masking the exercise factor
Unlike my sister and my father, I really hate to exercise. I should note that by exercise I mean the whole do a specific activity or set of activities for a set period of time for no other purpose than to make your body work better thing. Tear-my-eyes-out boring it is.
I really like doing physical activity. It just has to have a purpose that masks the exercise factor.
One of the myriad of reasons that I love Ultimate is that while playing the game I have this really cool bonus that it makes my body stronger, faster, and healthier, all without me actually thinking “hey! this is exercise!” Instead, I’m thinking about the game — improving my throws, tightening up my D, developing my mental game, learning and implementing new strategies on O and D, getting compliments on my really cool visor* — all the stuff that makes the game interesting. Exercise is something that happens in the background.
I can just barely handle running, as long as it is outdoors and I can vary my route — then I can at least pretend that I’m actually going somewhere (instead of the circle that I’m really doing).
I did ride my bike to work today for the first time since moving to Dartmouth (across the harbour from Halifax). The ride was a shorter than I thought it would be, taking only 45 minutes at a slow/medium pace. I’ll definitely be doing it some more, as besides getting me to work, it’s another way to trick myself into exercising.
* OK, so no compliments on my really cool visor. You’re all just jealous.
June 9th, 2005 at 11:01 am
I don’t know that I ever said I actually *like* exercise. But I never said I like to have a shower every day either, I just know it needs to be done, and I always feel better afterwards. Dammit, I don’t know if I can explain this properly in a comment. Time for another blog post!
June 9th, 2005 at 11:21 am
Yes, but you have the ability to “get into it”. I have to drag my ass.
However, put the option to go to an Ultimate tournament for 2 days and play 8 games in plus 30 degree weather — I’m there, man! (Much to the chagrin of my wife.)
I guess my point is that if you find plain old exercise hard to get into, find an activity you can get into that has another purpose or aim then just plain exercise — biking as transportation, a sport for competition and socialising, running to escape bears, whatever.