I hate exercise!

[r.mines]

But I know it's good for me.

Unfortunately, I'm a horrible perfectionist, so any exercise program I start, I quickly sabotage by pushing myself to do more, faster, than I'm comfortable with. I like weightlifting (you wouldn't know it to look at me) and I like walking (a problem 9 months out of the year here on the Wet, I mean West Coast), and that's about it. I've been toying with the idea of joining a gym (weights, treadmills, sounds ideal), but the cost is prohibitive and I *know* I won't commit myself to the 3-4 visits a week I need for fitness and cost-effectiveness, especially in the rainy months (all 9 of them) when my energy is low (which is another story in itself).

So I devised a plan to 'trick' myself. I went out and bought some weenie-weights (5 lb) and a pair of wrist/ankle weights (2.5 lb each). The idea is that when I go on my walks, I wear the wrist/ankle weights, wrists on the way out, ankles on the way back. I don't do extra walks, just the ones I do normally, even if it's just walking to work or downtown. And I do some daily exercise with the 5-lb weights - here's the kicker - I'm *not allowed* to do more than 15 minutes a day. And I can't lift anything heavier than 5 pounds.

Think it'll work? It's only been 4 days, but I've used the weights every day so far, and it's not onerous. I can fit in my 15 minutes any time I want, and don't have to leave the house or shower at inconvenient times or places. No special footgear or training outfits required. And I figure 15 mins a day, over the week, works out to about the same time I'd spend in the gym anyway - only it's free!

So far, this seems like a pretty good idea, and I'd like to share it. What do you guys think?

Rachel (soon to be Queen of Muscles)

[doreen T]

Wow, now that's motivation. If you have some to spare, could you send it to me please??

I really have to push myself to get into the actual exercise, but once I'm at it, I love it. Feels great, and really pumped up afterward. I have a mild disability, so I'm rather limited what types of workouts I can do, like stair-stepping is out of the question (knee pain). I used to enjoy aqua-fit and water aerobics, but lately I can't handle the chlorine, makes me nauseous and a bad rash too.

So, I walk. Every day. Usually just around the neighbourhood, like you, 15 minutes. Once or twice a week I hike around my favourite conservation trails, 5 to 7 km, depending how bad my fibromyalgia is flared up. I'm thinking about getting cross-country skis to do the trails this winter.

Gee, you think 5 lb weights are weenie?? Mine are 3 lbs, and I have to be careful to not overdo with them even (makes the fibro. worse). I confess, I haven't used them in a while though. Bought 'em last summer with all good intentions to whittle and sculpt some of the jiggly stuff from the back of my arms. tee heee.

Prevention magazine and Prevention.com have great weight routines to follow. I like the way they show the specific muscle group to work, so that you know you're doing the movement correctly. I just wish they weren't so militantly LOWFAT. One woman e-mailed them looking for advice on how to stick to the lowcarb diet her doctor had prescribed. Can you believe, they told her to start eating lowFAT right away, or she'd keel over from some horrible lowcarb death! And the person giving the advice was not a doctor or a dietician, it was the damn FITNESS editor. Since when do fitness "experts" start telling people to not follow drs' orders?? (Rant)

Anyway, keep up the good work. You're inspiring me to get moving right now!! :D

Doreen

[r.mines]

But I've been walking every day for the last two weeks with my weights (only on wrists, they blister the hell out of my ankles, too bad!). The weather's been splendiferous for November in Vancouver, so I've been getting out for long walks on the seawall (1-2 hours). And guess what? Muscles already! Well, not huge ones, but a definite improvement. The weights seem to be making a difference, 'cause I walk quite a lot in the summer anyway, but I feel like I'm getting fitter faster this time round.

So far so good!

Rachel

[Jen]

Hi Rachel, how are the exercises going?

If you enjoy working out with weights, I would strongly recommend this book by Miriam E. Nelson,Ph.D.

It's been working wonders for me. Only 8 simple exercises you can do in the comfort of your own home, and it isn't time consuming (20 to 30 minutes each session, 3 days a week) I have lost inches, and just enjoy the way it makes me feel overall and I have to say I'm much more toned, firmer.

In her book she clearly mentions to NEVER walk around with the weights, it can cause injuries to the muscles and throw you off balance, therefore injuring yourself. Our bodies were not designed to carry weight in our ankles or wrists. Anyhow, that's what she says.

If you'd like to check out the book and read a review, go to chapters.ca, it's on special now from what I've seen.

Good luck whatever you do. Jen :)

[mizzbryce]

HI RACHEL I cant get in to exercising either I have stalled and find excuses not to do it. My husband has tons of weights but i have a mild disbility to my neck so i have to be careful what i do I did buy 4 videos from Leslie Sansone WATP WALKING OFF THE POUND mile one two and three and four I got off ebay I managed to get thru the one mile one once I have only had it a week I just cant seem to get a routine In Im guessing first thing in the morning But since I dont have my CAFFINE coffee any more I dont get to motivated.early in morning.But I also have a thread mill and the ankle and feet weights I have been stalled for a month and getting close to goal but need to take off 20-25 more most of my carbs are in my coffee splenda and cream I drink POT A DAY MYSELF love coffee.