It definitely helps. I know some who just force themselves to do something because they recognize they have to but that is really hard.
I enjoy variety. I am more focused on endurance than strength training (cycling, running, a rowing machine and an elliptical in the basement), but for strength have a set of rings in the yard to do pull ups and dips, and dumbbells of various weights. I have a balance ball that I use both for body weight exercises designed for balance ball and as my bench for presses. I have a balance disc that I do a variety of exercises while standing on, and I have a 10 pound steel mace that I do a variety of exercises with, including on the balance disc. I had been rucking up and down stairs with a weighted pack as well training for a hike but the hike is done and likely will phase that out.
For me that’s play.
The key I believe is stressing the system, enough but not too much, and allowing recovery. And gradual progression. Weights are a straightforward tool to use but so are many other approaches. Body weight progressions that include skill building are also great and fun challenges for some.
For me: CrossFit. I’d been doing some form of it since 2008, but only went “brand name” in 2016. I know it gets a “cult” label, and is stereotyped as a bunch of acrobatic meatheads, but of the seven or eight “boxes” I’ve visited around the country (besides the one in my hometown), its a wide variety of ages and abilities in each class.
But between a cool, fun group of friends to work out with, I really cleaned up the nutrition–thanks to the lack of travel due to COVID. Since '20, I’ve dropped and kept off 25 lbs. I’m in better shape now than I was on active duty.
Yeah, I get it. . . I sound like a shill. Not my intent, i just found some structured, consistent plans that works for me.
I used to be a semi-serious runner, but I have a lot of miles on my leg joints at this point. I’ve been running regularly for around 45 years now, and now “regularly” is 4-5 miles three times a week. We just got a dog, so I’ve been walking him around an hour every morning. It’s not very fast walking due to his sniffing. I also work out with light dumbbells, moving veeeerrrrryyyy slowly. I read about this somewhere, and it’s worked very well. My arms are more ripped than when I did pushups. I’ve also limited my beer consumption to a couple per month, which probably has a lot to do with me dropping 10 pounds in the last 6 months.