From Couch Potato to French Fry: Finding an Exercise Niche

Exercise has always been one of my deal-breakers. But contrary to what one might think, the issue is not being tired. I'm used to being tired. It's not the breathing hard, though I certainly do a lot of that. The fact of the matter is that I get bored. I don't like that I can't do it very well, so my mind starts to wander in any one of eighteen directions, and I give up in favor of something that occupies my mind. This has been remedied, to some extent, by music. Yet still, most days I talk myself into this catch-22 that remembers being tired, being bored, and then I don't feel like I have the energy to bother. Which of course means that I give up the energy I would have earned by exercising.

Thus continues a day in the life of a couch potato.

Thus, I've been trying over the last few days to research different forms of exercise. I started with things I didn't want. I didn't want something that was just exercise for the sake of exercise. After all, I'm an obnoxiously ambitious person by nature, and if I don't have a goal to work toward, then I usually don't see the point. And I didn't want something mindless. I hear walking clears your head, but if mine clears too much, it begins to rattle (and it's important to keep your brains from falling out.) Finally, I wanted something I could actually start to do. Ballroom dancing is well and good (and something I intend to learn someday) but I'm missing a few things. Like a teacher. A partner. The facilities. The ability to walk in, much less dance in, heels. And let's face it. Even if I had all of that, the effect would not be a pretty sight, and would most likely end in bruised feet, black eyes, sprained ankles and a fatally wounded pride.

And then, by chance, I discovered a T'ai chi DVD when I was out shopping yesterday. While it certainly won't teach you the nuances of the discipline that a class will, it had everything I was looking for. Focus. Discipline. An attainable goal. It even addresses balance and coordination (which is something I've discovered I have astonishingly little of.) As a bonus: it's a slowed-down version of a discipline that is fully capable of kicking some ass. Which has its own value, of course.

It's probably not surprising that I loved it. I realize that I'm not very good. (Okay... I'm not any good.) But it's a good place to start learning, to start exercising. And then I can get more involved via a class (provided there is one available in close proximity) or not, as I choose. If I keep at it, now that I've found something I honestly like to do, it has a double benefit. Exercise that I'm excited about to help me lose weight... and something new and different I can learn.

Maybe then, the key to staying on task with exercise is to figure out what it is that you want. To be honest, realistic, and narrow down your choices based on your own situation. And using that, find an activity that can act as a hobby.

Though my sore body protests, it certainly beats sitting on the couch.