What benefits to you find from exercise and how did you start?!

[C1239]

I’m not really unfit but I don’t feel fit fit! I try and walk as much as I can and a few days a week I hit 10,000 steps but I don’t really do any other exercise.
In past I’ve done a bit of running and yoga but I’m struggling to find my motivation at the moment.
What benefits do you find from exercise & how do you motivate yourself to start with?

I've also been struggling to find the motivation at the minute. I have trained yesterday and today but it's pretty much the first time this year. So much for new year new me. Prior to this slump I went every morning at stupid o'clock without fail.

Motivation is a myth and you just have to get up and do it until it becomes habit. I also have the mythical motivation in a cup before any training - per-workout.

Things I love are feeling and being really strong. Knowing I can lift a lot and feeling my muscles growing as I get stronger and beating previous bests in strength or cardio.

That being said, I am a fat lump who needs to go more.

Pre-workout.

General better fotness and no hiffing after 3 flights of stairs. Better posture, better digestion, warmer feet (the ice curse has been lifted), less brain fog, better strenght, i believe my heart is also happier.

15min hit, but like properly until you sweat like Cameron when that certain video came out 😁
I am too lazy and don't like exercise so 15 - 20 min is maximum i am willing to do in one set.

I joined a really nice gym that was a pleasure to go to! It makes it a treat which is worth the investment.
For me also it's having time away from my phone and where I can just be in my own head in a meditative state, and it massively helps my sleep! It's also a healthy habit - I could spend my Friday early evening tucking into a bottle of wine after work but instead I go for a swim and perhaps read my book if I've got time.
I also like the progress side with yoga and setting goals and reaching them. Having said that I haven't done yoga practice for months 🤣 but I find seeing progress with exercise really motivational. It's not just about the fitness side of things for me

Usually it gives me a mental boost. Not today though (different instructor).

I think I get more of a mental boost than a physical one, IDK if I should be worried that on days I haven't been able to exercise I get fidgety.

The motivation side can be v hard. I use a home fitness app (FIIT). I has plans where you have to do a certain number of sessions each week - I find that is usually a good motivator for me. Also the progress from beginning to end of plan is good.

Pre and post photos or measurements have helped in past.

I lost my fitness mojo last year after being v motivated the year before. Getting back into it in Jan I have written down my reasons for exercising in my notes and took some photos so I can look at it when I'm losing focus.

My reasons for exercising are to keep strength and mobility as I get older (heading for 60 and I have never been v flexible) and to tone up for better posture and to look good in my clothes. For health and energy. I'd like to lose 3kg also but that's more likely going to come from what I eat so I've reduced my alcohol and carbs and trying to manage my diet better too.

It does help to remember why I'm doing it. Also agree with a PP that even 20 mins of something is effective. Lots of the sessions are 25 mins with warm up and cool down that's above 20 mins of the hard stuff.

"The motivation side can be v hard."

It can take me 3-4 hours of psyching myself up!
I'm always glad I've done it afterwards, but going out is hard!

Yoga: increased flexibility, less stiffness/pain, better mood.

Walking: better mood, better sleep

I think do it early and anything is better than nothing are my secrets to doing it at all.

It's a snowball effect for me once I get going. I decided to get a handle on my booze intake. Once that's under way (as it is) then getting up early at the weekend to work out is straightforward (my kids are teen/young adult)

Then I start to look at diet because I might as well now that I'm doing the other things and next thing I'm adding another workout and my clothes start feeling good on me again and so on...

Lol didn't answer the question.

Hot yoga for strength, balance, toning and mind.

Min. 10k steps. Will cycle more as weather improves

I've started again now youngest is a little older.

I know from previously that I am happier and more secure in myself when I am 2 stone lighter and exercise lifts my mood massively.

I have joined a gym and booked three spin classes for this week. It's one of the only exercises I genuinely enjoy and I like that classes are only 30 to 40 minutes but intense.

Oh and I sleep better when I exercise and don't wake up at daft o clock worrying about random things

For me it really helps my mental health. I have to make myself do it because I know I will feel worse if I don't. My exercise is running, hillwalking and online exercise classes. I love hillwalking at the weekend, but running & online classes fit into my weekly routine, so I make sure I do one or the other most days. This keeps me on an even keel mentally. When I am injured and can't exercise i feel terrible, so I know it is essential for me. Sometimes I'll shout at myself - just get those damn shoes on and go! The hard bit is starting - I say to myself, just 20 mins and that means I usually do 30 mins because by then I am starting to feel the benefit. This also ensure that as a short, middle aged woman, I don't resemble a weeble (remember them?)

Strength training has massively improved my back pain. I'm extremely hypermobile and being hypermobile with a weak core is a bad idea. Cardio is mostly mental benefit.

Yoga works on my posture related back ache. I also feel so much better knitted together when I'm doing yoga regularly.

Wish the feel good was enough for me, but I do sometimes slack off and it's only the return of pain that gets me started again.

I've restarted BodyPump 3-4 x / week and am trying to do some cardio and weights in the gym too. Main benefit so far has been changing king size duvet covers feels easier! Am hoping mental, physical gains will follow as well as weight loss and toned body 😁

I'm paying for a personal trainer. I was so desperate and I now mostly enjoy it, feel 100xbetter in myself and have to go as it's expensive for me. I know I wouldn't do it if I wasn't paying though, so need to keep it up until it becomes more natural. It's worth it for me. ☺️

For me it's the mental health benefits.
I have 3 kids 3 and under and going to the gym is legit the only thing I do for myself on a regular basis.
It sets me up for the day and feel like I am in a better mood in the mornings when I train.

I feel confident in the gym and it's my own happy little bubble.

I do a weight programme 4x a week made by my online coach.

Obv the physical benefits, I'm stronger, leaner, fitter than I have ever been in my life, even pre kids.

Have lost 6.5stone since starting weight training (along with a calorie deficit)

Which online classes do you do @HeadNorth ?

I found 'achieving' Couch to 5K good and running is the only exercise I enjoy/makes me feel like I've done something, although admittedly I don't do it enough.

I find I feel good afterwards, it makes me feel better mentally and I like how I notice that I feel generally fitter (e.g. in a situation where I'm late for school pick up and have to run or running for a bus or whatever)

@HeadNorth they wobble but they don't fall down 😉

I don't have any fixed routine with exercise, but I always do a few bits and pieces a week and have since I left school at 18 (and joined a gym at uni). I'm 38 now.

As a bare minimum I do a dog walk 6 days a week - the motivation being that I'm meeting my dog's needs and making her happy.

Then I go to a weekly running club because I like the social aspect.

Then I might do one class at the gym (or a bit more than that through the winter).

From April onwards, I switch to more running, hiking, mountain biking, road cycling. I live in a national park and exercise is an excuse to get out in beautiful surroundings.

I think I enjoy the endorphin hit, as well as the sense of satisfaction. I also enjoy being slim, which exercise helps with.
I suppose I don't know any other way.

I started with a PT as part of recovery from knee op 2 years ago. Now I can walk up stairs without my knee giving way beneath me and I get a real buzz from lifting weights and achieving new PBs

Feeling stronger, better mood, improved sleep, knowing I’m reducing the risk of CVD and osteoporosis later in life.
I tend to exercise first thing so I can’t talk myself out of it.
I splurge on stylish sports wear which definitely helps too.

I've started swimming again recently and find it chills and tires me out like nothing else. Do a quick 15 min intense cardio workout in the gym beforehand and try to line up sauna after as a reward :)