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Any advice for someone exercise phobic!?

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
SimonP said:
15min by car?

Assuming it is by car or other vehicle, could you walk or ride a bike instead, then you get free exercise without even thinking about it? I'm assuming you're travelling by car, etc., as a 30min walk/ride every day would certainly be "doing some exercise" if it were me 🙂
Click to expand...
15 minute drive each way would take longer than a total of 30 minutes to walk each day unless the commute is spent stuck in traffic.
 
I walk quite a bit in my job, and usually seem to do approx 6500 steps
then top it up if I have time in the evening to 10K steps
then if on a day off try to go for a swim
 
I'm probably exercise phobic too. I'm a big girl. I have tried and tried and tried to get into walking, because it's easy. Because it's free. It's accessable. Doesn't need a team. Can be solo or with friends. And I absolutely hate it.

I cannot make myself go for a walk for the sake of a walk at all. I am a little agoraphobic which doesn't help but ugh. It is not my option. I also have some hip issues which limits how far I can comfortably walk.

In the spring I contacted a local female personal trainer. I now go to the gym once a week with her. I was a mess my first session but have improved dramatically. The warm up on the treadmill is predictably the worst bit for me and angers my hip but nothing else bothers it. I do squats, I lift weights. I'm achieving much more than I ever felt capable of and what's more, I actually enjoy it and miss it when I can't go!

I Def think it's about finding the right thing for you, and I just want to add that if walking isn't the thing, it's ok
 
SimonP said:
15min by car?

Assuming it is by car or other vehicle, could you walk or ride a bike instead, then you get free exercise without even thinking about it? I'm assuming you're travelling by car, etc., as a 30min walk/ride every day would certainly be "doing some exercise" if it were me 🙂
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, walking or cycling to work isn't possible. I'm a community midwife so I commute to work and then I need my car to do home visits to new parents. It's quite rural so the distances between visits can be quite a few miles.

A 2nd and 3rd reason for not cycling is that 2) I've never had a broken bone that wasn't in some way caused by me and a bike. I'm pretty spectacularly awful at cycling. 3) I live in a valley. My community base is in a small community hospital situated in a town which is allegedly the third highest above sea level in England (dunno if that's true but it amused me think it might be). See point 2 about me being dangerous - especially on hills.

But, thank you. I appreciate people pointing out options outside of the norm that I might not have considered.
 
stackingcups said:
I'm probably exercise phobic too. I'm a big girl. I have tried and tried and tried to get into walking, because it's easy. Because it's free. It's accessable. Doesn't need a team. Can be solo or with friends. And I absolutely hate it.

I cannot make myself go for a walk for the sake of a walk at all. I am a little agoraphobic which doesn't help but ugh. It is not my option. I also have some hip issues which limits how far I can comfortably walk.

In the spring I contacted a local female personal trainer. I now go to the gym once a week with her. I was a mess my first session but have improved dramatically. The warm up on the treadmill is predictably the worst bit for me and angers my hip but nothing else bothers it. I do squats, I lift weights. I'm achieving much more than I ever felt capable of and what's more, I actually enjoy it and miss it when I can't go!

I Def think it's about finding the right thing for you, and I just want to add that if walking isn't the thing, it's ok
Click to expand...
I sympathise with this. I'm not agoraphobic but I do suffer with social anxiety a little. I 'people' all day so I just don't want to do it in my leisure time. But you're right - walking makes sense but it isn't the thing that I miss when I don't do it or the thing that motivates me to keep at it.

Well done for finding the thing that brings you joy and works for you.
 
Vonny said:
My favourite (besides walking everywhere and anywhere) is to listen to something boppy like Def Leppard while I'm prepping tea or doing housework. I just boogie round the kitchen which fortunately is a vast space! I felt self-conscious at first when my partner was around, but he's got used to it now. However, being mindful of his ears (he's a sound engineer) I don't sing along :rofl:
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I love this so much.
I was inspired by this and have been dancing round the kitchen whilst cooking. I have even managed to make the 14 year old roll his eyes at me and tell me to stop:rofl: I consider that the highest accolade a teenager can bestow!

@everydayupsanddowns : as you asked for an update. I left clinic at 5pm today and went next door to the pool and swam 16 lengths - and I enjoyed it. That space to just let my mind wander was great.
 
Swimming is a perfect exercise. Non weight bearing and it can be as aerobic as you choose. Although don't be like some I see in the pool that could go faster treading water!!

Walking is a good exercise but it doesn't burn many calories or get your heart racing. It is however good for your soul and good for your balance and overall well-being. I stick my ear buds in when I'm walking the dogs. Faster music makes me walk faster.

Dancing is fantastic exercise. Just around the kitchen or in a group. Download a dance class off the internet and join in - you can find anything you want online these days 😉
 
BobbleHat said:
I have even managed to make the 14 year old roll his eyes at me and tell me to stop:rofl: I consider that the highest accolade a teenager can bestow!
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Absolutely! x
 
goodybags said:
I walk quite a bit in my job, and usually seem to do approx 6500 steps
then top it up if I have time in the evening to 10K steps
then if on a day off try to go for a swim
Click to expand...
Loving your new avatar @goodybags! 😎
 
BobbleHat said:
Unfortunately, walking or cycling to work isn't possible. I'm a community midwife so I commute to work and then I need my car to do home visits to new parents. It's quite rural so the distances between visits can be quite a few miles.

A 2nd and 3rd reason for not cycling is that 2) I've never had a broken bone that wasn't in some way caused by me and a bike. I'm pretty spectacularly awful at cycling. 3) I live in a valley. My community base is in a small community hospital situated in a town which is allegedly the third highest above sea level in England (dunno if that's true but it amused me think it might be). See point 2 about me being dangerous - especially on hills.

But, thank you. I appreciate people pointing out options outside of the norm that I might not have considered.
Click to expand...
An e-bike may be worth considering: you still have to actually cycle (so you're still getting the exercise) but you can add 'assistance' to get you up hills.
 
stackingcups said:
I'm probably exercise phobic too. I'm a big girl. I have tried and tried and tried to get into walking, because it's easy. Because it's free. It's accessable. Doesn't need a team. Can be solo or with friends. And I absolutely hate it.
Click to expand...
I must admit I also don't really like walking just for the sake of walking, it's always to get somewhere, and in that case I'd far prefer to walk (or ride a bike) than drive/take a bus/etc.
 
BobbleHat said:
I love this so much.
I was inspired by this and have been dancing round the kitchen whilst cooking. I have even managed to make the 14 year old roll his eyes at me and tell me to stop:rofl: I consider that the highest accolade a teenager can bestow!

@everydayupsanddowns : as you asked for an update. I left clinic at 5pm today and went next door to the pool and swam 16 lengths - and I enjoyed it. That space to just let my mind wander was great.
Click to expand...

Well this has given me a massive grin this morning. Thank you! :D
 
BobbleHat said:
I love this so much.
I was inspired by this and have been dancing round the kitchen whilst cooking. I have even managed to make the 14 year old roll his eyes at me and tell me to stop:rofl: I consider that the highest accolade a teenager can bestow!

@everydayupsanddowns : as you asked for an update. I left clinic at 5pm today and went next door to the pool and swam 16 lengths - and I enjoyed it. That space to just let my mind wander was great.
Click to expand...
Love the dancing round the kitchen. I do this and dance in the garden while gardening if I am not lifting or carrying stuff. Big garden and not overlooked by neighbours. Also have a vibrating exercise board which I use if the weather is bad. Tai Chi classes which can be done seated. We have people in wheelchairs and some with limited mobility. They do some or all of the exercises seated as it suits them. I also do the arm and stretching exercises at home on the vib board. Good for core balance and improving concentration.
I also go walking as I live in a rural area I call it foraging. If I go to the beach (about 30 miles away) I call it beachcomber. Always try and come home with something interesting, even if it's just a nice photo.
 
silver minion said:
Love the dancing round the kitchen. I do this and dance in the garden while gardening if I am not lifting or carrying stuff. Big garden and not overlooked by neighbours. Also have a vibrating exercise board which I use if the weather is bad. Tai Chi classes which can be done seated. We have people in wheelchairs and some with limited mobility. They do some or all of the exercises seated as it suits them. I also do the arm and stretching exercises at home on the vib board. Good for core balance and improving concentration.
I also go walking as I live in a rural area I call it foraging. If I go to the beach (about 30 miles away) I call it beachcombing Always try and come home with something interesting, even if it's just a nice photo.
Click to expand...
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
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