Aerobic Workouts Are Fun????

There is a whole industry surrounding fitness with TV programs, DVDs and books on the subject.

The 1970s ushered in the beginnings of a fitness trend, especially in the form of aerobic workouts. We were all caught up in the movement to look good and feel great. My attempts to get fit tended to go thru phases, including the infamous do nothing phases.

I tried aerobic workouts for a while, inspired by the Jane Fonda workout. I bought the stripy socks, the leotard (I definately didn't look as good as she did) and the headband.

That was the easy part.It was The exercises that actually take it out of you.

People rushed to join a gym  like lambs to the slaughter ready and willing to work out to the beat of the fitness instuctors drums. It all looks so easy when celebrities do aerobic workouts, and they all seem to have some sort of fitness DVD on the market.

 Everyone gets in on the act, models, actresses and winners of reality TV shows all don the gear and talk knowingly about cardiovascular this and cardiovascular that. I'm sure some of them don't have any idea about what they are saying though,but they all look oh so great, with perfect bodies, teeth, hair and skin. You want to be like them, and aerobic workouts seem to be the answer to our prayers. We buy the gear and we load the DVD, the music is pumping and so are we.

The trouble with me is I don't have the self discipline to stick with something long term and see the effects. I get bored after a few weeks and I want to try something else or the latest exercise fad. I went from aerobic workouts to kick boxing to yoga, back to aerobics, to jogging, weight training and to Tai Chi. My body is confused. It doesn't know which muscles are going to be challenged next ( and I found a few I didn't know existed).

For me going to a gym is a depressing experience. No one else there looks as if they need to go. They perform on the running machines so effortlessly.

They prop up their magazines on the machines, whilst they do their aerobic workouts and never break into a sweat unlike me. They don't make middle aged, overweight people very welcome. I never feel like I belong there, so I'd much rather jump on my exercise bike at home where I don't have an audience or feel uncomfortable.

Cycling and swimming are supposed to be really good exercise for the heart and you don't need an exclusive gym membership.

I really should pick an activity and stick to it. Celebrities of course, have a fitness trainer. I think that's what I need, someone to push me to my limits. I need a hard taskmaster, to make me do my aerobic workouts regularly and tell me I look good in lycra, even if I don't.