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

Jessica0982

It happens in the middle of a class...I used to do a Total Body Toning class. It was AWESOME but man oh man when we got to a certain point, it wasn't my legs burning that caused me to stop. It was my arches! I don't know what type of shoe I need to help ease the discomfort.

I must be getting old or something. I never had this problem before.

I'll try the tennis balls...thanks!

Shock_Wave

Exercise doesn't have to be torture but it has to be challenging.

For sure I agree there needs to be a balance.
As I said exercises needs to push ones threshold and yes this is how you get good results and along with a solid diet plan your unstoppable!

pmlewis93

There is no way to like them. I am a gymnast, I have done them for 8 years, and I still do not like them. Try something different that will help just the same. I personally believe lunges are too harsh on one's knees. Try doing squats down your stairs without supporting yourself. We do them at the gym all the time to keep pressure off of our knees. Just hop up the stairs [through your toes, not using your knees], and then just do a squat on each stair as you walk back down the stairs. They don't suck as much as lunges and do works with your legs, especially the inner thighs.

premiumchilenita

I don't like lunges as well, so I do squats instead, they use most of the same muscles and you get a great looking derierre. Now don't tell me you don't like squats...:huh: :laugh:

ninerbuff

you need to stretch out your calves and your arches...try massage your arch with a tennis ball by standing and applying a little bit of weight. It'll feel good too! I get this everyonce in awhile and most of the time it's poor shoes and the tightening of my ligament or tendon.

Even better a golf ball hits the spot well.

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

ninerbuff

For sure I agree there needs to be a balance.
As I said exercises needs to push ones threshold and yes this is how you get good results and along with a solid diet plan your unstoppable!

So then pushing one's threshold is going out of comfort zone, right?

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

jfluchere

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's good quote.

No pain, no gain...

I hate bicycle crunches and they suck everytime and it hurts. But I keep doing them, one day they won't hurt.

Shock_Wave

So then pushing one's threshold is going out of comfort zone, right?

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

Sure it can be but you dont have to pick exercises as a pt that clients despise. Thats a sure way to make the majority of clients unhappy with their fitness training really fast and that is not only bad for our industry but the over all health problem we have with people in general not liking fitness. In my educated opinion its better to find another similar excersise that the client is more comfortable with doing and then push their threshold that way.. Wait why would I be telling you this A.C.E.? What do they teach you in A.C.E.?? I know that was a way easier certification to get than what I have but still. I am alot younger than you so maybe I just havent developed that callus mentality twards others or maybe its your kick boxing attitude.. dunno.
Any ways this the kind of N.S.C.A. Certified Personal Trainer I am to my clients. Oh well no worries I get er done with results using the best newest up to date knowledge they teach not only in college but also in N.S.C.A., all the while keeping my clients happy and extremely challenged. That my friend is my method and that keeps my client base growing bigger while keeping peoples health positive, and as long as my friends who are my clients are happy then so am I. To each their own!

Edit: I suggest futher discussions should be held in private email as we are slightly going off topic from the OP's thead.

Shock_Wave

There is no way to like them. I am a gymnast, I have done them for 8 years, and I still do not like them. Try something different that will help just the same. I personally believe lunges are too harsh on one's knees. Try doing squats down your stairs without supporting yourself. We do them at the gym all the time to keep pressure off of our knees. Just hop up the stairs [through your toes, not using your knees], and then just do a squat on each stair as you walk back down the stairs. They don't suck as much as lunges and do works with your legs, especially the inner thighs.

^ This is interesting.

MoonShadow_1au

Lol, there's a difference of being out of your comfort zone and "killing" a person. A few reps and sets of lunges won't "kill" you unless there's a serious knee, hip or ankle issue.


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

To this I say cudos. There is excersise that is a pain and then there is painful exercise. Make sure you get this right to avoid injury.

I have ostio-arthritis in my hip and through a PT who knows what they are doing and my ostiopath I have been limited to a 90 degree bend in my hip. Can't go lower without injury and that is fine by me. To push me out of my comfort zone I add weight.

monkeymouse74

Hate the pain,:sad: but love the gain....

monkeymouse74

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.

This^^

Shock_Wave

It's good you hate them. It's puts you out of your comfort zone.

I am simply saying it doesnt have to be this way. Hate is never good and honestly even walking briskly burns fat with out all the hate and pain from other excersises. Maybe get on a treadmil and add some inclines to work your muscles in your legs. Yes you can enjoy excersise. OP said she HATES lunges. Well then try squats or other similar excersises. Also to repeat what some of you keep missing in my posts is that she does not have to tough them out when there are many other options that are just as good that she might not "HATE" but rather will still keep her challenged with the same results or better for that matter.

dragonflybird

Listen to good music while doing them. Trust me!

chuckyp

Do them in roller skates for about a week, then go back to doing them with regular shoes on. You'll love them then.

avesoriano

Good music. Its so much better if im watching someone doing it. Its so
Boring to do it alone

Shock_Wave

Lol, there's a difference of being out of your comfort zone and "killing" a person. A few reps and sets of lunges won't "kill" you unless there's a serious knee, hip or ankle issue.


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

To this I say cudos. There is excersise that is a pain and then there is painful exercise. Make sure you get this right to avoid injury.

I have ostio-arthritis in my hip and through a PT who knows what they are doing and my ostiopath I have been limited to a 90 degree bend in my hip. Can't go lower without injury and that is fine by me. To push me out of my comfort zone I add weight.

^^Moonshadow this may be true for you since you have an injury but lets be honest guy I hardly think the OP wants to "add weight" lol and to "add weight" even in body building/weight lifting you have to eat a surpluss in cals in which some of that will be stored as fat.

Well cheers im out of here. Good Luck OP with your goals and keep it up and remember there are other many other exercsises/options you might not hate having the same benefits or better and still stay challenged!!

Luthorcrow

I am not a fan of lunges either but here is how I came to tolerate them. Do Bulgarian split squats for a cycle. You will be jumping for joy to do lunges again.

For me doing walking lunges are just more fun than static lunges.

Also there are other movements that work the same muscle group, like step ups which personally I just enjoy more.

zombiefruit

If you're really committed to doing them (and they are pretty great in terms of results, aren't they?) then remind yourself that you'll only be doing lunges for a few minutes at a time. You just need to get through those few minutes - and then you're done with them for the day.

I get through a lot of unpleasant things by reminding myself that it's only a temporary situation!

ninerbuff

Sure it can be but you dont have to pick exercises as a pt that clients despise. Thats a sure way to make the majority of clients unhappy with their fitness training really fast and that is not only bad for our industry but the over all health problem we have with people in general not liking fitness. In my educated opinion its better to find another similar excersise that the client is more comfortable with doing and then push their threshold that way.. Wait why would I be telling you this A.C.E.? What do they teach you in A.C.E.?? I know that was a way easier certification to get than what I have but still. I am alot younger than you so maybe I just havent developed that callus mentality twards others or maybe its your kick boxing attitude.. dunno.
Any ways this the kind of N.S.C.A. Certified Personal Trainer I am to my clients. Oh well no worries I get er done with results using the best newest up to date knowledge they teach not only in college but also in N.S.C.A., all the while keeping my clients happy and extremely challenged. That my friend is my method and that keeps my client base growing bigger while keeping peoples health positive, and as long as my friends who are my clients are happy then so am I. To each their own!

Edit: I suggest futher discussions should be held in private email as we are slightly going off topic from the OP's thead.

Lol, nice way to try to make yourself look "better" than me.:laugh: If you know how to read clients, you know which ones that REALLY despise an exercise and one's that whine about them. I'm not unintelligent (as you're trying to imply here) and know how to pick the program and routines that work with clients based on their fitness background or health history. Working in a Wellness Facility instead of just a "gym" is different because a lot of our clientele is older (seniors), recovering from surgery, accidents, gastric bypass, disease, heart ailments etc. but we do have a large population of every age as well. With 8,000 members in our facility, and being directly connected with a hospital, a "certification" isn't the only thing you need to train people.
Anyway, like I stated, a good PT will KNOW what exercises WHINE about and ones that clients totally despise or makes them unhappy. If I have a client flat out tell me that they DON'T want to do lunges anymore, I'll change the exercise. It's that simple.

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

ninerbuff

I am simply saying it doesnt have to be this way. Hate is never good and honestly even walking briskly burns fat with out all the hate and pain from other excersises. Maybe get on a treadmil and add some inclines to work your muscles in your legs. Yes you can enjoy excersise. OP said she HATES lunges. Well then try squats or other similar excersises. Also to repeat what some of you keep missing in my posts is that she does not have to tough them out when there are many other options that are just as good that she might not "HATE" but rather will still keep her challenged with the same results or better for that matter.

If you read the OP's statement, there's an indication that she might not be doing them correctly. Unless you've actually SEEN her do them and assessed the form, how can you emphatically make the statement that they aren't an exercise for her? If her form is wrong and causing her pain, and you correct it and now it doesn't would that change the attitude towards the exercise?

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

ninerbuff

To this I say cudos. There is excersise that is a pain and then there is painful exercise. Make sure you get this right to avoid injury.

I have ostio-arthritis in my hip and through a PT who knows what they are doing and my ostiopath I have been limited to a 90 degree bend in my hip. Can't go lower without injury and that is fine by me. To push me out of my comfort zone I add weight.

^^Moonshadow this may be true for you since you have an injury but lets be honest guy I hardly think the OP wants to "add weight" lol and to "add weight" even in body building/weight lifting you have to eat a surpluss in cals in which some of that will be stored as fat.

Where does Moonshadow even indicate any bodybuilding here? Moonshadow indicated adding weight to push him out of comfort zone. You added a statement that had NOTHING to do with his reply.
Sometimes actually "hearing" what a person says will actually help to make the right decisions for the person.

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

MangoAmanda

They are a necessary evil. Throw on your earbuds with your most favorite song & just do it ;-). I think I say "I HATE LUNGES, but man, I feel great!" every single time I do lunges.

staceyseeger

I used to hate lunges because they hurt...because I never did them...because they hurt. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: These days I am doing close to 200 lunges per workout with PT...with weights, kettlebells & on the treadmill. I still don't like them very much, but the benefits & results definitely rank higher than my dislike.

ninerbuff

I used to hate lunges because they hurt...because I never did them...because they hurt. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: These days I am doing close to 200 lunges per workout with PT...with weights, kettlebells & on the treadmill. I still don't like them very much, but the benefits & results definitely rank higher than my dislike.

And if you didn't let your PT "push" you a bit even though you disliked them, you may not be getting the results you're getting with them now. Good for you!

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

goldfinger88

I personally believe that if there's an exercise you hate, you simply shouldn't do it. There are far too many good, fun exercises you can do to tone the legs. Try a 90 second wall sit. You'll have the most powerful legs you can imagine. If you have to, work up to 90 seconds. Lunges hurt some people's knees. I don't like them either.

ninerbuff

I personally believe that if there's an exercise you hate, you simply shouldn't do it. There are far too many good, fun exercises you can do to tone the legs. Try a 90 second wall sit. You'll have the most powerful legs you can imagine. If you have to, work up to 90 seconds. Lunges hurt some people's knees. I don't like them either.

If it hurts one's knees, then they shouldn't do them. That's a given, but if someone just has a "hate" relationship with an exercise, it doesn't always mean they hate it enough to not do them.
I "hate" doing ANY ab work. If I took the philosophy of avoiding exercises I "hate" then my abs would be weak and unconditioned regardless of how many various exercises there are for them.
There are exercises that many prefer to do yes, but sometimes it's the ones you "hate" that get you the results you vie for.

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

jdjefferson

@ninerbuff
You are taking this too personally!
I agree that you shouldn't stop doing something just because you do like it (like eating cauliflower or doing the dishes), but when there are alternatives that you enjoy more that provide similar results, then do that instead (like eating broccoli or running the dishwasher).

callikia

I think I'll always hate them. I will still do them because I know they provide results.
It's like work. Hate it sometimes, but I do it anyhow because I love the paycheck at the end. Always think of the payoff, not the hate.

hiker282

When you don't think of them as lunges, they are easier to do. I do the Insanity program by Beachbody and there are a lot of squats, lunges and plank work, but they don't call it that. I'd give it a try if your budget can handle it.