They closed down our one roller rink during the pandemic and it's been demolished. Maybe I can look into inline skates - do they still make those? Also, I remembered I have like $60 credit at my vape shop I've been saving up and now I have to quit vaping - but they recently grew and now are more of a vape/head/FRISBEE GOLF shop. AND, they just built a brand new frisbee golf course just outside my building on campus so I'm feeling like the universe is trying to tell me something.

[blackcatsandbaddecisions 851]

So I know this is “exercise” but it’s actually quite fun and engaging too, I bought an echelon bike and I take peloton classes with it. I find that the time zips by because the instructors are chatty, the music selection is good and it has a lot of variety. Plus the echelon bike is like 1/4 the cost of a peloton.

And for those who said they want to start running, I would have bet that mega millions jackpot I would never be able to run a mile in my life, but I bought a used treadmill off Craigslist and downloaded the couch to 5k app last year. Now I run at least 2-3 miles every day and have run in 5ks getting my time down to sub 28 minutes. It’s possible, even in your 40s and beyond!

[Nepenthe44 188]

On 7/14/2022 at 7:26 PM, Artista said:

I am not a fan of the gym. I dislike the whole concept and I've never enjoyed going (even when I was young and in decent shape). I prefer to do something fun that just happens to make my body exercise. Things like hiking and swimming. I even like playing Beat Saber on VR. I do have an exercise bike I got in April that I've used for ten minutes, once. I'm fairly certain riding an actual bike this early on (surgery isn't for a few weeks) and early in my process would be a challenge. So, my question is, what things do you do that are physical activities outside the gym? My #1 fitness goal is (once I'm a little smaller) to rent a kayak, and hopefully buy one next April (my 50th birthday!). I've never been physically active on a regular basis, so I'd love some ideas of things I've never considered before - I can't wait to get moving!

I play so, so much Beat Saber, probably 5+ hours a week. To mix things up and increase intensity, I step in time to the the music.

It takes a little finagling to set up on your machine, but there's a huge community of people who create mods and custom songs for the game. There's a style of song mapping called "fitbeat" that includes a lot more squats, dodging, and reaching to increase your effect, but I usually just play the sorts of music I listened to in high school and college.

I use exercise as mood regulation as well as physical health, so sometimes I like to pick music that fits my mood. (I have a lot of very loud metal songs for when I'm angry, lol.) But usually I make a "playlist" by searching my library of 300+ songs with whatever the first 2 letters of that days' wordle answer was.

If you're a numbers-focused person, on the Oculus there's a movement/calorie tracking app that I find very motivating. It's probably not super accurate because it only accounts for arm movement, but ... I like numbers.

[SpartanMaker 767]

I'm like you, I'd much rather "play" for fitness. I created a list of sports I want to try. Now this is my list and some you may hate the idea of, but perhaps some of them might appeal to you:

• Archery
• Backpacking
• Boxing
• Disk Golf
• Fencing
• Golf
• Hang Gliding
• Kayaking
• Kitesurfing
• Martial arts
• Mountain biking
• Mud runs
• Orienteering
• Parkour
• Pilates
• Powerlifting
• Racquetball
• Repelling
• Rock climbing
• Rowing
• Sailing
• Scuba Diving
• Skiing – cross country
• Skiing – downhill
• Snorkeling
• Snowboarding
• Snowkiting
• Snowmobiling
• Squash
• Stand-up Paddle Boarding
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Trail Running
• Ultimate Frisbee
• Volleyball
• Windsurfing
• Yoga

Edited August 6, 2022 by SpartanMaker

[LookingForward22 320]

I prefer being productive or having fun when I exercise too. When the weather doesn’t cooperate … I have a recumbent bike that I like using (and I can watch videos, movies or listen to podcasts or music while I cycle). I also pull up YouTube videos to mix up exercises indoors when it’s to hot outside. Swimming is usually good even on hot / humid days.

I try to alternate cardio and weights (use resistance bands or body weight exercises).

[Artista 8]

On 7/29/2022 at 2:01 PM, Nepenthe44 said:

I play so, so much Beat Saber, probably 5+ hours a week. To mix things up and increase intensity, I step in time to the the music.

I do need to start that back up again when my belly is a little less painful from my sutures. We are a VR junkie family and Beat Saber is a favorite. My middle kid plays and its like he is channeling Cthulhu into his arms - it's kind of unnatural how Fluid they become! In the early stages of divorce, atm, so once I move out in the next month or so, I'm going to need to buy a new Oculus for my place. Thanks for the suggestion!

[Artista 8]

On 7/29/2022 at 11:53 AM, blackcatsandbaddecisions said:

So I know this is “exercise” but it’s actually quite fun and engaging too, I bought an echelon bike and I take peloton classes with it. I find that the time zips by because the instructors are chatty, the music selection is good and it has a lot of variety. Plus the echelon bike is like 1/4 the cost of a peloton.

And for those who said they want to start running, I would have bet that mega millions jackpot I would never be able to run a mile in my life, but I bought a used treadmill off Craigslist and downloaded the couch to 5k app last year. Now I run at least 2-3 miles every day and have run in 5ks getting my time down to sub 28 minutes. It’s possible, even in your 40s and beyond!

I have a super basic bike I got for my birthday in April. Do you need a special bike to do the classes and how expensive are they? Thanks for the response!

[Artista 8]

On 8/6/2022 at 4:53 PM, SpartanMaker said:

• Disk Golf
• Kayaking
• Mountain biking
• Mud runs
• Racquetball
• Rowing
• Snorkeling
• Stand-up Paddle Boarding
• Swimming
• Trail Running
• Yoga

These are the ones I've been most eye-balling. As I mentioned, Kayaking is at the top of my list, BUT, I quit vaping for this surgery and have like $50+ dollars in credit at my vape store. I was bummed I was going to lose it. I hadn't been in for a while, and they moved a few doors down and expanded into a full-blown head shop. A head shop with a pretty extensive disc golf collection! PLUS, my college literally just installed a disc golf course behind the building that 95% of my classes are in. So that will be a thing, I'm pretty sure. I've always been wistful about those "Tough Mudder" type competitions. Like it looked so fun, but I was too out of shape for it. Maybe in a year or so I will be ready! I think, once I start really getting my walking game amped up, I'd like to do some 5Ks as well. Thanks for all the suggestions!