Seriously hate exercising...tips?

starz160

Hey everyone. I hope I'm not the only one with this problem but I absolutely HATE exercising! I don't get the "high" everyone else does. I just get bored and crabby. I see a lot of pictures of success stories of people running in 5K's, etc. Realistically, I can never see myself wanting to do those kind of things. Even when I was thin, I hated running. Does anyone have any advice to make exercise more enjoyable? I listen to music but watch the clock tick down minute by minute praying that the exercise is over soon. I need help!!!

kimault1984

You don't have to exercise to lose weight, just eat less. Works for me

cheshirecatastrophe

Join an adult sports league. Walk your dog. Walk with a friend/walk while talking on the phone with a long-distance friend. Walk around a local park or botanical garden taking photos of pretty flowers. Buy a bike off Craigslist! (A real bike, not a stationary one. And also get a helmet). Take dance lessons! Dance like an idiot in your house while singing along to your favorite pop songs. Try learning dances off YouTube videos. Maybe investigate a weightlifting program? If you must be on cardio machines, flip a towel over the machine so you can't see the clock.

Basically, find something you enjoy. Or else load up Netflix on your tablet and grudge through an episode of Supernatural. At least you'll always know the Winchesters are having a worse time than you.

ETA: You can certainly lose *weight* without exercise, but strength training is important for women as we get older, and cardio is phenomenal, even necessary, for long-term heart and lung health.

EmmaFitzwilliam

I've mostly done the "eat less" route. There are some advantages to exercising - weight lifting can tone the muscles which results in better support for the fat and skin layers. I say "mostly" because I do walk on the order of 2.5 miles a day.

Yoga and any form of dance can also be enjoyable in and of themselves.

Life is too short to sentence yourself to something you hate in your free time. Have you ever played bocce ball? Do you like any sport? Take up geocaching. There are a number of ways to get in movement without taking a <class> or chaining yourself to a treadmill.

JoRocka

find something else to do or don't exercise.

or recognize that exercise isn't for your entertainment- most people look for it to be pure fun- it's not a movie- it's not a game- it's not a fun night out. (well my idea of a fun night out IS friday night at the gym- but that's me).

Find something that you don't mind doing and do that- hiking- horse back riding- kyaking- tennis/raquet ball. Dancing- Fencing- rock climbing- walking. There's about a million things in the world that are interesting to do that are physically demanding- seems like it's awfully hard to say you've tried them all and hate them all.

But ultimately you don't HAVE to work out to lose weight- just watch what you put in your pie hole and you'll lose weight.

mbaker566

do things that are fun and aren't necessarily exercise.
dance, zumba, hiking, pole, etc.

I don't belong to a gym, I do belong to a yoga studio-because I think it's fun. I walk and run but I started with short walks with the dog. and decided I wanted to run to see more results, but it certainly isn't required

TeaBea

cheshirecatastrophe wrote: »

Join an adult sports league. Walk your dog. Walk with a friend/walk while talking on the phone with a long-distance friend. Buy a bike off Craigslist! (A real bike, not a stationary one. And also get a helmet). Take dance lessons! Maybe investigate a weightlifting program? If you must be on cardio machines, flip a towel over the machine so you can't see the clock.

Basically, find something you enjoy. Or else load up Netflix on your tablet and grudge through an episode of Supernatural. At least you'll always know the Winchesters are having a worse time than you.

This^

Keep trying new things. Find something you enjoy. For me exercise isn't just a help to lose the weight - it's a must to keep the weight off. Exercise is a lifestyle change for me.

jgnatca

If your goal is weight loss, don't worry about the exercise part. You can lose a lot of weight by restricting calories.

Life is too short to keep doing things you hate. Maybe one day you will find an activity you enjoy.

cwolfman13

do something you like doing...why does everyone seem think it has to be running...if I'm running, it is more likely than not that some very bad *kitten* is about to go down...I prefer cycling myself and also do a bit of hiking and swimming and walk my dog most evenings.

Find something you enjoy doing that involves moving...voila...you're exercising.

jgnatca

http://www.ted.com/talks/emily_balcetis_why_some_people_find_exercise_harder_than_others?language=en

CSARdiver

Find something you enjoy that incorporates exercise. Exercise is intended to be a path to a larger goal - better, faster, stronger.

How long have to stuck with it? Like anything else you have to expose yourself to it before you settle on something you enjoy.

maria15x

kimault1984 wrote: »

You don't have to exercise to lose weight, just eat less. Works for me

Personally I don't think eating less is really a great alternative. While yeah you will almost definitely lose weight, I think it's important to stay fit. Doesn't have to be running, as I know running can kind of suck, but idk find something that you find bearable. Even something as simple as walking. I dont know, hope I kind of help.

AsISmile

It is your choice to exercise or not.

However, if you do want some of the benefits of exercise, just find some way of moving your body that you enjoy. It doesn't necessarily needs to be "exercise" nor does it have to be cardio.
Maybe something water based like water aerobics?
Although I'd think something outdoors might be more suitable, because it is always nice to just step outside after being indoors for a while.

colors_fade

I hate running. But I like walking. Great for clearing your head, and just overall pleasant.

There's probably something out there that you would enjoy. Just have to find it

Wendy1Fl

I was the same way when I first started my weight loss endeavor in my mid twenties. I couldn't stand every minute I was working out, regardless of the activity. Eventually, I did start to enjoy it. It took me obtaining a good cardio base for it to hurt less. I also found that if I could do any activity outdoors (hiking, swimming, even trudging through the deep snow) I felt a lot better about my workout than if I were in a boring indoor setting. I can't stand the gym! Seeing nature, breathing fresh air, and hearing nature sounds all give me a huge boon in my sense of well-being. Also, having a dog with me makes me smile & laugh & takes my mind off the physical exertion. The only indoor exercise I enjoy is Yoga, because it really makes me feel good. I think the best thing for you to do is keep trying different things, in moderation, to find the least horrid, and stick with it for a month before deciding if you hate it or not.

jgnatca

And here I find walking to be deadly boring. Especially on a treadmill or walking in circles on a track. I mean, it's not like I'm getting anywhere! But it turns out I like to run. It is better if I have a destination, like the coffee shop, the library, or a competitive run.

It pays to figure out what you really like, because that's what will stick.

determined_100

I swim a lot its relaxing.... Works muscles and I seen improvement in just weeks. Also dancing is a great exercise and its lots of fun. Good luck ☺

urloved33

grin and bear it. its part of a healthy lifestyle...you do not have to love it or even like it..you just have to do it.

PeachyCarol

Personally, I think grin and bear it is terrible advice.

I always hated exercise too.

A medical diagnosis woke me up and made me face some hard truths, and one of those was that I realized I had some silly ideas about exercise. Exercise didn't HAVE to be this or that. I didn't have to run, I could walk (for example). I'd always enjoyed walking. That was key. It was something I enjoyed.

I had once belonged to a gym and worked with weights. I joined a gym again and started with a trainer working my strength back up.

Reading around the internet, I read a mention of water jogging, and though I hate the idea of running, that appealed to me a LOT, and I gave it a go and ADORE it. That really, really clicked for me. I put on my waterproof mp3 player and zone out. I feel weightless and it's blissful.

The thing is that I kept trying different things I thought I'd enjoy.

Join a bowling league, roller skate, look for a gym with a pool and water walk... there are tons of ways to be physically active. You don't have to push super hard or do Zumba or meet a certain standard. Doing something is better than sitting on the couch, though.

tomatoey

My mom feels the way you do about exercise. She went with the WII fit in the morning, and walking in the evening, and she dances sometimes.

19marialyn

I have found if you force yourself to work out for a week, you make a habit of it and it is not as hard also try doing fun stuff like swimming with friends and family or walking your dog. Working out is easier when someone will do it with you.

999tigger

What they all said about finding something you enjoy . I would say you could reprogram your mind and look at the of being faster, stronger and fitter. Sometimes its hard, sometimes it boring, but when you make progress, it can be really rewarding.

klrenn

Personally, finding physical activities that work my brain as much as my body make me more likely to enjoy them. My goal is to learn something new each year...so far it's been tap dancing and aerial arts - both very physical, but I have to think in order to learn and progress so I stay interested longer.

Maybe think of something like this (dance, yoga, or a self defense class, I like the idea of bowling and roller skating suggested above) so many things that can be internalized as a hobby instead of "exercise"

SpeedRacer13

I don't care to work out either, in the traditional sense. I enjoy biking, hiking, walking and dancing...so I tend to lean towards those activities. I do weight train, although probably NOT as much as I should.

brikachuu

This might sound crazy to some but have you ever tried hypnosis ? I'm a believer that we unconsciously make obstacles for ourselves that keep us from believing we are capable of doing things when in reality we are very much capable. Some people think it's lame, but hey...it wouldn't hurt. I actually have several hypnosis apps on my phone (the only apps I have EVER paid for). One of them is specifically for helping you to enjoy exercise.. In fact its called "enjoy exercise" by surf city apps. I also have the "weight loss" one and I honestly can see the difference in my mind set. There are free versions of the apps you just have to sit through a short "intro" every time. And if they don't help... They're at least extremely relaxing lol

yorkshiregirl67

l like the rowing machine but each to their own. I am looking for a 2nd form of fitness and I am considering skipping!!

Laughter_Girl

I use to be like you OP. I hated exercising too. Exercise was not fun, and I had virtually no interest in it. When I finally decided I wanted to be healthy AND fit, however, I knew I would have to eat less AND exercise. When I initially started exercising (tried zumba, walking, treadmill, elliptical, biking, running, weight lifting, yoga, Pilates, workout classes, etc.), I would tell myself before and during the activity that I was doing this because I had to. Guess what? It's been 1 1/2 years, and there are many days that I still have to tell myself that same thing. There are some exercises that I have grown to enjoy despite not initially wanting to do any of them.

Eating less and exercising has definitely paid off though. I am down 82 lbs., and I am fitter than I've ever been in my adult life. Are there days I don't want to exercise? Certainly. What do I do you ask? I exercise anyway. Why? Because I want to continue to be healthy and fit for the rest of my life.

Once you find the reason behind why you want to exercise, that may give you the motivation to make it more tolerable. Wishing you the best!

demoiselle2014

I used to greatly dislike exercise and said that somehow I--unlike other people--just didn't get that endorphin thing at all. At 27, I started working out regularly to get stronger because I had trouble with heavy doors and stuff like that. That goal kept me going long enough for me to discover that I had to build a certain base of strength and endurance that I'd never had before I started to enjoy it. It also wasn't a sudden endorphin rush that made me start to kind of like exercise--it really makes a difference to notice you feel physically better after exercising (for instance, I found my back was a lot less achy and my posture was better).

That said, everyone is right to suggest you look for an activity you enjoy that is also physically active. My husband and I took up partner dancing a year and a half ago and we go for as many hours a week as we can manage. It feels like fun, but it has really helped me get stronger and gain stamina after an illness.

rileyes

1. Change. Your. Attitude.
2. Join a team sport.
3. Challenge yourself.

Team sports can make you want to get stronger and faster to be better at your game. Release your inner tiger. You may find yourself liking and wanting to lift heavier and move faster during your strength and cardio sessions. Seeing and feeling your muscles is great incouragement too.

Challenge yourself with 5-15 minute body weight exercises if team sports is not your thing. Always try to beat your time. Pop Sugar has an app filled with quick challenges.

Docbanana2002

It helped me get started on exercise when I started working activity into my everyday life. Take the distant parking space at work, take a short walk on a lunch break, bicycle or walk to work, walk to the store if there is one nearby, etc. Is there a destination you could walk to in your neighborhood? I live a mile from Whole Foods, so sometimes I walk there to pick up something I'm out of rather than just adding it to the shopping list. It's just an excuse to get out and have some exercise and fresh air. If I have room in my calorie budget, I might buy me some kind of treat. I am more motivated when I am walking toward a cupcake. Gotta be careful about doing that too often ha ha.

I also find it is helpful if I have some sort of goal for my exercise. Just running aimlessly on a treadmill for a specific period of time is dreadful, I avoid it. Instead set a goal that you are training for, like a 5K race that you will slowly build up to, or to develop the fitness to hike a specific trail that is too challenging right now. Just some goal that will keep you motivated so it isn't just a mindless calorie burning activity but an actual part of accomplishing a fitness goal that is important to you.

Finally, I find it more engaging when my environment is interesting. Like when I hike in a scenic place like the woods or a lake or some interesting place to see. Maybe even a neighborhood with pretty houses to look at. I'm enjoying the view and some quiet time alone, not watching the clock at all. I live near a botanical garden and I have a membership that allows me to walk around anytime. They do yoga in the garden when weather is pretty.

starz160

Thanks for the advice everyone! It's a personal obstacle that I know I can overcome. I just need to get motivated