Help! I hate lunges, how can I learn to like them???

sunshinegirlnm

I've never liked them. Doesn't matter if they are front, back or sideways. Is there anything I can do to like them more? Also, I don't feel like I ever get as deep into a lunge as say the instructor does. Is that just the limitations of my body? I work out regularly. Maybe I need more yoga?

jdjefferson

I've never liked them. Doesn't matter if they are front, back or sideways.

Then don't do them.

sunshinegirlnm

I've never liked them. Doesn't matter if they are front, back or sideways.

Then don't do them.

I know. But they are so effective....an no equipment needed.

ninerbuff

It's good you hate them. It's puts you out of your comfort zone. And when that happens, usually you body changes. That's why people pay me to train them. They won't work out in an uncomfortable zone unless they're doing it for me. So keep doing them!

A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

taso42

They never get easier or more enjoyable. Sorry to say

Contrarian

I plan to hate them for the rest of my life.

CakeFit21

When your butt starts to lift you will love them.

tageekly

I hate lunges too but I do them because I see how they're changing my legs and rear. That's what you have to focus on - how effective they are and then move on to the next exercise.

As far as not feeling like you're deep enough in the movement, your body knows its limit and don't go further. Keeping proper form is much more important. If you feel the muscle working and you're sweating, then you're at the right point for your body. I'll always recommend more yoga! However it might not be an issue of flexibility...

lilRicki

I hate them too! I can barely get out of my desk chair right now because of them...and I hate squats, burpies, mountain climbers...oh yes. But there's nothing we can do about it but suck it up. I recommend putting some Five Finger Death Punch or Cancer Bats on your MP3 player and getting angry lol

MikeSEA

maybe it's like brussel sprouts, and they're better if you just cook them with butter and bacon.

anubis609

Lunges. Suck. I love them.

DizzieLittleLifter

Just think about how great your *kitten* will look.... works for me I'll do them till the cows come home!

tuffytuffy1

I hate them to, but do loads of them with my trainer -- who just commented on my backside looking good! It is worth it, IMO, lunges and lots of squats. Use weights, do walking ones to change it up; you can do walking foward lunges, walking sideways, all different ways. If you change it up, maybe you won't hate them so much. Today we were doing Jane Fonda walking lunges, lol, where you get into a lunge and pulse up and down 3 times, then continue. EDIT: just saw you don't like doing them in any position, front, back, sideways. I say just try to put yourself in another place mentally while you are doing them, I tend to zone out and try to forget about the pain when I am doing something I hate at the gym.

brk_1982

Someone once told me "Lunges are the differemce between granny panties and thongs." I think of that everytime I do lunges and it makes them seem easier, haha.

CaptainGordo

Perhaps telling yourself in the mirror every morning that you love them will help.

lilRicki

Someone once told me "Lunges are the differemce between granny panties and thongs." I think of that everytime I do lunges and it makes them seem easier, haha.

omg that's funny

melbaby925

I hate them too! I can barely get out of my desk chair right now because of them...and I hate squats, burpies, mountain climbers...oh yes. But there's nothing we can do about it but suck it up. I recommend putting some Five Finger Death Punch or Cancer Bats on your MP3 player and getting angry lol

I'm in the same boat - I need to get up and get more water and I'm oh, so afraid!

I used to hate lunges and squats, and then I figured out how to do them right, and now I actually like them. I can't believe I just typed that...and I've noticed now that I've been doing them in the proper form that I can go lower in them too without feeling like I'm going to break something or fall over.

Poohsta0

You don;t have to like them... just do them!

Jeff92se

I've never liked them. Doesn't matter if they are front, back or sideways. Is there anything I can do to like them more? Also, I don't feel like I ever get as deep into a lunge as say the instructor does. Is that just the limitations of my body? I work out regularly. Maybe I need more yoga?

Do walking lunges where you step out in front and put the back knee on the ground. Do this while holding a 8lb ball overhead. You will hate them more than ever but they work.

Tell youself it's not a waste of time like what 90% of everyone else is doing in the gym

janet_pratt

You can't. They suck. But you will get better at them.

iamstaceywood

fake it. make yourself believe it.

Loko_Ino

You just do them...

kittyninja

Your body has limitations- push yourself to improve but don't push so hard that it hurts.
Smile every time you do a lunge. Like a genuine smile. It will make you associate lunges with the little mood boost that comes from smiling.
Or imagine your butt becoming more and more like Kim Kardashian's with each and every lunge.

Silverkittycat

Do them in Sun Salutations!

MaximalLife

I've never liked them. Doesn't matter if they are front, back or sideways. Is there anything I can do to like them more?

You can't.

I always advise people to match their fitness programs to their passions.
In other words try to do what you enjoy.
Sure, a person could get better results doing this or that, but no exercise is very effective if a person won't do it.
I do what works and what I enjoy, knowing I have sacrificed progress given the reality of just working through an unpleasant exercise routine.
I just won't do it.
And at the end of the day, my results speak for itself.

And no, I do not do lunges.

sarahwright01

BAHAHAHA! Ok....so totally just had this twisted...."how can butter and bacon relate to lunges and my body." So...you cook brussel sprouts in butter and bacon, well you cook lunges in Sweat and Fat! Burn Baby Burn!

On a more helpful side, I can't do very many full lunges yet, my knees feel as though they are going to blow out. I told myself I hated them until I started doing Jilian Michaels 30 day shred and she said that the modified version is ok too. Rather than killing myself by getting so low I can't get back up, I concentrate on doing really well formed half lunges and I get the same result.....I still can't get out of my office chair the next day, but at least I still have my knee caps....

maybe it's like brussel sprouts, and they're better if you just cook them with butter and bacon.

gazz777

You don't have to like them. If you need to do them, do them.

We get up to go to work in the morning. So it should be with our fitness. JUST DO IT !!! (says me, lol)

sdgirl22

i don't step my feet out as far if i'm modifying squats. i also keep my feet shoulder width apart after I step back or forward. that makes it easy to balance. oh, and don't lean your torso forward. that's how I make squats easier, especially when I have to do a lot of them quickly. and you're right, they are crazily effective!!!!! :happy:

fatgirlslove

I'll never like them...but I do them anyways.

AlmstHvn

* Someone once told me "Lunges are the differemce between granny panties and thongs." I think of that everytime I do lunges and it makes them seem easier, haha.


That there is funny! That'll bring a smile to my face next time!

Maria_Goose

GAH I know what you mean! I'm worried about my knees whenever I do them.