Would like advice on making exercise more fun

Hello,
I'm fairly new here. My boyfriend and i have decided we want to start exercising regularly. I'm in pretty good shape as it is, but would like to lose a few extra pounds i've put on since starting my sophmore year of college. My boyfriend on the other hand is a little overweight and out of shape. He was a wrestler and football player in highschool, in very good condition, could eat anything, ect. But since starting college, has forgone exercising for good grades.

We are both chemical engineers, therefore much of our time is spent studying and doing hw.

We have set aside time almost every day for going to the gym, but my boyfriend is lacking motivation. He says, in highschool it was so much easier because going to workout was going with a bunch of friends and basically having a good time, either playing the sport, or working out together. Now, it's just monotonous weight lifting and treadmill running.

I know there are better options out there, but i just can't think of something that we can both do, or get our friends involved in, while giving us a strenuous workout to constantly challenge us. i would do tennis or volleyball on the intramural sports teams, but they don't offer the kind of exercise we need/want.

He really loves football, and is trying to get guys together to play on saturdays, but so far it hasn't worked out.

When the nice whether comes, i know we'll be able to go bike riding, or soemthing. But then again, the time factor will be an issue. We'll both be working 40 hours a week, i have 3 horses at home i take care of/ride, so time to spend at the gym, or out doing activities is limited.

Any ideas? people who have experience with similar issues? Thank you for any ideas!
 
Can you incorporate exercise in your commute? For example, run, walk, or bicycle to work or a transit stop?

What kind of physical work is there in taking care of the horses?
 
Taking care of horses isn't much exercise anymore because my body has gotten used to the work every single day. I lift hay bales, scoop poop, and do some walking. One day a week i work at a large barn, in which i walk 60 acres of land many times taking care of 60 horses, and lift water buckets and sweep, that's a good work out for me, which is why i like my job.

However, maintaining my own horses is just time consuming now, because i barely even get a workout from it anymore, unless it's a hot day and i move really fast. haha. It is good meditation though, my time to think about life, and not have to think about what i'm doing.

Anyway, the commute idea was a good one, except my bf lives on campus, and i have early classes (and it's winter) so i have to drive. But in the summer time, it would be fun to bike to school, it's not that far. Thanks for the tips.

Do you know of a way to find community sports or anything like that? Or what sport would you suggest to get the best workout to consistantly challenge us from the sports we can choose at school? We have intramural sports that might work. Thanks!
Sara
 
If you want to motivate your boyfriend, every time a fellow in nice shape walks by, just casually mention it.."Looks like HE has been hitting the gym a lot" or something like that.

Either that or set up a reward system with him :luxlove: if you get my drift.
 
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