Unless you are a fitness “geek” you probably don’t look forward to exercising. I know I don’t.
The question is: Why don’t we look forward to it?
The answer is probably not so easy because it varies by person:
• I don’t like to sweat
• I don’t know how to or what to do
• I don’t have the equipment
• I can’t afford a gym membership
• My feet hurt
• My legs ache
• I’m just plain lazy!
Several of those used to fit me. Some of them still do. Like being just plain lazy. I know I should get up and move around—take a walk or something. But I’ll tell you the truth, playing on my tablet is a lot more “fun” than taking a walk or pressing play on a fitness DVD.
Just plain lazy
I’m not even going to try to lie to any of you and tell you the photo in this post is from this year—because it’s not—it was from at least a year ago! I’ve still not developed a regular exercise routine this year and this year is nearly over. I didn’t even put exercise on my non-existent list of New Year’s Resolutions. I made no plan at all for exercise in my life. (That’s my granddaughter in the photo with me. She is my little workout buddy!)
That lack of planning doesn’t mean I can’t start today, however. And you can, too.
In the book, “Lose It Fast, Lose It Forever,” by Pete Thomas, he suggests that a person who is not used to exercising can begin by walking 30 minutes a day. It doesn’t even have to be a very fast or brisk walk, just getting up and walking for 30 minutes. If you wanted to, you could even walk around your living room for 30 minutes! (Although I think that would get really boring!) If you are already working out, Thomas says to add some intensity to the workout.
Walking is Exercise, too
Many of us don’t think of taking a walk as a form of exercise—and that’s a good thing—because with our aversions to 
exercise, we would probably not even want to walk to the fridge or cupboard for a snack! (In reality, though, I think most of us are ambitious enough to go get a snack! Unfortunately, the snack will undoubtedly be far more calories than our little “jaunt” to the fridge will burn!)
Actually, I don’t think it would be as bad as I suggested, but our minds work in funny ways sometimes and it’s probably closer to the truth than not.
I’m working on my commitment to adding exercise to my plan. It isn’t easy. I have been avoiding it like it’s the plague or something, but I know I need to add walking into my daily routine and I need to do it soon!
If anyone from the Be A Loser With Karin group or anyone who lives in this area, would like to walk with me, let me know and we will figure something out. I am a slow walker, but if you don’t mind me “following” you, then we can still walk together! Comment either here or on Facebook to let me know if you want to give it a try.
It is never too late
I just want to reiterate the fact that it is never too late to start doing something good for ourselves. We may not want to. We may be afraid. We may even think “what is the point?” But I, for one am not willing to give up. I believe that I will keep working on a healthier lifestyle made up of eating good foods and exercise until the day I am no longer on this side of the soil!
It’s not too late for you, either. If you can read this post and you can still move, you can make a difference in your life. Don’t give up!
Until next time, be good to yourself and to others!
Karin
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About the author
Karin Nauber, is a professional journalist who has worked in the newspaper business for the past 27 years. She is also a grandmother who, along with her spouse, is raising one of their granddaughters. Karin has five grandchildren with whom she enjoys spending as much time as possible. Karin also was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes about 11 years ago and has faced many challenges with the disease. If you would like to contact her, please do so at: karin@diabeteshealthnuts.com.
I know I fall into the category of just being plain lazy. As a type 2 diabetic that is over weight I know I need to get more exercise but knowing and doing is different. I do love to walk but my excuse is I never seem to have time. Reading articles like you wrote do help to get me going again. Its the only healthy thing to do.
Dale,
Don’t feel too bad, I think many of us fall into that category. We know what to do, it’s just a matter of making ourselves do it. No more excuses! I know I must exercise and I’m going to start again tonight. I use Leslie Sansone Walk At Home DVDs so I can’t use the bad weather excuse.
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
Great article Karin!
I have type 2 diabetes and I not only have to watch what I eat, I must exercise everyday.I talk about walking on my website too because it is exercise and no strenuous to do in most cases.
The bottom line is that we have to get off the couch and move. It’s movement as opposed to being stationery.Take stairs instead of the elevator. Get a pedometer and count your steps. Aim for 10,000 a day!
For your sake and the sake of your diabetes get out and walk every day for 30 minutes as you suggest!Would you suggest getting a treadmill at some point because then you can’t use bad weather as an excuse?
Thanks for visiting. As a fellow person who struggles with this disease, you understand what it takes to get better. I have an Apple watch and the Health app on my iPhone that track my steps. I have to say that I fail miserably on getting close to 10,000 steps. Most days I am lucky to get in 3000. I know I need to walk more! I know I need this. Now to get my brain to agree with me that it is a good and FUN thing to do!
I have a series of Walk At Home DVDs that I really enjoy. They are by Leslie Sansone. I enjoy doing them with my granddaughter. I have a treadmill and it is a good resource to have. But I really recommend the Leslie Sansone DVDs as they can be viewed anywhere, even on a portable device if you download them.
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
Oh I can totally relate to being just plain lazy. It is a lot more fun to play on a tablet then to exercise. You are right it is never too late to start to do good things for ourselves like exercise and eating healthier, our bodies will thank us for it. When we do get up and exercise even if it is just a brisk walk, we actually feel better because it is what our bodies want and need even if it is not always something that our minds want to do.
Thanks for visiting! You have it so right. It is what our bodies want and need! Our minds on the other hand can tend to be lazy!
Wishing you a brisk walk kind of day!
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
Very good post and info.
Indeed, you are right in all the benefits it gives you.
I’m in the fitness and bodybuilding world for quite a while now and believe me how many people don’t want to sport.
Even in the gym, they are more busy with their phones, and then they can say they went.
Also you have a lot of people who claims they want to go but always have an excuse as you said.
But looking to the benefits it gives you, you really have to exercise.
Thanks for visiting my site, Emmanuel. I run an exercise class every February through April, and I will get a bunch of people who sign up to come, but then there is usually just me and maybe one or two others! It tends to get very boring by working our by myself all the time! But it does make me show up just in case someone does come in. At one point, I regularly had about 10 people who would come to the class, but then we lost our workout space and that kind of ended.
But there are so many ways to workout at home, too. Walk at home videos are my favorite, but I also do several of the Beachboy workouts like 21 Day Fit, P90X, P90, Cize and, when I am feeling really adventurous, I will even do Insanity!
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
Hi Karen,
Loved this article – and thanks for the motivation to just get started.Exercise is highly under-rated and can help for many different ailments. Like reducing stress and anxiety and inducing mental clarity and energy levels 🙂 Although I too am super lazy, I just force myself to get started. The funny thing is I always feel super good afterward and glad that I did it. Makes me wonder why I don’t like the idea of starting? lol…
It’s hard to start exercising. We know it makes us feel better afterwards, sometimes even while we are exercising, but we just won’t do it! I look at my bike and want to hop on, but come up with an excuse. I want to press play on my DVD player so I can do a home workout video, but the remote seems too far away!
We can do this, though. Because we do know how it makes us feel!
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
True, we know exercise, healthy food and lots of other things help. We also know, No action results no reaction. But still we don’t take action sometimes specially for adding exercise to the routine. This is law of science. Winter is looming. There will be another excuse to add. Just give me a break- what happens if I skip few days. I hate monotony.
This a wonderfully written blog truly reflecting what many of us think of adding exercise to our routine. Here is a little story. I was on a exercise machine at CostCo demonstration. You just stand on the machine for 12 minutes. Your whole body is worked out. How cool! I was considering if I can add this > $2000.00 gadget in my house. An Indian person with his wife came and joking interrupted with a remark (I guess his wife also wanted to buy!) you want to be Priyanka Chopra, a Bollywood megastar. He left and his wife went with him unwillingly. But the view point is no need to exercise if you compete for modelling or acting.
But I love walking to meet the trees of my campus and watching the glory of nature. To motivate my self, I watch videos of walk out and listen to my favorite music. I do not enjoy that much being on a group work out. I have few machines at home but I like walking better. I do breathing exercises during my walk as well.
Thanking you for sharing such a blog that will help the world. Every little bit of good thing adds up in life.
Thanks for visiting my site, Anusuya! Yes, walking is the best, in my humble opinion. It’s easy to do and can do it wherever. You don’t need special equipment. I used to do a walking blog where I carried my cell phone and recorded my walk and my thoughts while I was walking. It was for a Be a Loser with Karin Contest I was doing.
Best to you as you continue to walk and connect with nature! Not much beats a good walk outdoors!
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂