Help me find exercise I will stick to!

[Misnofitness]

Does anyone have any advice for a lazy exerciser?

I go to a weekly dance class and I walk the dog regularly but feel I need to do more having hit the peri menopause. I bought a Pilates board and dumbbells but just find if I’m left to my own devices I tend to make excuses and get a bit lazy. Has anyone tried an at home fitness programme that they have stuck to?

Well, I’m not going to suggest a specific exercise because there are approximately eleven million to try (!), but I do know that if I don’t get my exercise session done by 8am (bog standard treadmill and weights, but very effective) it just won’t happen. I just get up and do it, and don’t give myself the chance to think too much. Also, it gives me energy for the rest of the day.

I recently cancelled the gym and bought the equipment to use at home. So much nicer using my own shower after.

I love my rowing machine. I do a 3 km row while listening to a YouTube or podcast type thing.

Maybe find YouTube workouts that you enjoy and do those.

What rowing machine do you have?

I go to a Pilates class twice a week. And walk the dog five days a week. More would be better, but it is just enough to keep my size the same.

I joined a squash club last year (and I'm 58 so no spring chicken)
I hate the gym (tried, persisted, still hated it so gave up) and I simply cannot run, it hurts my hips.
Went to a taster squash session for ladies, finally found my sport!! Now I try to get at least 3 sessions a week with other ladies and am working up the courage to play men at club nights.
Also have some hand weights at home but am hit and miss with remembering them!

I think habit stacking is really helpful here.
My morning routine is to go straight out with the dogs then after a coffee I exercise before I get showered and dressed.
I exercise at home 5 days a week (Pilates twice, weight training three times and five lots of cardio).
Then I get 10-15k steps in a day. Some days it happens naturally other I have to make the effort to walk.
It takes about 3 months for something to become a habit though so maybe find something you don't hate and just try to stick with it.

Joe Wicks during lockdown worked for me.

The only thing that works for me is variety. Doing the same things over and over just bores me to tears and kills all enthusiasm. That said, the thing I stuck with the longest was Aquafit, but that was mainly because I went with a friend so I thought of it as a social activity.
I really wouldn’t ever buy a machine to use at home - I did once, got bored with it and it ended up gathering dust while taking up loads of space.
Maybe get a few small weights, a step and resistance bands? They’re good for exercising in front of the TV.

I love the Sweat subscription app. There are lots of different programmes (my favourite is Barre Strength) and you can do it from home which I find fits my life better. There are gym-based programmes too. It’s 3-5 weekly sessions depending on what you choose to follow.

I love classes at the gym, Body pump esp

What about the Magic Mirror home trainer - anyone tried it?

Reformer Pilates. But I've been flirting with Pilates for 20 years. I kept coming back to pilate s in different ways. About 18 months ago I started reformer and I love it. I go 2 to 3 times a week.

I was wondering the same a few years ago. I joined a small group early morning strength training class. 6.15 am…. But I’m home by 7.10 and sending people out to school and college. Although advertised as women only, that’s what it has become due to that timing, so it’s actually very social too. It’s not cheap, so I keep going. I’m far too tight to pay for something I don’t use! Astonishingly it’s been 2.5 years!

Find something you enjoy doing.