11 Easy Exercise Workouts that Don’t Make You Hate Yourself

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Exercise can change your mood, your health, and your happiness, and you don’t have to hate it! There are exercise workouts that are simple, easy, and still help you burn some calories. 

I think one of the best things you can do for yourself is exercise.

For real, it has so many benefits and it is tried and true.

Exercise has helped save my sanity throughout my whole life. It makes me happier. I feel healthier, look healthier, and want to eat healthier when I exercise. And…it can be fun.

Exercise doesn’t have to suck.

Most people when they think about exercise moan and groan because it doesn’t sound fun, enticing, and it’s just plain sucky.

You’re right, exercise can definitely get sweaty and uncomfortable. Just know that being uncomfortable means you are pushing yourself to be better and stronger.

However, you can do activities that don’t require you to REALIZE how uncomfortable you are.

They’re just fun. Or activities that are good for you, but don’t require a high level of being uncomfortable, or high level of intensity.

So, if you are a beginner exerciser, or you hate working out, or you are having one of those days where you just don’t feel like working out, but you know you need to, so you settle for something fun (ME!), I have some great ideas for you!

Just moving your body, is good for your body. There are ways you can remain healthy, lose weight, lift your spirits, and feel good about yourself, without killing yourself.

These are also great exercise workouts to get familiar with exercising. If you’re a beginner, this is a great place to start.

11 Exercises that don’t make you hate yourself

Walking

Walking is severely underrated.

Walking can do so much for you.

I used to dismiss walking because I felt like I wasn’t doing “that muchâ€. This is false.

Just by walking 30 minutes a day can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke, reduce body fat, and lower your blood pressure and cholesterol.

You could make it even more fun by walking with a friend. You’re going to be talking anyway, you might as well do it walking and get some exercise in to!

Bike

Go on a bike ride.

As a child, I didn’t even see biking as exercise, it was just fun.

Get a bike and go biking for a few miles.

It’s a good break, self-care, and you can just clear your head.

It’s easy on the knees, great for heart, and fun!

Hiking

If you like nature, you might like going on a hike for exercise.

Every time I want to go hiking, I think it’s going to be a leisure walk, but it can actually be pretty difficult.

It’s a good exercise, but you’re also enjoying the scenery, seeing things you haven’t before (possibly), and stopping to enjoy the view.

Yoga

I think yoga is also very underrated. It can be hard, but it can also be super relaxing.

You could start out with easy, relaxing moves and then work up to the advanced ones.

Talk about toning your body, yoga can do it for you. This is a great resource for yoga for beginners.

Stretching

Stretching feels so good, and it’s good for you. Trust me, I work in a sports clinic and about 70% of the things we see can be solved or could have been solved with stretching.

Stretching makes you move in ways your body doesn’t naturally move. When you’re muscles are flexible, you’re able to move more for longer periods of time.

Dancing

Who doesn’t love to dance?

Dancing is a full body workout.

Sometimes if I don’t want to do an organized workout, I just dance.

You could do this by looking up workout dance videos on YouTube. This one is my favorite. Or you could get Just Dance on the Wii and workout while you beat your latest score.

Sports

One of my favorite sports to play is basketball, and (MAN!) is that a workout.

But it doesn’t seem like a hard workout because I’m having so much fun. I mean, I feel it running up and down the court, but the fun takes away the pain, haha. 

Sports don’t have to be as intense as basketball, but you can easily pick up a sports hobby.

Do tennis, racquetball, or volleyball. These are great ways to exercise and have fun.

Swim

Swimming can be a lot of fun and it’s really good on your joints.

Even if you just tread water for 30 minutes, you’d be getting a good workout. Plus you can do it while your kids are in the water.

Play with Your Kids

Playing with your kids can get you some serious exercise.

We like to dance around the living, run in circles, race each other, hold on to mom’s legs while she walks. They like to sit on my back while I do push-ups.

My kids can run circles around me. Try to keep up with your kids. Just do what they’re doing when they play outside. I bet you’ll burn some calories.

Clean

This could go either way. You might hate cleaning more than you hate working out. Haha.

I like to clean, and sometimes I tell myself I’m going to clean for 30-40 minutes. I go all out, cleaning anything and everything at a fast pace. I’m tired by the end.

You could also make it a little more challenging and do squats or lunges every time you pick something up, or jump to the next room. You can be clever and creative; It’s killing two birds with one stone.

Short workouts

Okay, maybe these aren’t really that fun, but doing a short workout can be motivating.

You can fit it anywhere in your schedule, and you’re getting the exercise you need.

Here are 10 different 10 minute exercise workouts that I do when I need to squeeze in a workout.

These workouts aren’t the end all of simple exercise workouts. Exercise is just moving your body and raising your heart rate. If you can do that by running around the house with your kids, then use that as your exercise on some days.

Starting with these exercises can help you advanced to more challenging workouts, that you can come to enjoy!

Related: 10 Ten Minute Exercise Workouts for the Busy Mom

Related: How exercise saved my Mental Health 

Related: What is Self Care and Why You need it as a mom: Self Care Ideas for the Busy Mom