The gym

I hate the gym and all manner of exercise that keeps you in one place. My parents and I used to take walks after dinner. I miss it since I moved. Now I live in a fairly large city. I hardly go out-- too many people outside, exams, and sheer laziness--but I miss being active. I ran cross country track in high school and although I hated the feeling I was making a spectacle of myself running on the sidewalk while everyone else walked, the running improved my mood. At the very least, I did not feel so slovenly everyday.

I would like to get more activity in my day. I have become the human equivalent of a sloth. I even bought a used bike trainer though I have yet to make use of it.

What types of things do you do to motivate yourself to be active and healthy? Thanks.

Darwinschild wrote:What types of things do you do to motivate yourself to be active and healthy? Thanks.

I was a sloth before university weighed in at about 18 stone, then I started getting fit for martial arts and my application to the army [failed miserably], now less than 13 stone. I still exercise pretty seriously, mostly because I try to stick to self-improvement.

There's nothing else in my life really. i do it because I consider obesity a function of willpower, and I can't continue feeling superior if I'm fat myself. So, I exercise to stay fit, to cope with my martial arts and to let myself be arrogant.

I walk everywhere. All around the city. I used to swim but I can't go to my favourite pool anymore since I quit working there (it's awkward seeing past coworkers, and I don't like being lifeguarded by lifeguards that I used to lifeguard with). Last month, I did yoga at my doctor's suggestion. It was actually pretty great. There's a strict no-talking rule, everybody's focused in on themselves, everybody's very respectful of each others personal space. So you don't have people coming up to you trying to talk to you or make friends unless you make a point of trying to befriend them. The only thing that I couldn't stand was the occasional "love your body, love yourself!" speech you'd hear. And lululemon, I f-ucking hate lululemon. I got some pretty decent muscles and lost about 10 pounds in a month (but I think the weight loss had more to do with not eating due to school stress and stimulants). I would do it again, actually, I'm going to sign up tomorrow I think.

I hate the gym too. I keep fit through running and yoga and I like long walks in the woods.

although I hated the feeling I was making a spectacle of myself running on the sidewalk while everyone else walked

I used to feel self-conscious whenever I saw people when I was running, but nowadays I don't care anymore.

I take Martial Arts and I run to stay in shape. Im motivated to take Martial Arts because it's giving me knowledge that I can actually use to defend myself while staying in shape at the same time.I'm motivated to run because im currently attempting to join the Army and I need to get used to it. My running time sucks right now though.

I dont do the gym too many people in one area.

So, I exercise to stay fit, to cope with my martial arts and to let myself be arrogant.

This too lol

ApathySchizoid wrote:I take Martial Arts and I run to stay in shape. Im motivated to take Martial Arts because it's giving me knowledge that I can actually use to defend myself while staying in shape at the same time.I'm motivated to run because im currently attempting to join the Army and I need to get used to it. My running time sucks right now though.

I dont do the gym too many people in one area.

So, I exercise to stay fit, to cope with my martial arts and to let myself be arrogant.

This too lol

Ah, man after my own heart. I think we've discussed the Army before, but feel free to ask if you have any questions.

Of sports, I picked martial arts because they're practical and well rounded. Football may get you fitter, but it won't help if you're attacked by a drunken idiot in the street. What do you practice Apathy? I did TKD/Kickboxing for 4 years at high school, then jiujitsu/judo at university. Stuck with a crappy karate club at the moment, but lets me access their training facilities outside club hours.

I used to take martial arts but haven't had time for it for a few years now.

Football may get you fitter, but it won't help if you're attacked by a drunken idiot in the street.

I agree


I took TKD as a kid, I didn't retain much of it. Now I practice Krav Maga. I've only been taking it since the beginning of the year but its simple to grasp the lower level techniques.

I like going to the gym, walking, running cycling. I like feeling exhausted afterwards - sometimes I overdo it... I don't really have to motivate myself, though I often postpone doing things I like more (like studying or playing games) and I do them only if I go out and excercise.

Apathy and Nick, what martial art would you recommend for a beginner? (Or at least, what do you not recommend?) I did taekwondo for a bit, and it suited me fine, but I got annoyed when the club people kept pressuring me to do the tests to get colourful belts. I'm not into testing and belts. I understand the need for sorting people into categories, but I'll avoid it if I can. I've always liked the look of aikido.
I keep thinking I don't need martial arts in this day and age, but just a few times too often I find myself wishing I could defend myself or someone else without pulling a knife (please don't lecture me about knives, i know it's a dangerous move)
Any advice for what to look for or avoid would be greatly appreciated
(I don't know if this is relevant, but: female, 5'6'', 52 kilos, decent upper body strength for a chick (but I can't punch for $#%^), pretty high pain threshold)