I’d Exercise More If It Wasn’t So Boring

I could take out another gym membership, but… (source: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/812863)

I really need to exercise more. My figure is becoming decidedly more pear-shaped than hourglass thanks to too many hours in front of a computer where the only body parts that gets a workout are my fingers. Sadly, having limber, well-toned fingers doesn’t help me fit into the size 10 dress I want to wear to the family Christmas party, so obviously I need to do something a little bit more proactive than write and surf the web.

The problem is, I find exercise excruciatingly boring. I’m not a particularly athletic person to start with and my endorphins seem to have misplaced the memo that informed them that exercise was supposed to send them to their happy place.

Over the years, both pre- and post-children, I’ve tried a few different approaches to organised exercise. Back in the 90s, I went to aerobics classes, which achieved little more than proving that if I try to get my arms and legs moving rhythmically at the same time I’m likely to cause injury to myself and those within my immediate vicinity. The word ‘grapevine’ still gives me nightmares and don’t even get me started on my step aerobics experiences. *shudder*

I’ve had several gym memberships, exercising and/or doing weight training a few times a week. I don’t mind the weight training, but it doesn’t take long for my mind to wander and for my time at the gym to start feeling like a terrible burden that must be endured before I can escape to do something interesting.

For all those gym-junkies or running/marathon enthusiasts who might be reading this, I congratulate you on your commitment and I’m glad you get such a buzz from exercising, but there isn’t a single cell in my body that understands the attraction. Despite years of being reasonably fit and exercising regularly, I can’t think of a single occasion where I’ve gotten the same pleasure or sense of achievement from exercise that I regularly experience reading a well-written book.

So, sally forth my marathon-running friends. I’ll be at the finish line reading a book, but I promise to look up and cheer as you cross the finish line (as long as I’m not caught up in a really exciting part).

Despite my dislike of organised exercise, I’m more than aware of the importance of keeping in a healthy weight range and maintaining a general level of fitness. I have

some pretty serious health issues in my family (including diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and arthritis), so it’s important that I put some effort into keeping my body healthy. I’ve also managed to stock my wardrobe with some awesome clothes since my realisation that I was stuck in the beige/off-white/brown/tan/stone suburban mum camouflage rut at the beginning of last year and my budget certainly doesn’t stretch to buying all those things in the next size up, so it’s probably best that I shed the extra couple of kilos that are currently making themselves at home on my waistline, hips and butt.

I’ve attempted gym memberships recently, but I just end up feeling stressed and frustrated when I can’t get there regularly due to commitments with my children or my husband’s erratic work hours. I love the idea of a personal trainer (a nice one, not a shouty one) and have a friend who would be perfect (check out Walk and Talk if you live in the Newcastle/Lake Macquarie area), but I just can’t afford the extra expense.

Given all of the above – dislike of organised exercise, high stress levels, unpredictable time availability and limited budget – I have decided to attempt to simply exercise regularly using our Wii, specifically the Wii Fit and the Just Dance 4 game I bought for my children recently. Low cost (we already own all the equipment), conveniently located in my lounge room (right next to the air-con) and available 24/7 (unless someone else is home because I’m still hopelessly uncoordinated). It’s even something I can do to have fun with my kids.

I weighed myself this morning using the Wii Fit board (64.7 kg) and I’m going to take some measurements today. I’ll check weight and measurements again in two weeks to see whether I’ve made any progress. I’m aiming for 62 kg by the 15th December and 61kg by Christmas.

For any other non-marathon running mothers out there, how do you fit exercise into your daily routine and what kinds of exercise work best for you? I’d love to know how you motivate yourself to stay fit.

(This is not a sponsored post. The Wii equipment and games were purchased by me personally. All opinions are my own.)