alexa (echo dot) now has a personal trainer skill and will do a workout with you! :)

I walked 3 miles (7000 steps maybe), so I'm going to count that as 45 minutes. Really I was out for 2 hours but I was totally taking photos in the park and then editing them. I couldn't stop myself! Fun time!

I would say try it out a bit before you cancel your membership. And that's awesome. I wish I had a job where i got exercise.

Today I did 30 minutes on the stairmaster (intervals, levels 1-5). I finished up the Keepers (the Netflix doc series). It was so good! I picked out a new doc to start next time, called "Enlighten Us"... I think!

I got a PM asking about what tips are there to get motivated and focused with exercise, something along those lines. I thought we all could give tips if we have them.

I would say that a lot of times I'm not motivated but I do it anyway. I have more time in the summer since I work a school schedule and have summers off. During the school is year is more when I struggle.

My tips, I would say, are to exercise even if tired, even if it is a struggle, and even if I've been procrastinating all day. Often work outs that start out in a bad mood end up in a good one. Also, I like to keep myself sufficiently entertained while exercising with my phone or Ipad. Anyone else have tips or problems for us to talk about?

I had a personal trainer who I was not crazy about. There were a lot of things about him that drove me bananas. However, he did do something now and then that stuck with me in a good way.

He told me that whenever I was down or had unscheduled time, just go to the gym. He said that I don't have to work out, just sit there and see what happens. So I've done that and what usually happens is that I end up working out. Sometimes I sit around and chat with people and play on my iphone and all that, lots of wasting time, but then more often than not I end up thinking, well, I'm here- I might as well put in a half hour. Similarly, if I just put on my gym clothes at home, I can usually end up getting myself to the park or gym since I've taken the time to dress for it :)

Today did not involve a gym workout as our membership entails us both going and he is traveling for work again, but since I got up hella early to see him off I:

- took out a bag of trash, a bag of clothes and five cardboard boxes
- wiped down the counters and table
- swept and scrubbed all the tile
- vacuumed the apartment sans bedroom
- unloaded and loaded the dishwasher
- flea combed one cat for a good 10 minutes and detangled her tummy
- clipped front claws of another cat since he is covered in scabs from constant scratching

I was covered in sweat more than once, so that counts as exercise right? (do I get double points for grooming cats who don't particularly like it? :seeingstars: )

Me too! 45 minutes, 2.41 miles, 5,772 steps

it will be a bike ride tonight

Today I did 30 minutes on the Stairmaster (levels 1-5, intervals, 80 floors) and then 30 minutes combined of weight lifting, floor exercises, and stretching.

I spend a lot of time watching other people's technique. I love seeing the way bodies can move.

45 minute walk on lunch

I was lurking in this thread. I have been such a slacker that I have no exercise news to report at the moment, but I just have to comment on Gemme's 15 minute hack because this has worked so well for me in the past - and not just for exercise.

The key is for it to be a short amount of time, I would say 15 minutes or less. For example, I used to do this with housekeeping chores. I would tell myself I was going to do it for 15 minutes per day as soon as I got home from work. My apartment stayed really clean. Many times I would go over the 15 minute mark but when I didn't that was okay too, because things can get done in 15 minutes or less, even if it is only a little bit.

Try the 15 minute hack. It works. Yes you know you are kind of fooling yourself and that you will often end up spending more than 15 minutes, but you are totally free to stop at 15 minutes and you will still get something done, whether it is exercise or something else.

Thanks Gemme for the reminder. I'm going to start using this again!

I did 30 minutes on the stairmaster, 90 floors. I finished the Netflix doc, Enlightened ones, which was pretty good, not great.

I have a new friend at the gym named Judith. She is Asian, super kind, and looks like maybe she's a dyke. To be honest I'm obsessed with finding out if she is or not. We make chit chat in the locker room, and she's not an overly personal person. The mystery is likely to remain forever.

I've been walking five miles a day. Some days are easier than other. I have purchased two new pair of shoes for this activity but both leave my feet blistered. Not sure what the solution is.

I'd like to incorporate some different exercise but not sure what.

As many curls and overhead lifts of my dumbells as I could manage (40 and 25 respectively)
Clearing the lounge from the devastation caused by my prepping for my recent camping holiday in a flat with too little space, then hoovering (Hey, that's got to count as SOME exercise, right? 8-} )
In a bit I'll do some Pilates, then use the stepper whilst watching a DVD.

I concur with Gemme re telling yourself 'just 15 minutes'. I can do 15 minutes easily - but then I want to see how far I can push myself, and end up doing more.

My desire to lose my spare tire and get fitter both to improve my chances at being able to pass min skills for roller derby and to look better for potential dates is quite a motivator for me though! :-)

I recently looked into a gym membership but it was hella expensive. So I need to figure out things I could do at home along with the walking. I can ride my bicycle. I've been looking into a bike trainer that turns you regular bike into a stationary bike. A friend suggested some dumb bells and a medicine ball. I would just need to figure out what weights to start with.

With my walking and eating better I've lost 11.2 lbs. Only 12 more to go to reach my first goal.

I must be a slow walker because it take me about 1 hour and 40 minutes to walk five miles.

Today I did 30 minutes on the stairmaster, 80 floors, and watched the Netflix series in which Piers Morgan interviews women in prison for murder, something like "Killer Women." The first episode was pretty good, even though it sounds not that good.

I went super late. Judith was there. If she's a dyke I read her as someone who would fall into "soft butch lesbian." She dresses odd, an odd style. She was wearing black pants with a flower pattern and a pink and white checkered shirt. When I saw that shirt, my gaydar needle shifted towards straight, but I still maintain that her short haircut, personality, and build or way she carries herself show definite lesbian potential. To be determined.