Exercise (mental block? or physical?)

[Seraffa]

Hi - I'm back again. I didn't see a place to put this in the excersise forums, since I haven't started exercise at all.

Are there any of you living in a "Big City" ( I'm in NYC)
who work really hard during the day, then come home to a yukky outdoors scene that even small neighborhood parks can't remedy, because they're clogged with people anyway? City traffic and fumes preventing a truly enjoyable, challenging bike ride, etc.? Too much noise in general, no real feeling of being "out there" with nature and "de-stressing" from the day?

I'm a personality type INTP - not at all happy in structured gym settings, and still a ways off from going "to the country" each weekend. In fact, I don't think anyone should be forced to go to the country each weekend to get away from this madness in the East Village. I thought motivation for excerise would come easier, but it hasn't - I have 6 roommates and live in a shelter for women, to be honest. Excercise in front of the t.v. to a boring video would be boring and would have everyone stepping all over me, eventually.

I'm trying to overcome this huge conflict of interests. It seems daunting. All I want to do is feel my body both relaxed and be challenged after I come home from a hard day doing what I am doing. Is there anyone who has overcome this and feels triumphant doing so? It's my LAST, most important challenge
to shedding 70 lbs. of fat and reversing aging at 45 yrs old! :tear: Can be so depressing, as my roommates are far younger than me and relatively "love"
the neighborhood. "Gag." :peeved: Maybe I'm just out of the loop, here.

[laughingW]

I'm an INxP, have lived in a big city (Chicago, Near North, also loved by younger people, gag). I totally understand your desire.

do you have roof access? A vista can sometimes help. If it's ugly a wind-friendly potted plant?

I take it you don't really have a private space at home?

I would also start walking the neighborhood looking for yoga or tai chi spaces.
Or a church or school or courtyard that would let me drop into an empty space or classroom for a half hour to do a routine (there are lots of routines to choose from once you solve the "where" problem). You could not need a DVD or anything.
The class structure would be yukky but at least it wouldn't be a gym and the rooms are often much more suitable for what I think you and I would be looking for.

My situation is much different but I do get to exercise like you describe and I do feel triumphant in finally having a habit! :)

[maxlharris]

I am an INTP. I grew up in New York, went to school in the East Villiage, moved to Los Angeles, lived in DC, and now in Chicago.

When I lived in LA, I lived across the street from a Gym. I worked out from the Body for Life book, then a Bruce Lee book of weight training. I also had a dog, and I'd walk the dog.

When I lived in DC, I worked out at the gym at work. I did workouts from Men's Health and The New Rules of Lifting. I tried working out with some other people. It didn't work for me. I tried working with the trainer, who did cross-fit programs for the gym members. It also didn't work for me. Building my own structure, being accountable to me and my little note cards that I made up was what worked.

In Chicago, am just getting back in the swing of things, but am working out at the gym at work. And I'm doing my own thing. Men's Health, maybe NRoL again, maybe something else. But not with other people, because that doesn't work for me (oddly, a large component of my job is customer service... so you can imagine that the last thing I want to do is interact with other people in my leisure time).

I don't think motivation is a question of personality type. It's just a question of getting your frame around your goals.

I am a guy. Ultimately, I like moving heavy stuff. If that's not working for you, find something else.

[Seraffa]

This is really cool.....I never expected more INTP's on here! Awesome! I like your answers, both!! *beaming*.....

[Seraffa]

I'm an INxP, have lived in a big city (Chicago, Near North, also loved by younger people, gag). I totally understand your desire.

do you have roof access? A vista can sometimes help. If it's ugly a wind-friendly potted plant?

I take it you don't really have a private space at home?

I would also start walking the neighborhood looking for yoga or tai chi spaces.
Or a church or school or courtyard that would let me drop into an empty space or classroom for a half hour to do a routine (there are lots of routines to choose from once you solve the "where" problem). You could not need a DVD or anything.
The class structure would be yukky but at least it wouldn't be a gym and the rooms are often much more suitable for what I think you and I would be looking for.

My situation is much different but I do get to exercise like you describe and I do feel triumphant in finally having a habit! :)

INXP = "Generation X INTP" LaughingW??? :D

[Seraffa]

I am an INTP. I grew up in New York, went to school in the East Villiage, moved to Los Angeles, lived in DC, and now in Chicago.

When I lived in LA, I lived across the street from a Gym. I worked out from the Body for Life book, then a Bruce Lee book of weight training. I also had a dog, and I'd walk the dog.

When I lived in DC, I worked out at the gym at work. I did workouts from Men's Health and The New Rules of Lifting. I tried working out with some other people. It didn't work for me. I tried working with the trainer, who did cross-fit programs for the gym members. It also didn't work for me. Building my own structure, being accountable to me and my little note cards that I made up was what worked.

In Chicago, am just getting back in the swing of things, but am working out at the gym at work. And I'm doing my own thing. Men's Health, maybe NRoL again, maybe something else. But not with other people, because that doesn't work for me (oddly, a large component of my job is customer service... so you can imagine that the last thing I want to do is interact with other people in my leisure time).

I don't think motivation is a question of personality type. It's just a question of getting your frame around your goals.

I am a guy. Ultimately, I like moving heavy stuff. If that's not working for you, find something else.

I'm gonna go ahead and quote you, then. "WOW!!", Maxl!

[Diet]

Heads up and lets start exercise.. for a start turn off computers ;)

[laughingW]

Heads up and lets start exercise.. for a start turn off computers ;)excellent idea - screen time, begone

[laughingW]

INXP = "Generation X INTP" LaughingW??? :DNope, I'm either INTP or INFP depending on the test and the day. The T---F place on the continuum is right in the middle. So it's written as INxP.

If I was a Gen X it would only be on Freaky Friday and some poor Gen X would be a Tail End Boomer. Fun to think of however!