What if I don't like exercise? Help me find something new to try!

I have the motivation, I have the time, and I have the energy, but I just can't find something I like enough to do consistently. I've tried biking, dancing, walking, weight training, kickboxing, swimming, even running (which I knew I hated even before I started, blech!). And even though I like some of these things (biking, mostly), I get bored so fast! Is there anything else I can try? Tips for not losing interest just when I find something I think I can do?

exercise can be boring at times.  I doubt there are very few people thinking, "wow, this is SO MUCH FUN" throughout every workout.  You may just have to suck it up and suffer through it...sorry!  Sometimes it will suck, and sometimes you will enjoy part(s) of it. 

Some things to try:  racquetball, tennis, Dance Dance Revolution, hiking (never boring in my book!), any of the things you listed but with a friend, HIIT(high intensity interval training), some sort of martial art

where did you try all the things you've listed?  the atmosphere could be a factor as well as how hard you are pushing yourself and forms of entertainment available(tv, ipod) 

I just started doing CrossFit because of being bored.  I love it.

www.crossfit.com

HIIT is quick [approx 20 mins] and will give you a great workout and not enough time to get bored.  You say you like biking, so pedal as fast as you can at a high intensity for 30 secs then casually pedal for 60 secs at lower intensity. Repeat. [This can be done doing sprints, jumping jacks, step ups, and the list goes on and on].

Besides that, workout with a buddy...having a friend helps pass the time away. Sometimes, boredom subsides once you start seeing results. Results are amazing motivation!

Recreational Sports.

Baseball
Basketball
Football
Soccer
Ultimate Frisbee
Volleyball

etc...

Actually, consistency is your enemy.  When your body starts adapting to any repetitive exercise, it burns fewer calories.  So it is actually good to do different things - mix up those muscles.

As far as not getting bored - maybe push yourself harder?  If you aren't pushing hard enough to make it a challenge, boredom sets in really quickly.  Keep a log of what you do, and each time try to make it longer, harder, or faster.

Buy some workout DVD's that are fun and interesting (Carmen Elektra's Strip Workout caught my hubby's eye!)  Get into a class, especially with a friend.  Get audio books to listen to while you walk on a treadmill or bike on a stationary (I wouldn't recommend going outside while listening for safety reasons)

Somethings that haven't been mentioned:  Roller skating or blading, jumping rope, even playing on a playground (bring along a child or find an empty playground to avoid strange looks!)

I really enjoy exercise.  But I don't always--or even usually--find it fun.  Instead, I find it challenging.  Maybe it would help to look at it from a new perspective, where you're looking to be challenged instead of entertained.

Like puh8suwrux says, push hard and mix it up.  It's hard to be bored when you're challenging yourself to do more/different/better.

Maybe it would help if you took a class... I know I'm always more interested (and pushed harder) when taking classes at my gym. The ones I've tried are yoga, step aerobics, spinning, and total body conditioning. Even if you try one and don't like it, you'll be doing something new and learning something, and probably sweating a lot. That, or something else that works for me is bringing a book with me on the StairMaster or elliptical trainer. I still keep my earbuds in because my music helps keep my pace up, but sometimes the time will fly if I'm reading something that I enjoy.

Well, if you get bored easily, then keep doing what you're doing.  Change it up constantly, so it stays interesting.  If that doesn't work, have you tried something a little more out there -- like video games?  I know that sounds silly, but I use the Wii to workout.  I play different games (sports, Dance Dance, etc), so it's fun and I get a good workout.  I write about it more on my blog here -- http://loveyourbodysize.com/?p=348

There's even a video of me doing the workout.  So I say give that a try (if you already have the Wii).  Or if you have another video game console, try that.

Why don't you try a more team based sport?

Soccer, volley ball, basket ball etc.

Or something a little more extreme, running bores me to tears but I can Kite Surf until I am literally exhausted and not even notice the hours fly by.

ROLLERBLADING :-)

I know exactly what you mean.  I do not have an athletic bone in my body and the physical things I like to do (hiking, canoeing, dancing) are not things you can do on a regular basis.  (at least where I live)  In the past I have done well with classes that I attended with friends, but I am new in town and don't know anyone here.  And I am NOT going to take a class with lots of people who are already in shape.  I don't find that motivating at all.  On the contrary, that's just one more excuse not to go. 

I got a Wii fit for Christmas and did that until it got warm out.  I liked it because you can change up your routine.  What I have been doing lately is lots of walking.  At first it was hard because I don't really enjoy walking alone, but I find that if I upload a really good audiobook on my Ipod and listen to that, the time really flies.  The only bad thing about that is if it is a humorous book, I don't realize when I am laughing out loud and I get lots of strange looks from the other folks on the path. 

I often put audio books on my iPod. I only listen to them while working out. Sometimes I would find myself working out longer to finish the chapter. I have 'read' lots of books this way. Good for the body and the mind.

Original Post by mrsroo:

And I am NOT going to take a class with lots of people who are already in shape.  I don't find that motivating at all.  On the contrary, that's just one more excuse not to go. 

I had that idea about classes and the gym before I started going.  But when I actually got there I found that there were people of all sorts of sizes, shapes, and ages working out alongside me!  I never see any class at my gym loaded with already-fit people, actually.  Lots of different bodies, and lots of different capabilities are there.  So don't let that misconception keep you out of something you think you'll enjoy doing!

if you know you get bored easily, why are you trying to find something you'll want to do long term?  why not just look for something new to try every week or two?  it's not like you're going to run out of activities, and i'm sure there will be some you'll want to revisit.

Original Post by stormpath:

I have the motivation, I have the time, and I have the energy, but I just can't find something I like enough to do consistently. I've tried biking, dancing, walking, weight training, kickboxing, swimming, even running (which I knew I hated even before I started, blech!). And even though I like some of these things (biking, mostly), I get bored so fast! Is there anything else I can try? Tips for not losing interest just when I find something I think I can do?

Well, have you tried them all at the same time? Not exactly at the same time but something like Mon - biking, Tue - swimming , Wed - Kickboxing. Also invite a friend to join you. Not the "let's go to the mall instead" kind of a friend, lol. Team sports is also a good idea.

How about jump roping?

If you don't enjoy exercise then you are not alone... just do it anyway.  You don't have to like it, you just have to do it.

Tjlo

Original Post by fooledbyfaith:

How about jump roping?

that would be jumping rope.  roping is only a word in rodeo.

yeeehaaaa

Yah!! For sure play the wii... DDR is awesome, rock band is awesome (and can help you exercise if you play it like I do... with all the dancing, leg kicks and the head banging :P).

Go shopping for ++ periods of time while carrying an uber heavy bag around with you. You'll like it, I guarantee!

Take up actual dance lessons, if you suck at dancing then no worries... the more you practice, the more you're exercising :P

BTW, how do you have ample time and energy?? Do you not work? My solution = get a job that involves rigorous activity... i.e. hiking guide, babysitter, dog walker. You'll earn money at the same time :)