different ways to get movin'!

One of my biggest problems is exercising.  I tend to be sedentary:  watch movies, be on the computer, read, think, video games... etc. 

I've decided that I'm just going to make sure that I do *some* kind of thing that gets me to move (preferably enjoyable) every day.  That way, even if I don't call it "exercise", I'm at least off my butt and doing something.

I really like dancing (swing, blues, contra/folk) but that can get expensive, and I'm a college student.  Soooo I'm calling upon you guys to help me with a list of other stuff to do to get my butt in gear.  And of course, I'm sure this will be useful to others, too. :)

Here's a start to the list:

1.  go dancing!

2.  go for a walk

3.  play DDR (or jump around while playing guitar hero)

4.  dance around the house like crazy to music

5.  go on a bike ride

...  your turn!

i'm a big fan of nintendo wii fit. i had the same aversion to the 'e' word when i first started and the only reason i could stick with wii fit was because its more like a game than an exercise routine. otherwise my ipod is what motivates me in exercise. good luck!

Since you are in college, you have access to your schools workout facility. Take some fun classes! I highly recommend Zumba and Cardio Hip Hop. "Zumba® fuses hypnotic latin rhythms and easy to follow moves to create a dynamic fitness program that will blow you away". That's the definition off their website. I think it's so much fun! Take some friends along too and make it a group activity! Both Zumba and cardio Hip Hop are pretty simple and tons of fun!

1.   Swimming!  I love to swim!  I have yet to make it to the YMCA in the mornings at 5:45am to swim :( but I will get there someday.  My tiny little town sucks!  Although, they do have a YMCA, however the only times to swim is either way early in the morning or over my lunch break and how can I swim over my lunch break if I work in an office and have to look nice.  Ugh!  I want to move someplace that has better pool hours! 

2.  I also love tennis/raquetball....however, it takes 2 people and my boyfriend does not have energy after his 12 hour work days to play with me.  I don't have friends...again, this town sucks!

Honestly, that's about it, which is rather sad, considering I have not done either of these so far in my "journey" to a better fit me.  :S  I keep telling myself I will get on the ball with the swimming, but I just hate mornings!  Plus there are a looooot of old people at the pool.  Oh well, wish me luck with not hitting the snooze at 5am!  Someone needs to slap me in the mornings, then I'll wake my butt up!

Rollerblading!

Hiking!

Horsebackriding!

My best friend and I have decided to do one fun/healthy thing a week that's more like something we would've done as kids before we cared about exercising for weightloss, whether it's going skating or going to the beach. This week we're actually volunteering to pick veggies and weed the rows at a local organic garden that pays its volunteers in produce!

Pole dancing!  Lap dancing! and Chair dancing classes!  The most fun I've ever had "exercising".

Jump rope.  Go to a playground and play (especially the monkey bars).  Yeah, you'll look like a goober, but it's still fun (and I'm over 30!)  Playing around with an exercise ball can be lots of fun, too.  There ought to be some volleyball leagues or something you can join at your school, as well, which might be fun.

wii fit if you're already playing guitar hero on a wii

I do exercise videos that are on my On Demand cable. I run outside, and I buy some other random work out videos for cheap on sites like amazon or half.com so you can get a good workout and don't need to break the bank.

This is also good for rainy days when you have every excuse under the sun not to work out and don't want to walk or drive to the gym. Having even 1 exercise dvd in your home = no excuse. I used to take dance classes multiple times a week but it was way too expensive. I bought a couple of dance dvd's instead (but bought ones above my skill level) so I was still always working towards something and didn't get bored. 

Some other fun stuff:

Look for a rock climbing gym in your area

Go hiking

Run up and down a flight of stairs a few times 

Run bleachers at your schools stadium, baseball field, etc. (serious workout)

I love the vids on On Demand. I'm stuck on 'Cardioke" right now (thats right, working out while singing karoke, it's cheesy and fabulous).

Cardioke?  That sounds ridiculously awesome! :)

I don't think I can go to the school gym, since I'm not in classes for the summer (can thank budget cuts in Florida for that one...), but I'll be doing stuff there again when I'm back in classes for the fall.  I wish I had a Wii!  I want to get one (and Wii Fit) eventually.  I play guitar hero and ddr old-school-style on my trusty PS2.

I never thought about picking stuff at the local organic farm.  Thanks!

I never really thought about pole/lap/chair dancing either.  The first two would be out, since I don't have a pole or a lap (at least not one I feel comfortable dancing for), but maybe I'll try the chair idea.

Great suggestions!  Thanks!