Workout Tips for Nonathletic Types

by Emily
(Missouri)

I've never been very athletic or good at sports, and I tend to prefer curling up with a book over physical activities.

However, I've been getting into working out a bit more lately. I've already seen some benefits. I feel better about myself, and I have more energy throughout the day.

The best piece of advice I can give to someone just starting out is to try and have as much fun as possible. Otherwise you'll lose motivation and it'll be hard to get yourself going.

I was motivated by my husband. Working out with him was nice, because I got to work out and spend time with my husband at the same time. We'd work out next to each other on the treadmill or elliptical machines at our apartment's workout facility. It was great because we could talk and joke with each other. It helped keep my mind off of any discomfort or fatigue.

I've also tried some of the fitness video games that have come out within the last year (like Wii Fit and the Xbox Kinect). They're a lot of fun, but I don't feel like the workouts are very strenuous. They've been good for motivating me, and they're certainly a lot more healthy than just sitting there.

I've also found that dancing is a good way for me to work out. I have a Netflix subscription, and there are several dance workout videos that I can watch instantly. The videos are nice for a quick workout at home when I don't have time to go to the gym.