exercise: what if i HATE EVERYTHING?

rileyes

How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Everything may be hard or boring in the beginning phase. But after you learn technique you may develop passion to get better at your sport/activity. Pick something accessible and potentially fun and stick with it. Practice. Practice, Practice.

SueSueDio

rothko999 wrote: »

counting calories has not worked for me in the past, but i guess i'll try it again. it's just hard when i have 600 calories left at 3pm and have no idea what else is left for me to eat. i haven't got a clue how many calories a given item even is. it just makes me anxious and panicky.

So don't count calories - eat what you usually like to eat, but just eat less of it! You don't have to eat any special diet foods or anything like that, if you don't want to.

And you don't have much weight to lose, so expect it to be very slow. Water weight and hormonal fluctuations can easily mask any loss, and it may take weeks for progress to show up on the scale. Take progress photos and measurements instead, and take note of how your clothes fit and whether anything changes.

Going through menopause will not prevent you losing weight - I successfully lost over 70lbs whilst navigating perimenopausal symptoms, and kept most of it off (gained a few pounds back over the winter through comfort eating).

Inactivity will not prevent you losing weight - I'm very sedentary, and also lazy, and did little to no purposeful exercise during my weight loss. It would have been better for my overall health and fitness if I did, but it wasn't necessary for the loss.

Here's a whole thread full of suggestions for increasing your activity level in small ways, without doing "real exercise". Perhaps something there will help you?

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10610953/neat-improvement-strategies-to-improve-weight-loss/p1


Edit: also check out these threads:

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10707575/not-quite-exercise-what-active-lifestyle-activities-do-you-enjoy-throughout-the-day/p1

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10727124/how-to-not-hate-exercise/p1

kytdkyt

I will just add that you don't need to exercise to lose weight but exercise does a whole lot more for your health than that, especially as we continue to age. Do you like to ride a bike for fun? Go ballroom or country-western dancing? Horseback riding? Tennis? There are so many forms of "exercise" that are just fun activities. What do you do to relax when you're not buried in the books?

jnomadica

I personally enjoy exercise, but the reality is we all have to do things we’d prefer not to, because they’re important. I don’t like to floss, or do laundry, or get up early and go to work. But these are crucial activities, so I do them. To me, exercise fits in that category, so I just do it, even when I’d rather lay on the couch.
Maybe just try scheduling a 15 minute walk into your days. That’s not a lot of time, but would have real benefits. After some time, I’d bet you start to enjoy it. Bonus if you can go with a friend, but listening to music or podcasts is pretty great too.
PS I have plantar fasciitis too, and it’s really frustrating!

kbmnurse1

You may want to see a mental health professional. Sounds like you HATE everything and need to talk to someone about being depressed. Cheer up, life is to short to HATE.

texasredreb

I too live in Austin, Texas. I'm older and heavier than you are and I walk in the summer--all summer. Go volunteer at Austin Animal Center. They are chronically short of volunteers to walk dogs. Get some exercise and do some good! Don't like dogs? Do something else that will get you moving. You're making excuses and want validation. Go "be depressed" and walk at the mall like the other old people! It hasn't been hot for the last 8 months--how much walking have you done?

Theoldguy1

texasredreb wrote: »

I too live in Austin, Texas. I'm older and heavier than you are and I walk in the summer--all summer. Go volunteer at Austin Animal Center. They are chronically short of volunteers to walk dogs. Get some exercise and do some good! Don't like dogs? Do something else that will get you moving. You're making excuses and want validation. Go "be depressed" and walk at the mall like the other old people! It hasn't been hot for the last 8 months--how much walking have you done?

Good points.

We have an animal shelter near us unfortunately they are not a no kill shelter. I'd have 50 dogs at my house if I knew I was taking a dog on its last walk .

LeeBo_Photo

rileyes wrote: »

How do you get to Carnegie Hall?.

Practice. Sorry, couldn't resist.

I was in the same boat. Stress was causing me to eat and not record. My son, who holds black belts in a couple martial arts, had equipment in the basement, including a punching bag and post. One day really discouraged and we'll, mad, I went into the basement and put in his gloves and gave that bag a workout. Not only did I feel much better but I stopped stress eating and the pounds did start dropping. Not a lot at a time and not overnight, but it did start working. And as a bonus, I started feeling better mentally. Now the basement visits have become part of my daily routine.

You CAN do it, but you have to be motivated and disciplined. Get a workout partner if you need to.

YOU GOT THIS!

mkculs13

There's a little device you can put under your desk to pedal while you work. It's not much, but it is something--and if you do it consistently over the course of the day, it will burn some calories.

Also, think about walking as wandering, not exercise. Wandering helps me get out to walk when I need to--I love jogging but hate "walking." So I head to a beautiful place at the right time of day (when the weather is hot, that's early am, even in Florida--where I spend part of my summer. And I jog after sunset), and give myself permission to wander--take my time, enjoy the scenery, and not worry about "exercise." I might take 50% longer than a simple, focused "walk" would take, but I enjoy it and am much more likely to do it again. And many times, I am up for walking (a steady, brisker pace of about 3-3.5 mph) which gives me a more concentrated cardiovascular workout.

I hate swimming laps, but I enjoy playing in a pool. I'm 60 and still do a lot of somersaults and handstands. Hanging out in the deeper water, treading water and fooling around for 30 minutes is a good way to burn more cals without really feeling it.

Try bowling or dance class, or anything that gets you out and moving a bit more. It doesn't have to be "exercise." My wandering keeps me out of the house--and away from food--for more time than a quick walk does. My swimming does the same. And, b/c I don't push myself at either, I often find I spend a lot more time and enjoy it more. It's a win-win. I think most people "hate" exercise b/c they won't give themselves permission to slow down and just enjoy moving, sunlight, and fresh air (if you are outside). But, that SHOULD be the way to start-slowly, enjoying it. Slow down, stop (take breaks); enjoy it. Maybe you will someday be inspired to push a little--maybe not. It won't matter b/c you will already be doing something that will contribute to healthier "old age."

brenn24179

I love the gym, I love biking, hiking but not everyone is like me. If you are the intellect type, do that. Just cut back on what you eat. You are lucky you don't have much to lose.

magnusthenerd

Have you considered doing a punching bag? At least if you hate that, you'll be able to channel the anger right back into the activity.

prap2016

I hate exercise with a passion yet do 30 minutes of weight training and burn 400+ of elliptical work. A healthy lifestyle doesn’t care if it sucks.

RunsWithBees

How do you know you hate everything if you haven’t tried everything? 🤔

DianeMichaelis1

I enjoy walking - it gets me out of the house and fresh air - I became disabled in 62 and had to quit work. I am grateful for anything I can do. I recently read that an 8 minute brisk walk is as beneficial as a 30 minute moderate walk. It is enjoyable to me to do what I can to help my body and to keep it as healthy as possible. I was hospitalized 12 times last year. Found a fabulous Cardiologist, who helped me get my life back and possible save my life. Part of it is, loving yourself enough to have the desire.

Jess_Heartson11

The way I see it, you have 3 choices:
1) don't exercise. But you need to adjust your calories. If you're gaining a lb a day, you're overeating ALOT.
2) Hate it but do it anyway. We all have to do things we don't like, but we're adults and that's life.
3) The one I recommend - find something you don't hate.

Although you don't think yoga will help you burn calories, it will actually improve core strength, increasing muscle (albeit slowly) and increasing your metabolism making it easier to burn calories.
Have you thought about Pilates? You can do that at home in your living room. Other low-activity sports: curling, bowls, bowling, recreational ice skating/quad skating, walking, leisurely swim.

WeighandPray

Wow! Of all the threads here that stay dormant, somehow the OP has an outpouring of support and ideas. From here it looks like everyone else wants her to succeed more than she wants it. God helps those who help themselves.

Jamie2663

I dislike exercise a lot. I do it but I will never be one of those who enjoy it. I find setting goals for myself helps keep me motivated. I started by walking a mile in about 20 minutes... I decided I am going to run a 5k.... So that is now my goal and I am up to 2.5 miles in about 30 minutes. If I don't have a plan or a goal it just is not happening. I have seen many benefits from being more active aside from weight loss. Sleeping better, less stress etc and it has helped keep me going. I also buy shirts that say things like "I hate you. I hate this place. See you tomorrow". Finding humor in it helps

SeattleBebop1

Hi OP, you mentioned you are in grad school & stressed. I work at a big university (with grad students, actually) and when I go to the gym, I see some students with Kindles or listening to their phones while on the elliptical bikes / stairmaster / etc. - you can probably record your professors (although many classes are already put online!) and listen or read notes. This way, you can feel that you are getting your studies done *and* losing weight. As an added benefit, you will find the increased flow of blood to your brain improves your concentration, and you will become better able to manage stress. I had a stressful day and work and I feel so much more relaxed after my run.

johngsprague

Hey Rothko, they say you can't exercise off a bad diet, so it's fork control 101 for you! You've been successful with weightwatchers, why not give it another go? One way or another you will have to get those calories under control, but there are many fun ways to do it, just keep studying it and tweaking your life until it's perfect.

Exercise is a great thing to get hooked on, because I truly believe it will be the difference in how we enjoy that last decade or so. Wanna be in a wheelchair or behind a walker? Me neither!
In music, they say the best instrument to play is the one you love to practice. It goes the same for fitness! I would highly recommend watching more ESPN and sports, and consider hey maybe you'd like tennis, or swimming, or jogging, or one of those boxing workout gyms where you do some aerobics and then hit the bags. There are loads of fitness things to join where it's 8 weeks of this or 10 weeks of that at your community center. Why not try a few? You'll meet tons of cool people. You may find out that you're a natural at ping pong, or some other fun thing!

Good luck!
JS

Sharon_C

Sounds like you want an easy fix. There is no easy fix. Whatever you decide to do--calorie counting, Weight Watchers, exercising--you'll have to commit to it and work at it.

Losing weight is hard and it takes tons of commitment and dedication.