[strken]

Have you ever heard of the motivational technique where, instead of telling themselves "I'm going for a run", people will say "I'm going to put my shoes on and see how I feel, no commitment and no pressure", and they end up nearly always going for a run anyway plus they do it more often and have more fun?

Also, have you read Dynomight's blog post[0] about how the biggest barrier to starting exercise isn't improving too slowly, it's overtraining and giving up?

This article could be seen as a way to do the minimum exercise possible. I think a better reading is that all exercise is good, you can spend five minutes on the exercise bike or do a few leg raises and push-ups, no pressure, it's still good for you, and maybe tomorrow you'll go for a run or make it to the gym.

[0] https://dynomight.net/2021/01/25/how-to-run-without-all-the-...

[delis-thumbs-7e]

Yes. I ran a half-marathon few years back when I used to box actively (didn’t compete, but sparred competitors). I woke up early 3 times a week to do 5km run no matter the weather. These days I just lift heavy weights. I think I know every motivational technique there is at this point.

What matters is that you move, consistently, every week, for years, for rest of your life. I’m kinda person who wants to just lay on bed and eat potato chips drinking beer. I used to start some regime or another, always getting bored after few month. Then I just found types of sports and exercises that worked for me and company they are fun to do with, and guess what, I need almost zero motivation to lift some several thousands of kg’s of iron every week.

Consistency, intensity, motivation. Best motivation is fun, especially fun with other people.

[strken]

Good for you, but that is entirely you describing your life and doesn't address the point.

Which was that, if "what matters is that you move, consistently, every week", then it's motivational to tell sedentary people that pretty much any amount of exercise will do. Once you get over the initial activation energy then exercise is easier.

[delis-thumbs-7e]

It addresses the point exactly. I doscuss my experience to show I quote know what I am talking about. Any amount of exercise is pnly good for long run if you do it consistently, with enough intensity and for long time. Your 5min ab workout that you manage to keep up for two weeks is basically meaningless. 5000 steps, 15min workouts, 30min jogs, there has been plenty of this fads and no, they do not get people moving in the long term. Forcing yourself to put on running shoes every morning works up to a point when it doesn’t - you get injured, ill, meet someone, Christmas, summer vacation abroad, new job, anything. And you won’t go back, because you hated running in the first place.

What does, is getting a hobby where you move. It might be chasing butterflies or Freestyle Wrestling, doesn’t matter as long as you think it is fun.

I don’t know why you argue when I’m basically giving a cheat code how to start enjoying sports and exercising. If you enjoy something you do it more, what is here to argue?