Lazy Girls' Guide to Exercise

Would you rather sit in a comfy chair, sipping tea and playing on the Internet than breaking a sweat with exercise? Join the club. The Lazy Girls Exercise Club that is. Listen, we all know we have to get the heart rate going, put that muscle to use and burn off all the Mother's cookies you ate the night before while watching Seinfeld reruns. This guide isn't for those mutants who absolutely love to exercise. If you're compelled to do your ten mile run every day or can't wait to suffer through a tortuous yoga or Pilate's class because it 'feels so good', then read no further.

We at the Lazy Girls Exercise Club know exercise hurts and it sucks. Those of us that are honest believe this to be true. But like a lot of life, it doesn't matter how you feel about something, you just have to do it. The benefits of consistently working out the body overrule the objections. According to the Mayo Clinic, exercise is like a magic potion for the body, without the magic. Exercise can improve your mood, combat diseases, manage your weight, strengthen your heart, promote better sleep and last but not least, put the spark back in your sex life! The last one alone should be enough to convince you, that you gotta do it! Here are some tips to help you overcome your laziness.

1. Cute clothes. Okay, at first this looks like a joke, but it really works. Don't go out for a walk and/or to the gym in your torn Haines t-shirt and over sized grey sweats. At least not at first. Budget yourself a few cute pairs of black Lycra yoga pants and a colorful sweat resistant shirt. You don't have to break the bank by going to high end sporting good stores and buying all the Nike and Puma in sight. Walmart and Target have a lot of quality exercise clothes to get you started.

2. A pair of shoes and a bra. Instead of running out and buying a gym membership you might not use, invest in a good pair of shoes and a sports bra that fits. Being uncomfortable is the number one excuse for not exercising and these two little items will solve that problem pronto.

3. Take a friend. Ultimately having a regular walking/exercise partner is the best, but if you can't pin anyone down, take your cell phone and ear bud and start calling people. I have a couple of friends who live too far too actually meet. We meet on the phone and do our power walks. Talking while we go makes the time fly.

4. Take talk radio. So you have no friends you can talk with or walk with? Take Rush Limbaugh or Al Franken. Talk radio is a great alternative if you don't have a partner. It's a good idea to listen to a host that you agree with otherwise you'll end up being extremely annoyed on your workout. If you like the adrenaline of deeply disagreeing with someone's left wing liberal or right wing conservative politics however, go for it! At the very least you'll be informed on the latest news, albeit with a biased opinion, but as with exercise, you can mix this up too and contemplate all points of view. If you can't walk at times when your favorite shows are on, download the podcast and listen to it at your convienance.

5. Change your routine. The biggest complaint people have with exercise is that it's boring and repetitive. Change it up! If you walk or jog a certain route, go the opposite route. Go to another part of the area you live to walk. Walk the track at your local high school and observe local teenage customs. Hike your hills. Get on your bike. If you live near water and it's warm, swim. Get on the elliptical instead of the treadmill. Try Tai Chi, instead of yoga. Monotony is a killer. Whatever you do on a regular basis needs to be shaken up every once in awhile to keep you at the top of your game. Remember it's all for the greater good, because after you're done, you can go back to that chair, have your green tea and surf the net to your hearts content knowing that your heart is grateful for the work out!