I Hate Exercise
Replies
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I don't do exercise I really hate. Maybe you should find something you like?2
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Op, you are not alone - I hate exercising too. For all the reasons you've stated.2
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Is there a question?2
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What's to hate about cycling down a quiet country road, breathing fresh air, taking in the scenery, listening to the birds.
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Hi everybody! OP here. Thank you all for weighing in. I appreciate both the suggestions and the commiserations
You've asked some great questions, and I'll try to address them. (Warning - this may get long-ish.)
1. Find an exercise - or adjust current exercise - so that I'm not tired all the time. I have been doing both weights (mostly dumbbells and bodyweight stuff) and cardio (going for a walk/jog). The parts of me that are the achiest are my calves and feet, so I'm guessing that comes from my cardio. The thing is, I don't feel like I'm doing that much. I'm out for about 40 minutes, and only about 15% of that is jogging, which I added in about two weeks ago. It just doesn't seem like I'm doing that much??? It doesn't seem like what I'm doing should be making me feel this sore and tired. Of course, as a teacher, I'm on my feet a LOT during the day. I'm just not sure what to do about this to make my feet not hurt. After reading everyone's responses, right now my plan is to cut cardio and just do weights for maybe the next two weeks, and just see how my body responds.
2. Find an activity that I enjoy. Okay, so I like dancing. Zumba is a type of cardio I enjoy. But classes are too much of a drain on time (getting to the gym) and money. Here's my question, @ws2016 - how do I not feel embarrassed by the fact that at home, by myself, when I do Zumba, everything shakes? Our house is on a foundation, not a concrete slab, and so if I do any cardio IN the house, the bookshelves and cabinets wiggle and everything rattles and I feel like a freaking elephant.
BTW, @jgnatca, I have Pokemon Go and would love to be able to play, but it requires cell service with a data plan. The game itself is free; its required tech is not.
@girlwithcurls2, swimming is definitely something I'm interested in. There's a community fitness center near where my mom lives that I could drop in at for just $3/session. So the cost is minimal - mostly it's a time issue. It'd be 3 hours out of my day just to pack, travel, change, exercise, shower, change, travel home. But that might be something we could do together on weekends. That'd make it likely 5 hours... but I get along well with my mom, so that's not a bad thing
I work Saturdays through October, but after that it might be a good option!
@rickthexpreacher, maybe weights instead of cardio? You might be able to sit in a chair and use a therapy band without too much stress to your respiratory system. Also, check with your dr about whether singing would be good for you. Sounds weird, but it's a non-exercise-y way to build lung capacity. Bopping along to your favorite tunes (there are lots of karaoke tracks on youtube!) could be really helpful!
3. Eating enough to support exercise. Granted, this is an assumption, because I am crap at logging. But I'm not losing weight (over the past 3 weeks) which makes me fairly certain I'm not at a calorie deficit. That IS a reasonable deduction, right?
4. Eating the right stuff to support exercise. Protein noted! Planning to lift weights this morning and have a spinach-and-cheese egg scramble after. Also, I picked up some Powerade Zero at the grocery store to add in some potassium and magnesium. Hoping that helps! Other ideas SUPER welcome
5. What I'm trying to accomplish... @kimny72, that is a very good question. I think what sent me into my downward spiral was when my husband (bless his heart) tried to encourage me by saying I was getting healthier. And... I don't feel like I am? Or at least, I don't feel like there's any particular need to be healthier than I am. At 6'1" and 190, I'm overweight but just barely. I'm able to do pretty much everything I enjoy. The things I can't do (well) are more a matter of skill or muscle memory, not strength or endurance. I think clearer goals would definitely help. I teach. Our school has a JROTC program. I think it would be fun to be able to drop and do 50 push-ups with my students. I think that would surprise and amuse them. I'd like to be able to run 3 miles (5k) without having to stop and gasp for air, so that I could run alongside our cross country team. I'd like to be able to do drills beside the football players to encourage them to keep going. If I can do it, so can you, right? (Only I don't know that I can do that yet!)
6. Do I *want* to exercise? @cnbbnc, I'm actually pretty good at forcing myself to do things I don't want to do. But I'm not seeing results that make me feel like it's a worthwhile expenditure of my time, energy, and resources. Usually, it doesn't actually make me miserable. But it's never something I enjoy or look forward to. It's something I do because I should - or because I feel like I should. I'm not sure that's reason enough.
So, after reading all of your wonderful, thought-provoking responses, thinking it over, talking about it with my husband, current plan is to stop cardio and focus on weights for the next two weeks, and see what happens. Also, to talk to my mom about maybe going swimming on the weekends starting in November. I know this is a huge post, so if you've bothered to read all of it, thanks! And if you have other ideas or suggestions, I'd love to hear them. I really, really do appreciate your responses.12 -
I know lots of people have already said it, but definitely stop doing whatever you're doing if you really, really hate it! As far as the Zumba goes, who cares if the furniture shakes? Dance as if nobody is watching. I dance all over my house throughout the day, whenever the mood strikes. My fur babies are used to it, as is my husband.
I haven't seen anyone mention this in previous posts, but maybe you should also have a physical exam. Make sure you're healthy enough for the things you've been doing. Out of breath from cardio when you've been doing it awhile is a concern. Not to suggest you have anything serious, but perhaps anemic or vitamin deficiency.
I want to throw in a couple exercises that I do that are fun - disc golf and aquasize. Love workouts in the pool. Love throwing plastic frisbees at baskets with my husband (not at him). That's not just a workout, it's a blast! Last time I picked apples off a tree in the middle of the course (akin to picking up the leaf).
Carpe diem!2 -
OP, congratulations on moving from rant to action plan. That's impressive and inspiring.
Your doing so somewhat renders my first thought less useful, but I'm going to make the observation anyway, because there may be folks reading for whom it could resonate:
Don't self-define as "hating exercise". It's a super-broad statement. It's a very extreme statement, very black & white. I've seen so many people among my acquaintances self-define into a tiny, safe, unproductive and often unhappy box (about many things, not just exercise), leaving themselves no room for growth or change.
There's both a tiny conceptual shift, and at the same time a big gulf between "I hate exercise" and (say) "I haven't found the right kind of enjoyable activity yet" or "I'm finding my current exercise routine unsatisfying and unenjoyable". The latter ideas create mental space for change, for new ideas, new options.
\clicketykeys wrote: »(much amazing good stuff snipped)
2. Find an activity that I enjoy. Okay, so I like dancing. Zumba is a type of cardio I enjoy. But classes are too much of a drain on time (getting to the gym) and money. Here's my question, @ws2016 - how do I not feel embarrassed by the fact that at home, by myself, when I do Zumba, everything shakes? Our house is on a foundation, not a concrete slab, and so if I do any cardio IN the house, the bookshelves and cabinets wiggle and everything rattles and I feel like a freaking elephant. BTW, @jgnatca, I have Pokemon Go and would love to be able to play, but it requires cell service with a data plan. The game itself is free; its required tech is not.
(more goodness snipped)
Your house is dancing with you. I think that's pretty cool. Nice intensity, @clicketykeys! But if it really bugs you, would trying a low-impact version make a difference (and maybe take some stress off your feet, which seem to be one of your challenging body areas)?5 -
Lovely explanation of all that you are thinking and feeling. I'll throw in a few random thoughts.
Your final goals seem to be to portray an adult that has got it all together; one tough lady. Might it be just as important lesson to portray an adult with regular failings, who doesn't yet have it all together, but tries anyways? How would the team react if you came in and did three trembling push-ups?
I like your new plan.
Oh, by the way, with Pokemon Go I've scouted out all the local Pokestops and gyms in Wi-Fi zones. Check the library and the local colleges.1 -
I recommend starting out by just doing a few walks here and there then get more into some yoga or slight abs or legs then keep growing. This will help your body feel and grow better when you ease your way into working out instead of going full force to quick. If you ever need more help don't be afraid to ask me!1
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How dare you. I kid.. But seriously, once you've been at it for a good while you'll learn to love it. It's natural to dislike doing something you suck at. I sucked at playing the piano at first now I'm f**king awesome. It takes time. And also, like someone said, don't do exercises you genuinely hate. For example squats. Atm I'm not really a big fan of squatting. So I go heavy, do a few reps and I keep it moving. Or for you, you can just cut out what you don't like completely.2
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I don't love exercise. I try to think of it like brushing my teeth.
Start with smaller amounts of exercise like 10 minute workouts. If your feet hurt you may need to dial back from 40 min walks/jogs even if you feel fine otherwise until they stop hurting. Maybe get different shoes. Stretch your feet. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/plantar-fasciitis/multimedia/foot-stretches-to-prevent-plantar-fasciitis/img-20008230
There are lots of free workouts on you tube. I like Jessica Smith tv because she is positive and has a cute dog in many of her videos.
There are dancing games like Just Dance. Maybe it would shake the house less than Zumba?
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2004-05-15/news/0405150286_1_floor-coffee-table-room Exercise in a basement or garage area if your floor is very bouncy or fix your floors. http://www.familyhandyman.com/floor/repair/fixing-bouncy-floors/view-all1 -
OP, good for you on taking what was said to heart and really examining what's going on to try and find a solution.
I hope you find answers on what works for you. I'd like to add to what already said, if fatigue is really and truly a problem, maybe a physical is in order to see if there's a biological reason for this. I was suffering some incredible fatigue and I found out that I had low iron, so while I was functioning in day to day life and slept slightly more, exercise pushed me over the edge.
One more thing, I find that if I'm extra achy, I need to stretch more, deep intensive stretches and while this an immediate cure all, it does help.2 -
You already have the answer: find something you like. I love weight lifting, so it's easy for me to go to the gym every day. If you find something you like, it'll be easy for you to stay active.0
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Well the good news is that you don't HAVE to exercise to lose weight. The bad news is that if you're trying to enhance your body, other than plastic surgery, you aren't going to do it without a decent exercise program. So if you like your shape, then don't worry about exercise. Just lose body fat by being on a constant calorie deficit.clicketykeys wrote: »I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate the way I feel while I'm doing it (tired, out of breath, sometimes nauseated, achey). I hate how I feel afterward (tired and sweaty). I hate the way I feel the next several days (tired, tender, achey). I hate how much time it takes out of my days. I hate how poor it makes me feel, because gym memberships and equipment don't come cheap and most of it I can manage with bodyweight stuff and dumbbells but pull-ups just aren't a possibility.
I hate feeling weak and tired. When I don't exercise, I don't feel weak. I'm able to do everything that my day requires and I have energy for other stuff that I want to do. When I exercise, I feel tired all the time. I'm sick of it. I hate it. Did I mention that I hate it? I don't think it's possible to convey how much I hate it right now.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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Then don't do it. Simple as that. What time are you referring to? I finish my entire routine in just over an hour.1
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How about doing your Zumba outdoors? Take your tablet, laptop, phone to the backyard and do it there. I guess it depends where you live but for us Autumn is the perfect time to work out outdoors. That might help with the shaking thing. Just a suggestion.0
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OP, you mentioned cutting cardio and doing weights. You also mentioned not seeing results from what you were doing. Just wanted to chime in to say I saw the best results from minimizing cardio, and focusing on lifting and calories.0
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If your feet hurt from walking it might be you don't have the right shoes for you. You could have flat feet or not have enough support. You can also take 3 ten minute walks throughout the day.3
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med2ironic wrote: »If your feet hurt from walking it might be you don't have the right shoes for you. You could have flat feet or not have enough support. You can also take 3 ten minute walks throughout the day.
I was going to suggest the same, a trip to a good running shoe store where someone can look at your gait and make some recommendations. Also I think your running form is off if your body is compensating by stressing your lower legs. It's very important to stengthen your legs, hip muscles and core before taking on running. By the way, a weight
lifting routine that does just that will give you a goal to shoot for when doing things like squats, deadlifts, leg presses, abductors, and ab exercises. And I would include calf stretches. Good luck!2 -
I think turn your thoughts around, negative to positive.
Find something that YOU enjoy, dancing, bowling, even walking around the shopping center countsvas excerise. I got bored too, now I mix
It up, gym is definitely not for everyone. Feeling tired achey is a part of life.
Make pain your friend! Don't make up excuses not to excerise. Slowly build up.
Any enjoy it, smell the roses.1 -
Your comments to people's suggestions notwithstanding, you'll never keep doing something you hate. And, you don't have to exercise to lose weight.
There are a lot of things other than formal exercise that can contribute to an active lifestyle. The bottom line is that people are healthier if they're active.
Your post let us know how much you hate exercise. I saw that you didn't ask for help, so I hope anyone who offered "solutions," doesn't get upset if you ignore them. I also hope you feel better for getting that off your chest.0 -
If your house is raised, have you tried low impact workouts? They don't require a bunch of jumping around so you don't have to worry about things falling down everywhere. I do them in my house and the only thing that sorta moves is this tin display case I have which moves all the time anyway.0
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I am not a big fan of exercise either, but I do it because it is very beneficial to good health.
How about walking? It is free, easy and you can do it anywhere. I started out by just walking more. Almost 2 years ago I got a gym membership and found that I like the elliptical. I still don't really enjoy exercising, but I go to the gym very early, before work, every morning and I really "love" having my exercising done for the day before I get to work. It is a big relief to have my exercising out of the way early in the day.0 -
clicketykeys wrote: »I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate the way I feel while I'm doing it (tired, out of breath, sometimes nauseated, achey). I hate how I feel afterward (tired and sweaty). I hate the way I feel the next several days (tired, tender, achey). I hate how much time it takes out of my days. I hate how poor it makes me feel, because gym memberships and equipment don't come cheap and most of it I can manage with bodyweight stuff and dumbbells but pull-ups just aren't a possibility.
I hate feeling weak and tired. When I don't exercise, I don't feel weak. I'm able to do everything that my day requires and I have energy for other stuff that I want to do. When I exercise, I feel tired all the time. I'm sick of it. I hate it. Did I mention that I hate it? I don't think it's possible to convey how much I hate it right now.
Don't go to the gym then. Just go for a walk in your town/city or out in nature. Walk at a leisurely pace. Some movement is better than nothing and you will still burn calories.
I've lost 26 pounds since mid-July and all I do is walk (but I did join a gym so I can do it in winter weather, too).2 -
Personally, I have trouble imagining hating exercise. I've been active all my life and love being active. I enjoy going to the gym, weightlifting, walking, running, hiking, cycling, swimming, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing ...
Here's a list of sports ... there are a lot of choices out there.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sports1 -
OP here again! It's been almost a year, and I still hate exercising. But I think I hate it slightly less than I used to. So... Progress?
Been going to a PF 3ish times a week. Lifting is hard. Cardio is hard. Getting there, doing my thing, and getting home takes about 2 hrs. But I can do more than I could when I started.
Maybe one day I'll get to the point where instead of being a chore I have to force myself to do, I'll actually enjoy it and look forward to it. But I'm still not there yet.4 -
lay on the couch and listen to your body rot.
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OP at least you're trying. "The hard is what makes it great."
It's hard being fat and unfit too. I know.
"Choose your hard."3 -
clicketykeys wrote: »OP here again! It's been almost a year, and I still hate exercising. But I think I hate it slightly less than I used to. So... Progress?
Been going to a PF 3ish times a week. Lifting is hard. Cardio is hard. Getting there, doing my thing, and getting home takes about 2 hrs. But I can do more than I could when I started.
Maybe one day I'll get to the point where instead of being a chore I have to force myself to do, I'll actually enjoy it and look forward to it. But I'm still not there yet.
Good show! I hope the "doing more than I could when I started" part is a bit of a reward, at least.1
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