ADD-friendly physical activity advice needed

June 19, 2007 6:22 AM

Help me find an ADD-friendly physical activity. Looks like there's

Here are the two halves of the problem :

Part One : I have ADD. Repetitive activities bore me to death. Going to a gym or a sport center or a tennis club or whatever every wednesday at 10 is a repetitive activity. I will get bored an un-motivated around week 3.

Part Two : A little exercice resulting in a few pounds less would start a pleasant virtuous circle in my life.

So the big question is : what kind of exercice, sport, preferably outdoor physical activity or whatever will allow me to use my muscles to burn some fat while not becoming bored to death by the repetition of it all ?

Useful details :

- I own a bike. I'm looking for something gentle at the start (closer to yoga than squash) but that's negotiable.

- mid-thirties, single I live in Brussels (Belgium).

posted by Baud to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (22 answers total)

Hiking, preferably to the top of something. Nothing ever made me focus more than when I was working my way up to a summit. I’d just sort of get into a zone, focusing on one step at a time, until I got to the top. It’s perfect for ADD, it doesn’t require much organization beyond packing your gear, which is what checklists are for. You can do it in a group or alone (provided you’re experiences enough and/or you’re not going anywhere too remote) and you can do it in all kinds of weather, as long as you’re prepared for it.

Rock climbing is similar, even in a gym, though that takes a bit more commitment.
posted by bondcliff at 6:28 AM on June 19, 2007

I gave banjo lessons to some grade school kids once, and found that the two most focussed students had ADHD. The same kids that were bouncing off the walls in class had a laser-like intensity when practicing new banjo licks. The teachers were puzzled. According to my son, the Special Ed teacher, it's because they don't have enough to concentrate on when they are just listening, but banjo gives them something to occupy all (or at least more) facets of their mind and body. With this in mind, I suggest something that combines body and mind, like a soft martial art: Tai Chi, or judo, or dance lessons.
posted by RussHy at 6:52 AM on June 19, 2007

Do they have paintball fields in Belgium?
posted by caddis at 7:01 AM on June 19, 2007

Seeing that you mentioned your bike, isn't that essentially what you'd want. It's easy to start slowly on a bike, and when riding in the street, or a trail, there's many different factors to pay attention to that (for me at least) keep ADD in check.

If you're really out of shape, start off on an exercise bike, and watch television, read, or play video games until you're in shape enough to ride.
posted by drezdn at 7:16 AM on June 19, 2007

Something competitive, like soccer?
posted by amtho at 7:22 AM on June 19, 2007

Bike, but in traffic. Don't know if Belgium's the same, but in the US, cycling with cars is both great exercise and requires a good deal of concentration. I know my mind isn't wandering when I do it.

Depending on how hard you're working, you might not need the traffic to stay focused; exercise alone of course will help.
posted by RikiTikiTavi at 7:52 AM on June 19, 2007

I have ADD, and I don't know why, but running really works for me. Maybe it's that it's sufficiently gruelling that I don't have a chance to be bored. And when I'm really on it about my running, I find that the rigorous cardio actually helps keep the ADD under control.
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 7:55 AM on June 19, 2007

Oh, and I should have said: If you go decide to go the running route, this is a good, gentle way to start.
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 7:59 AM on June 19, 2007

In Belgium, cycling with traffic is sort of a political statement. You see, on that side of the pond they actually have bike infrastructure (whereas here we have no choice). So cycling in traffic is probably a faux pas.
posted by phrontist at 8:15 AM on June 19, 2007

Dance Dance Revolution.

Or start replacing some of your car trips with bike trips.
posted by dagnyscott at 8:27 AM on June 19, 2007 [1 favorite]

I have most of the characteristics associated with ADD, and I have really embraced the sport of triathlon. No, you don't need to be an ironman to get into it - short 'sprint' races are well within the capability of anyone who can walk a few miles already - check out Beginner Triathlete for some couch-to-sprint plans and more. . The beauty of triathlon for me is that the training is varied. I do 4-5 workouts a week, and they're all different, combinations of the below:

Long slow run, indoors or out
Fast or interval run on treadmill with timed program
Long bike ride, indoors or out
Fast or interval ride
Distance swim
Swim workout concentrating on technique or speed

With each of these I do strength training beforehand, either core, upper, or lower body. Then, when training up to a race, the last month can include 'bricks,' where you're doing a bike/run or swim/bike combo.

Mix'n'match! Indoors or out! Fast or slow! Whole-body activity! Rounded development! Different equipment! Many workout choices variable with mood! Fun fun races!
posted by Miko at 8:28 AM on June 19, 2007 [1 favorite]

Rockclimbing! It is incredibly challenging and loads of fun. Get a few friends and find a local rock climbing gym.

This is great for ADD people because its like solving a puzzle... except your body is the piece in play and you have to get it to the top of the route. You can always learn more about how to train to get the most from your time on the rock. And when you aren't actively climbing, you can usually find someone to shoot the shit with at the gym/outdoor wall wherever you are, so you're never too bored.

Also it strenthens your upper body and gives you hulking forearms.
posted by ijoyner at 8:54 AM on June 19, 2007

Other people beat me to DDR and biking, so I'll suggest trying one of every different class at the gym. Most gyms these days have a huge variety.
posted by Zed_Lopez at 8:56 AM on June 19, 2007

DDR sounds perfect.
posted by caddis at 9:01 AM on June 19, 2007

More dancing - what about folk dancing like contra or English Country Dance? It's a great activity with lots of movement, it's social, and it can move so quickly and require so much attention that you don't have time to let your mind wander (that's my experience with ECD, anyway).
posted by cadge at 10:03 AM on June 19, 2007

I'm very ADD myself...Martial arts are the only thing exercise wise that I can do consistently -- have been doing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Thai Kickboxing, and the different people, the different lessons, the sparring, etc keeps things very variegated and interesting.
posted by wonderwisdom at 11:52 AM on June 19, 2007

I have severe ADD, and I love the sport of fencing. It engages every part of your body, including your mind, and can be a hell of a workout.
posted by nursegracer at 2:56 PM on June 19, 2007

I don't have time to read the comments before me - but my $0.02:
I've got a close relative who has rather severe ADHD (among other things), and had had something like 4 years of occupational therapy but still couldn't mange to use his hands and feet independently, until somebody let him sit behind a drum kit. When he was 6 and without lessons, he could keep up with me who'd had at least a year of lessons. The key is to have to focus on as many parts of your body as possible - you can't get bored that way. He's had recommendations of fencing and martial arts - he's only young so he doesn't have many options yet - but good luck in whatever you choose.
posted by cholly at 4:10 PM on June 19, 2007

How about orienteering? It has the physical challenge of hiking (as suggested by others) and the mental challenge of navigating and calculating. Also, racing against others (or other teams) spices it up a bit.

Alternatively - and I have no idea if this would be effective when you have ADD - distract yourself by listening to podcasts while doing whatever exercise you settle on.
posted by Lucie at 5:44 PM on June 19, 2007

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Wii. I'm AD/HD, and I love Wii. I also love DDR.
posted by dantekgeek at 6:00 PM on June 19, 2007

I am a certified adhd spazz, and I have found 2 things that really keep me motivated. Most competitive 1 on 1 sports have the combo package of t he buddy system (it'll keep you showi'ng up, which may be the most important part), and all-around intensity (wandering off generally isn't feasible), so they are a good choice. But the best thing for my body and mind is the plodding pace of skulling. I'm not very coordinated, so finding the rowing groove (the one that lets me move slow and the boat move fast!) is a challenge every time. The reduction in proscrastination in my life in general is balanced by my impossibly toned arms, legs, back, and abs. It's the best.
posted by modernpoverty at 8:38 PM on June 19, 2007

I found hard walking while listening to appropriate music worked well for me. This was in the 90's, so the music was electronica. The beats help. YMMV

Biking works well for me too, but I don't know Brussles, beyond semi-bad impressions gleaned from the prejudiced eye of my partner, from Antwerpen :-)) But bike works for me in part because I relive the joy of my childhood.

DDR worked nice until the matt broke, but I was getting bored with the music.
posted by Goofyy at 7:58 AM on June 20, 2007