How can I start to increase exercise into my daily life style?

[Pril]

Long and short of it i'm lazy and love being lazy.  My husband and I both have the slightest desire to want to improve our activity level. We are some what active in the summer time, Walking, Hiking, backpacking, biking, Kayaking, eating fresh real foods and paying attention to what we eat. 

We love summer and the outdoors even taken a few winter hikes here and there they seem to increase as we age. However we do none of this stuff on a regular basis, We have nothing to keep us moving during the winter and work days even the weekends seem to be filled with sleep and rest. Yet we always feel "too busy". as stated we are just lazy and love being lazy. 

So the fitbit  has helped us at least see how much we do. I have a goal of 6,000 steps a day set from my first week of averages. I know I should increase this as I haven't did much to change to add to my steps. 

So i'm reaching out to you and asking you how can I get motivated enough to motivate my husband to help keep me motivated. I ask a lot I know do you have any insight?

PS: I ramble when I type... thanks for reading and for any help you might be able to offer.. 

[betpchem]

I would say, start small. When you are watching TV, get up during the commercials and walk/jog in place until the show comes back. Park in the back of the parking lot. I think once you see the steps increasing, it will motivate you to add more. At least, that's how it works for me.  

[Odyssey13]

Rambling works for me! I admire your honesty.

Before my Flex, I was more lazy. I'm not entirely where I'd like to be, but I'm working on it. Everyone is an individual and no two people are alike, not even in a marriage or on these boards. We have people here who are serious and want each step to be tracked and we have some who are just grateful to be able to do a minimum of steps per day.

That you took the time to purchase and figure out how to use the FitBit shows you're wanting to change. Sometimes it's harder to change with a partner, especially when some things (ice cream, pizza) are involved!

Getting in more steps isn't as hard as you think. Start parking the car further away from the store. Walk more while in the store. Take more trips to get the groceries from the car to the house. Take one towel out of the dryer and to the bathroom closet, then return for the next one. You can easily get more steps in by stretching out what you need to do. Some of us even dance about while brushing our teeth or waiting on the microwave to finish our popcorn.

You could always have a friendly competition with your husband. First one to hit a certain number of steps in a day or week, could get a special treat. Something to get you both started and have fun with.

On weekends, find a way to add some steps into your day. Maybe a short walk until the warm weather comes. Even going to the mall and walking there is a way to add the steps in. Many malls have walkers who go the entire length of the place. Some malls will even tell you how many miles it is to walk it.

You can do it, Pril. Being lazy is not a bad thing. From now on, when you're lazy, you'll also be tired and happy from all that stepping!

[Naomi94]

Motivation has to come from yourself. If a person want to be fit, healthier, or lose weight they will be able to motivate themself. 

It means not making excuses for yourself or your husband. Accept no excuses for being lazy. 

Motivation also means taking the initiative to think of diffeerent ways of working out, and realize when you are making excuses for not following through. 

Here is where you can start: Jillian Michaels 20 minute workout video. Do this workout - no excuses. If you don't do it, then you know that your motivation (or lack thereof) is coming from yourself. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Pc-NizMgg8

Good Luck

[alex45674]

Well done on getting started! 

Try a short walk, once or twice a day, even 10 minutes adds to your steps and it does not take long.  Take every chance you can to add steps, walk in place while watching TV, brushing teeth, waiting for dinner to cook and kettle to boil, etc.  It really adds up 🙂 Keep stepping! 

[Pril]

Thanks all,  Currently we don't watch much tv and when we do it's movies or something on the pc.  I do park in the farthest spot when parking and I take the long walk to the bathroom at work. 

My husband and I do step a bit he wants a fitbit but wants to wait until the next new one comes out. 

He uses his phone to track his steps and it works for a quick view however it's not counting "steps" 

I apperciate everyones answer and will have to check that youtube vid out.. 

Thanks for everyones suggestions.. 

[gerrymcd]

I found planning and scheduling activities worked for me. Get a calendar and mark off activities......be very specific, 'Sunday 1pm. Hike to the top of this hill'.  The more specific you are, the more likely you will do it.   Planning the activity helps build anticipation.  During your lazy periods you could look online at maps, read reviews of hikes, etc.  If you make plans for the weekend/evenings you are much, much more likely to do something than waiting to see 'what we feel like'. 

[Mary]

I tell myself I can be lazy 22 hours a day but I need to move for an hour or two a day, just for general health.  We're not made to be on our backs and butts 24 hours a day.  

[leebee]

 I have two little girls at home that are like Labs, if I'm lazy they are lazy, if I'm active, they are active. I don't like seeing my kids lazy so the weekends we walk...a lot, and they love it! When they are playing lacrosse, I walk the length of the field for an hour. When they're at Cheer, well you get the picture! 

During the week when I'm at my job 8 hours a day sitting on my bum, I feel lazy, so I get up once a hour and jog in place in the bathroom at least 50 steps. That's an extra 400 a day! I also eat a luna bar at lunch so I can go out and walk for 25 minutes on my lunch, that way I get in my steps at work and don't have to spend 3 hours at night when I'm tired doing steps, however I still end up jogging inplace to my favorite TV show sometimes just to hit my goal!