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What sport/physical activity would you recommend to someone who's not super sporty by nature?

Ben Halpern on July 12, 2019

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stefandorresteijn profile image
Stefan Dorresteijn

Bouldering, especially indoor bouldering. It's easy to get into, it requires you to solve problems, you can pretty much do it for as long as you feel comfortable with and you automatically become healthier/more in shape. You can do it socially by talking to people in the gym, or you can decide to do it on your own without talking to anyone. It's the only sport I've been able to get into and stay excited about in the last 10 years. I absolutely love it.

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Casey Brooks

I came here to say exactly this. Bouldering is great full-body exercise, is not too terribly hard on your body (like running is), is not a big time commitment (like cycling), and is incredibly addicting.

I don't like to run or lift weights or things like that because its all so monotonous. Rock climbing is always a new challenge, gyms typically change their routes every few weeks so there are always new problems for you to work on, and it never feels like I'm just doing the same thing endlessly.

Plus, rock climbing is just cool 😎

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Stefan Dorresteijn

Right? I love it so much. It's also a great sport to get nerdy about. Lots of free climbing live streams, bunch of fun YouTube channels with great content and there's always someone who wants to talk about climbing or setting or competing, etc.

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Ben Halpern

I had this in mind when I opened this thread. @jess introduced me to this sport and it really fits the bill. I'm not quite sure why.

I still haven't gotten into the habit of doing it on my own but I really want to adopt it into my routine!

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stefandorresteijn profile image
Stefan Dorresteijn

Well if either of you (or anyone reading this!) are ever in The Netherlands and want to do a bouldering session, ping me!

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jess profile image
Jess Lee

OOOH great to know! My best friend lives there and I'm trying to visit them yearly, in Utrecht :)

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stefandorresteijn profile image
Stefan Dorresteijn

Awesome! There are a couple good gyms in/close to Utrecht!

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Darren Vong

I'm sold just by reading this thread of comments! Am I right to assume that it's quite easy enough for anyone to get started (i.e. even for those who aren't super fit physically)?

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Stefan Dorresteijn • Edited

Yeah absolutely! There will absolutely be multiple boulder problems in your local gym that you'll be able to do, even if you've never done it and aren't in the best shape. I was completely out of shape when I started and I still had fun from the start. Most gyms around here also offer a beginner course if you're looking to get some help on improving with technique instead of strength.

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Darren Vong • Edited

Interesting, this sounds like a game changer for me in how I see going to the gym in future (like others in the thread, not a fan of lifting and workouts as they sound like chores)! Will have to investigate! 🔎

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stefandorresteijn profile image
Stefan Dorresteijn

Oh man, I hated going to the actual gym to lift weights etc, but Bouldering is just fun. Feels like just playing around and at the same time getting stronger and better at something that's really fun to do.

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Darren Vong

Yeah, and I like the thought that it can be a social thing too. It's nice to talk to people that aren't doing the same thing as you sometimes!

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MJWatsonLee • Edited

You mean not sporty body or not sporty mood? What I would recommend you from general tips would be to do some type of sports not alone but with friends or somebody else. Also a good tip would be to clean up your nutrition and focus on recovery. If you go deep into that, I promise you'll enjoy any type of sport. Probably try gym, running or calisthenics, it is very interesting and it will be easy to start. The last thing I can advice you is to use supplements like here rats.army/. It will help you with your diet and recovery.

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Antonio Radovcic

+1 although I stopped it after some months due to a knee-injury (never jump down!) and don't want to risk it again. I feel misplaced around all those sporty people anyways. But it was really fun and I'd suggest to try it.

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Ido Shamun

Totally agree! I've been bouldering for six months and it's so much fun as it also activates your mind.

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Stephanie Handsteiner

I second that, climbing, or bouldering in this case, is awesome.

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David Wickes

Running. Saved my life.

Buy a good pair of running shoes from a shop that will help to choose them (preferably by doing some gait analysis). Wear enough clothes so that you're warm enough or cool enough.

And that's it. Just go running. Anywhere, anytime, anyplace. The world is your gym.

You just say "I'm going running now" and...


BANG!

out the door

down the road

round the park

into the city

along the river

up the hill

through the forest

along the mountain tops


Running is freedom.

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Kyle Boe

This 100%.

As a casual runner, I would also add: do not run for pace or distance, only run for effort.

If you're working hard (not over-exerting) and breaking a sweat, you're doing it right. If you feel like you're over-exerting, walk for a bit. The most common newbie running plan (couch-to-5k) starts off with mostly walking for the first few weeks.

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Gerboa

I've never been into running but I took up the "couch to 5k" programme and it's been really good.

I'm now at the point of running for 25 minutes three times a week and enjoying it. I do need to listen to music as I run though (and the C25K app).

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Paul

Came here to say this. Sometimes I think I'd go nuts if I didn't have running.

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Jacob Evans

Hiking.

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leojpod

Although depending on where and what's on the program it might be a sporty thing.
But short hikes are definitely a good start 👍

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Jacob Evans

lmao, no need to tackle a mountain or long distance out the gate. I take my daughter and partner for nature hikes no more than mile or mile an half. :)

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leojpod

Yeah definitely it would even be dangerous to do so. There are quite a lot of people won't don't realise that it takes practice to make long hikes :)

And I also completely agree on short hikes: any hike is good and refreshing

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Jacob Evans

Woot!! Yeah, I thought I was fit enough when I tackled the multi-day hike through Haleakala Crater. It turned out pretty bad the first time, fortunately, I was with someone, rested an extra night, then hiked out the switchbacks. After that, I did more research finding out it was considered Expert level and had considerable hazard warnings, obviously altitude and terrain being among them. I also bought better equipment for longer hikes, better socks, shoes, hiking pack, water transport, tent... All got upgrades, I also worked out more and did more medium hikes before attempting it again.

Lmao, talk about learning the hard way.

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Dustin King

It may not be as physical as some other activities, but walking is really easy to get into, lets you enjoy exploring your environment, and is a great way to shift gears.

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Abraham Williams

Pickup Ultimate Frisbee. People who show up to pickup games are there to have fun and aren't competitive. It's great exercise.

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wysocki129

I live in a city so taking my doggo on a walk and making sure not to avoid hills is a good way to keep my health in line esp when I'm busy in life.

When I have more times I'd say something like bouldering is good because there is an extra sense of accomplishment when you physically climb a wall and make progress.over time.

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Saeed

I'm lifting weights, started 10 yrs ago its became a hobby.
I learnt everything about lifting the way I learnt coding by watching tutorials, reading articles, books and being active in communities( like bodybuilding.com forum) and I'm keep learning.
whatever movement or activity you doing just make sure you doing it right, do not rely on PTs.
45mins/4days a week more than enough

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J. Jordan Stivers

Agreed. What I enjoy about lifting weights is that when you really get into form it shuts your brain off. It's all about this one rep and doing it the best you can. There's always more to learn with it so it's something you get into for the long haul. And you don't have to spend hours at the gym to really work huge muscle groups.

I've learned everything about it just like Saeed, youtube videos (Athlean-X, Alan Thrall) and reading stuff. Also, lifters are great with helping. I've gotten a lot of great advice from other people at the gym. Just get yourself some gloves.

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Desi

tbh, running. I always thought I hated it - turns out it's a great way to shut off my brain.

swimming is great for people who are non-sporty and have some chronic pain issues - i LOVE swimming.

i've also recently gotten super into biking and took a 20k bike ride to work remotely the other day - it felt SO GOOD!

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Jacque Schrag

I went to a dance fitness class last night that was a lot of fun, but I’m definitely feeling the kind of muscle soreness you get from a good workout. I equate dancing with fun more than I do working out or other physical activities like running, so it’s easier for me to get into it mentally. Plus, you eventually become a better dancer 💃🏻

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Marco Carrozzo

Ping pong?

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Massimo Artizzu

Ping pong is awesome, makes you sweat and it's an endless source of fun among coworkers (if you stay sporty about it and don't take it too seriously!).

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Nucu Labs

Bodybuilding! It'll be painful at first but you'll get used to it. Find a great program, be careful when performing the exercises and you should be good. You may want to take some protein supplements tho.

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Matt Curcio

Hiking or Bikes

Who doesn't remember the feeling of freedom you got as a kid with your bike(s). One friend told me long ago that he would go back to age 10 bc he loved the freedom he got from his first bike.

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Michael Brooks

I would say Crossfit and I know what you're thinking... "But it's such a high-intensity sport, how can someone with no background just jump in?"

All workouts are scaled, so you only do what you can. Can't do pull-ups? Switch to jumping pull-ups. Still struggle? We'll chuck some plates underneath you so you haven't got far to jump. Can't do push-ups? They'll let you go onto your knees or use a box for further assistance.

The social aspect is incredible, and everyone helps each other get through the workouts. It's a truly amazing sport which you should try at least once in your life.

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Michael Harding

Biking to work has been really good for me. If I'm running late, then I get a more intense workout haha

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James Byrne

I'd give archery a go! It's a fantastic sport that's can be team or solo focused, requires little physical prowess to get started and depending on what you like can be very simple or technical. So there's something for everyone :D

Only talking about the target shooting part of it though. I know huntings big in some countries but that's a different kettle of fish

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Tom VanAntwerp

When I was in high school, I lost 30 pounds playing Dance Dance Revolution. Can't really find arcade machines these days, but you can still order high-quality metal pads for home (foam is fine to try it out, but not great if you want to make it a regular thing) and set up a PC running Stepmania. It's basically a gamified HIIT workout.

I really want to get a VR headset to play Beat Saber and see if it's the same sort of experience.

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Jonathan Boudreau

Probably something like ultimate frisbee, volleyball, etc. Honestly though I don't think it matters much what sport in specific you go with - its more about the group you're going with. There are more casual soccer leagues for example.

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Lynne Finnigan • Edited

Check if there's a local circus school near you that provides classes. From my experience, you find a bunch of diverse people, a sense of community, and fun/unusual classes such as handstands, acrobatics, aerial hoop/silks, and more.

Another piece of advice would be to try some sports that you never thought to try. I used to play on a basketball team and I miss the competitiveness. You forget you're working out because you're focused on winning the game. And you make some friends along the way, which can be more appealing than going to the gym solo and trying to motivate yourself.

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Ben Halpern

There's a disc golf course right near where I live!

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David Christian Liedle • Edited

I'm in! Where's this? Prospect Park?

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vladimirbag

CrossFit man!)

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Page Carbajal • Edited

Walking half an hour is a good way to start be more active. Good nutrition and a little bit of activity will keep you in shape. However I think the question is kind of ambiguous, I'd tend to address it from my perspective of trying to stay healthy and lose weight. Phrasing the question with what you are trying achieve may get you better answers. FWIW

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Ricardo Rivera • Edited

My Tip: LoopBands!

I use them every day 30 minutes. They are always there and there are no excuses.
As long as the LoopBands completely ruin me, I do not spend any more money on Sport.
By the way, there are many helpful exercises online.

youtu.be/c93BO4sfmJg

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Yozen Hernandez • Edited

Not super sporty either, but I started running and then kickboxing after a friend recommended it. I turned out to be surprisingly good at it and it's really fun. If you don't mind some bruising, I recommend it. It's not for everyone, sure, but it's intense and good stress relief.

Edit: also agree with the other responses saying bouldering/rock climbing, hiking, running. All good stuff for not very sporty folks.

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mJordan

I started kickboxing about 4 months ago and LOVE it! I didn’t think I’d be able to manage the classes because I have so many chronic pain problems, but the instructors have been great about modifying the moves to help me get a great workout without causing more damage to my body.

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Jennifer Bradford

There are kick ball leagues in some towns. Disc golf is available in a lot of parks. Kayaking on a pond or calm stream is peaceful and only as strenuous as you want it to be. Every state park I've heard of has trails you can hike. Yoga counts as cardio, stretching, and strength training all at once and wraps up with a nap. If you don't have time to bike outside, there are resistance pedals you can keep under your desk and "bike" there. Trampoline parks are fun but would be awkward to go to without kids so if you don't have any of your own, borrow a niece or nephew. Pickle ball is not just for retirees, it's really fun and basically wiffle tennis.

Check out the state park where you live. They almost certainly have something that will get your attention enough to get you outside. A lot of them have programs where you get a list of locations to go find and get a prize when you find them all. It's a fun way to trick yourself into hiking

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Doug McDonald

Golf, next question?

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josephmcfarland878

Well, I'm not a super active person, but sport is really good for health. I work out programs bestbodyworkout.com/how-to-burn-20... at home . They are designed for ordinary people who do not play sports.

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Stephen Charles Weiss

Kind of surprised not one person has said rowing.

I started doing indoor erg workouts on my own this spring and then joined a "Learn to Row" class at a local boathouse. Super social. Great whole body workout.

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CodyBra

Sometimes a simple walk in the park is also a cool sport. If you get into the habit of spending an hour of your evening walk, you will begin to enjoy it very quickly. Over time, when it enters your comfort zone, you can find some kind of team game for yourself and go to play with friends on weekends. For me, it was ping pong. You can also start exercising at home. Push-ups and squats are the biggest classics in this regard! Such exercises not only keep your muscles in good shape but also disperse the blood throughout the body. You can also start running in the morning, but this requires a huge amount of willpower and, for example, I still have not been able to force myself. I bought myself a bike and replace it with a trip to the park and back, morning jogging, which by the way is also not bad)

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Thally11

Good day. For people who have never been involved in sports - you need to choose some kind of not very energy-intensive sport, I would recommend cycling. It's pretty cool, useful and easy at the same time. Well, if you want to bring your body into full order, I recommend that you train in the gym according to programs from bestbodyworkout.com/athletic-body-.... that will give you the coolest results and make you simply stunning!

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Paul • Edited

How did you realize that you are not naturally athletic? Maybe the fact is that you have never trained effectively and for a long time? My friend was very thin and weak, but now after 2 years, he has become very athletic, all thanks to his perseverance and desire. If you want to get pumped up and gain muscle while being thin, it's still possible. Although it's very difficult, you will be proud of yourself when you go through these trials. Now I'm planning to make my own gym in my house, and thanks to an article from lumina homes, I think I'll get this idea.

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Shi Ling

Cycling! The wind on your skin makes you forget how tired you might be. Works in summer and winter.

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Yechiel Kalmenson

I recently went skydiving and I'm not obsessed!

Trying to make it work so I can get my license and start jumping more often!

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🌌 Sébastien Feugère ☔

By order of preference: walking, swimming (better, but might be harder than walking), bicycle.

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Stephen Chiang

Fishing, curling, bowling, cornhole, disc golf 🍻

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Doaa Mahely

Start with walking then jogging then running. It's a mental sport that will get you in shape in no time. Plus, you can listen to all those podcasts you've been saving!

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Yousra 🌅🌿

Walking, I feel like it's one of the best physical activity

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Aswath KNM

Try Yoga!!!

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David Wickes

😂 also true! 😂

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Clara

I wonder that Yoga is mentioned more often. You can start super slow, there is no pressure on achieving anything and it often also includes meditation with gives your mind some offtime, too!

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C.S. Rhymes

I used to use Zwift (indoor cycling). It’s like playing a video game on your bike with other cyclists. It has lots of training plans too so you can build up your fitness over time.

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David Christian Liedle

Commute to work on the Q train 5 days a week for 2 years with a full backpack. You'll have shoulders like a football player, and your step counter will be at an all time high. :D

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Ryland G

I just bought this for $200 on Amazon amazon.com/gp/product/B07K7S6NWK/r... because I hate running so much. Works great for $200

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Ben Halpern

Price is crazy! Quality's not too bad you say?

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Ryland G

I'm a big person 6-1 and it's seems really well constructed, definitely holds me without issue. Takes about 25 minutes to put together and has a really nice differentiating feature that most don't, bluetooth. The app is actually surprisingly not the worst, and has some preprogrammed "rides". Also, it's insanely compact and would be super easy to move with.

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Evaldas Buinauskas

Don't! All exercise machines I've seen at home always ended up as cloth hangers. Really.

🙂

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ISOLOI

indoor skydiving. iFLY

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Davide de Paolis

Since hiking and bouldering were already mentioned... Slacklining!! And bikram yoga.

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Gerboa

Badminton.

You can play at any level from garden patta-cake up to Olympic (the fastest racquet sport at hight level).

It's really social and you don't have to be sporty to enjoy it.

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Al Romano

Airsoft.

So much fun.

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Sam

Weight lifting 🏋️.

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DeChamp

I heard that frisbee sport is a good one. I can't remember it's name but sounds like a lot of fun. It's basically frisbee golf.

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Mike Staub

Brazilian Jui Jitsu. It's not about athletic ability, but rather practice and technique. Anyone can become great with time.

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Mohammed Samgan Khan

If you can get a table nearby got for Table tennis. it's cool

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Thomas H Jones II

Day-to-day: walking
Outdoorsy but not super sporty: casual kayaking, biking, etc.
Occasional: find your local EDM venue and start going to shows (5-7000 steps/hr most nights).

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Olisun

Long walks and hiking.

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Anand Kumar

Ping pong

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Evaldas Buinauskas

Get a dog and you'll walk regularly 🐕

Also I've recently started doing bodyweight exercises, they can be done at home or outside.

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mJordan

Try two puppies at once. So many walks. All the walks. Some runs too, since one of them has learnt how to slip out of her harness when she feels like it and makes me chase her all over the place.

We live in an apartment and they are both very high energy. Having pups to take care of totally eliminates the “but I don’t want to” part of going on walks because it doesn’t matter anymore. I have to, which is really helpful for someone with low motivation to be active. They have gotten me into little hikes and adventures as well. I definitely spend way more time outdoors since getting them.

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Dana Ottaviani

My family and I take walks around nearby reservoirs on the weekend. It's nice to leave the tech behind for a short time and get out the door.

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Federico Navarrete

What about trying the 30 days challenge? The app is quite useful I used it for 6 months and got good results, but you need to perform the exercises daily.

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Deepak Singh

Run!! Run all you can. Just run, forget about the pace you are going at, or the distance you have to cover, just run.

It's the best thing one can do.

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Drew Town

Cycling - go at your own pace. Get to experience the outdoors through beautiful trails.

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Tim JK Strickland

Full contact friendship. It's where you call/text your friends to plan an event and then everyone shows up to whatever event is planned on time.

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Daniel Coturel

I bought a fixed bicicle two months ago and it worked great. It's suitable to achieve health results in short term.

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leojpod

Archery! It takes a lot of focus hence free your mind. It builds back strength. And you walk a lot to fetch back your arrows!

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Max Ong Zong Bao

Kettlebell? Brought it a few years back been using on and off to help build my strength to save space as well.

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Matthew Francis

Recently bought an exercise bike and working out on it while watching videos on Udemy.