What are your favorite physical activities or exercises?

It’s very easy to make a list of my least favorite physical activities or exercises. Although some may disagree, I tend to not like running much, as I feel the side stitch easily and it was running that caused me to tear my meniscus earlier this year. I do, however, like running/walking on the track inside the gym to Europe’s “The Final Countdown” though, running full out when the chorus comes up with that still catchy instrumental hook.

The older I get, the more I dislike workouts that force me to bend my knees. Movements like lunges (in all their variations) and squats are great ones to build strength, but I tend to like to be able to walk in the evenings as well as the next two days, so I’m not much of a fan!

What workout moves do I actually like?

My list of “go-to” activities and exercises is a pretty decent-sized list, and even includes some leg-bending within it! Here are some of my favorite moves:

PUSH-UPS

For me, there is no better foundational exercise than this simple bodyweight option. It works with so many other exercises (HIIT for instance) and can be done easily while waiting for your next machine.

BURPEES

Difficult move, but what other exercise is so well-equipped to work your entire body?

TURKISH GET-UPS

Speaking of being equipped to work your entire body, this “from the ground to fully standing” exercise is extra challenging when holding a kettlebell precariously over your head.

WORKOUTS DISGUISED AS GAMES

A number of years ago, I got back into fitness by attending a boot camp style training class. Our coaches used fitness expertise combined with exceptional creativity to create workouts that never repeated exactly the same way and were so much fun to take part in that you forgot you were working out. Who’s with me for Workout Family Feud or Workout Dodgeball?

SKATERS

Here’s a leg-killer, but in a good way. Plus, it incorporates your arms as well. Just be careful with your knee and ankle joints!

KETTLEBELL GOBLET SQUAT

Here’s another compound exercise that works both your upper and lower body. There’s something oddly satisfying about completing a set without dropping the kettlebell or scratching your smart watch with the kettlebell in process.

BOX JUMPS

There is this guy at my gym that I swear can box jump six feet straight up and land and stick it like he’s an Olympic gymnast. I enjoy the challenge of jumping and landing without either 1) slipping and risking breaking my ankle or 2) scraping my shins bad on the fall back down to the ground.

MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS

These I remember from elementary school (along with crab soccer and the rope climb to the ceiling of the gymnasium). Another great but simple fundamental move that isn’t terribly hard on your body to complete.

BENCH PRESS

This move provides a needed sense of accomplishment within a workout and is such a pivotal part of building your upper body that to leave it off the list would be unthinkable. It’s simple and it’s powerful. Enough said.

BARBELL SHRUG

Love this move for my shoulders. Sometimes other moves put undue stress on my shoulders, but this simple move with appropriate weight (and a good playlist) works wonders!

ELLIPTICAL

As I mentioned earlier, I tore my meniscus (the same one actually twice) while working out my legs with running and once while simply stepping out of my Honda Civic. Using an elliptical machine allows me to work my knees while controlling the pressure and intensity of the machine itself. Again, a great playlist makes a half hour go by in no time at all!

PULL-UPS

For me, there is no other exercise that can be used as a measuring stick to show just how much success you’re having with a workout regimen. How many unassisted pull-ups can you do? There’s your answer!

KICKBOXING

From my own experience, this activity is one that produces the most sweat and ongoing DOMS for a day or so after. There’s something so satisfying about simply wailing on a bag to workout your body or work out your frustration from a hard day.

DIPS

Similar to pull-ups, unassisted dips to me are a great exercise to assess your upper body strength and the need to adjust your workouts in the future to build on that strength.

WALKING

Simple. No age limit. Picturesque. What could be a better fitness activity than walking every day. Fitness watches are based on it. Heck, even Forest Gump got into it (or was that running)?

SUPERMANS

Last on my list are these face to the ground ab-enhancing exercises. Feeling like you’re flying like a superhero in the midst of a workout seems so right.

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A bit long today for a “Daily Prompt” entry, but it’s a great topic and one I love to share and learn more with my subscribers. What are your favorite workout options when it comes to exercising? What do you dislike? Take a moment to add a comment and share with my readers!