Many people shy away from “exercise” because they think it will leave them tired and out of breath. But as you gradually progress to being more active, just the opposite happens: you’ll feel more energized and empowered. Just think what it will do your self-confidence as you’re able to achieve goals that used to exhaust you, like climbing up stairs without huffing and puffing. Keeping active might also make you happier. Regular aerobic exercise can help stimulate production of endorphins, “feel-good” chemicals in the brain. It can also help you get a good night’s sleep—people who exercise regularly tend to fall asleep quicker and stay asleep longer.

What kind of exercise makes you feel good?

I actually quit my gym membership in August. My boyfriend moved to CT for the fall semester and I'm not charged with walking our dog every morning. I love our walks--we walk to the park in town where she can run off-leash and I walk up a few steep hills on our loop. I love being in the park so early with all the solitude--it's great mentally as well as physically! We're walking an hour 4 mornings a week and at least an hour each weekend day. I've lost (and kept off) 4 pounds!

Most of my exercise is aerobics. And it's the exercise group as much as the exercise that keeps me going. We vary the routine with either general low impact, step or ball. Together hubby and I also walk and do some short biking (that's usually between 1/2 to 1 hours on the trails in the area.) Once a year we break out and do about 15 - 20 miles on the Miami Bike trail on a vacation day.

As i mentioned in the introduction thread i belong to Curves and when i work out at Curves i get good results. Our family moved out here (Western Washington) a year ago this past July. We rented an apt. until June when we were able to buy a house so things were pretty unsettled until we moved into our home in June. Now things are slowly getting settled. I switched my membership from the club i belonged to in St. Louis to a club here, then switched 2 more times. This club is reasonably close to our new home and it's a great place. The owner is very involved and has lots of things going on to motivate and encourage folks. I like it there a lot so i am determined to get my strength/aerobic workout habit of 3x a week firmly established. I've made a good start with this club. For me feeling connected to the workout community i'm part of is essential. And the benefits, as Carolyn mentioned, are incredible. Aside from weight/inches lost the endorphins produced, the feelings of empowerment(psychological as well as physical)and increase in energy leverl are wonderful. I see my workouts at Curves as building a foundation of strength, energy and stamina that will make running after my 9yo daughter and our puppy fun rather than a chore, along with raking leaves, riding my bike, hiking, etc. So i agree with what Carolyn said about exercise because it feels good. As you develop cardio vascular and muscle strength and stamina it really does begin to feel good.

The only way to stick with an exercise program is to do something you love. In my case, I now have my first horse. (I've wanted one since I was 5 yrs old.) Between bathing, grooming, riding and cleaning up after her, I am more active than I have been for years and enjoy every minute of it!

I am home exerciser. I love buying used DVD workouts on Amazon, and for the fraction of the cost of a gym, I have a personalized workout library. The best part is that I don't have to worry about what I look like. I can just get up first thing the morning, throw on a pair of shorts and T-shirt, and start jumping around like a fool. No worries about make-up, about bumping into someone else, falling over, or if there is anything stuck in my teeth. It's not always easy to get out of bed and go to it, but knowing how I'll feel afterwards keeps me motivated. I work out first thing in the morning, every day, but I change it up - one day can be circuit training, one day pilates, next day step, then kickboxing, yoga, you get the picture. It's about taking time for myself. In that one hour, no one bothers me (usually because it's 5 am if it's a workday), and I get to work super-charged. I've been in a corporate law firm for five and half years, and do not drink coffee. No one believes my age, either, so I attribute that the glow and energy that exercise gives me.