My wife and I are contemating going back to the gym to exercise to help us lose some weight and be more healthy. However, for me, this is not so motivating. I started wondering that maybe this is why some adults play organized sports. So, I would like to see if this is the case for anyone here and whether it helps you achieve your health goals. I can see other benefits to joining a sport, such as developing new relationships, and developing teamwork and also you'd be accountable to other people. Individual exercise seems unrelational and allows you to be unaccountable in your endeavor.
What do you think?
Exercise through working-out or sport?
Discussion in 'Health and Wellness' started by humblethinker, Sep 24, 2011.
-
-
Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
-
Working out, treadmills, etc are all boring to me. Instead, I play basketball (about) 5 days a week at the local Y on my lunch break. We have a good group of guys that come out and play and normally we are running 5 on 5 full court. It's a great workout and fun at the same time.
-
I strength train as well as do aerobics. You really need both for overall fitness (long story why) and frankly the strength training which puts on muscle will be much more effective for losing weight.
It is often hard for me get motivated to begin my strength workouts but I usually get into it after I get started and feel the pump. I have a large chart on the wall listing about 40 different exercises with the amount of weight and the number of sets and reps I do. This helps sets goals as well as does body shaping goals and when one sees the positive results after a couple months of sticking to it those rewards start becoming quite motivating for me.
As for aerobics I think sports can be effective although if you want to be serious it’s best to keep some kind of continuous pace and plan on progressing. Right now I am enjoying mountain biking and realized it is a very good HIIT kind of aerobic workout being that I am going up and down hills, through sandy areas and fast and slow straightaways while continuously pedaling for about 1 ½ hours. Running can be fun if you’re training to work up to a 5 mile race, ½ marathon, marathon, whatever. You can get heart monitors, stop watch, pedometer, take different trails, try different training methods (there are tons of advice on how to train when starting running and many races to enter out there). There are also some very friendly and supportive running groups for all levels. Good luck! -
InTheLight Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
Playing organized sports sounds like a wonderful way to get your exercise, be competitive, and meet new people. The problem is being able to do it a couple of days a week. I'd love to do this but I've got a trick ankle that gives me trouble if I aggressively pivot on it or put weight on it the wrong way. I sprained it three years ago and it still gives me trouble sometimes. This keeps me from participating in competitive basketball, which really bums me out.
In the spring and summer I coach youth baseball and keep somewhat active doing that. In the fall and winter I have a rowing machine and will do that for 20 minutes a day Mon - Fri while watching the news on TV. Not the most exciting way to get exercise but by establishing the routine at the same time every day helps me to stay on track and not skip days. I'll throw in some pushups and situps when I'm done rowing. -
Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
-
Coincidently, I'm doing homework on the ankle tonight and attending a 2 1/2 Orthopedics lecture and then a 3 hour lab on therapeutic interventions on the ankle both tomorrow and Thursday. -
InTheLight Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
-
To answer the OP, I would say do both. If you don't like working out, start off with sports. As you see your body adapt positively and change for the better, not to mention feeling better you probably will want to keep the upward trend going and incorporate resistance and aerobic activities. -
InTheLight Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
Mine is worse. I cover myself and my two boys for $482 a month with a $10,500 deductible. (Wife has coverage through work and to cover whole family would cost more than what I'm paying for the three of us.) So that's $16,284 out-of-pocket before my "insurance" pays a dime.
And this isn't thievery? -
I'm seriously considering Christian Healthcare Ministries. Co-ops make me nervous, though.