I Strongly Dislike Exercise!

_journeyofavirgo

I want to refrain from saying I hate exercise but do strongly dislike it. I'm not sure if it's because I'm heavy and it takes a lot of energy or if I'm just lazy. I don't like the gym. I don't like lifting weights. The thing is I would love to be a runner. Walking and running. Nice and simple. Has anyone gone from hating exercise to loving it? What changed and why?

kaydrinkscoffee

I totally hate exercise, because it does just feel like hard work and I'd rather spend my time doing fun things. But I just started belly dancing, which I love love love, because it is more like having fun than working out - though it's brilliant for toning the core ^_^

billsica

Runners high. . . . from running

Lifting, because I enable beast mode


Of course its hard, Its really hard. No excuses, not ever.

couch 25k. google it.

cubbies77

I get like that sometimes. Then I find something I really love to do, and I find myself looking forward to it. I change my workouts all the time because I get bored so easily.

Walking is great! I lost the first 30 pounds that way because I was too heavy to do much else. I walked for about 45 minutes every night, and when I got into better shape, I increased it to an hour and picked a route that had a couple hills. I looked forward to listening to music and looking at the scenery. A guy on my friends list has lost close to 100 pounds by walking for an hour or two every night.

Then I got into Turbo Jam... and "Just Dance"... and the elliptical... and now "The Firm".

Once I lose more weight, I'd like to try C25K.

DavPul

Why do you have to love it to do it? I've have jobs that I didn't like but I showed up every day. I've taken classes that I hated but passed with great grades.

Don't make excuses

KaleidoscopeEyes1056

I'm really lazy, so I used to hate exercise. Once I got into the habit of doing it, it made it a lot easier to do. There are some things I hate doing, like the elliptical, but that's just because I get bored if there's nothing good on the TV near my machine. But I love lifting, I like doing 30 Day Shred occasionally, and I adore Insanity. I also want to start running this summer, and I'm going to use the Couch to 5 K program that a previous poster mentioned.

pholbert

walking and running is great excercise!

SniffyDoodle

Find exercise you enjoy and do that. I think part of the problem is that people think that *exercise* means going to a gym. Exercise can be walking with friends, swimming, playing a sport, leisurely biking.

The way I learned to love it was to find ways to integrate it into my life as a natural part of my day rather than an intentional effort. When I lived only 7 miles from my job, I bought a good bike instead of a car, and I biked everywhere... to work, to the grocery store, to the park on the weekends to play tennis with my sister. I walked with co-workers every day. I ran because it was good stress relief and it got me away from the house and kids for a while when I could just listen to my own music and get lost in my thoughts. Now that I've moved into a house that has a pool, I swim. My kids and husband will even swim with me, so they are getting exercise too and everyone loves it.

_DaniD_

Running ..nice and simple?..You're in for a surprise.

ameliaannakin

I agree that C25K is a great place to start to get to like running... although it's the runners high at the end that I enjoy rather than actually doing the running. I tend to complain for the whole run and then the high at the end and the success of finishing makes me forget how bad it was when I was doing it. And for some reason, I always look forward to going out again.

I go to fitness pole dancing classes for my fun exercise... it's brilliant arm and core strength and such a laugh!

RoseThePenguin

Honestly, just move more. You don't have to like it to do it. Get healthy and you'll feel 100x better.Or stay lazy and feel as you do now.

nsagley

I love Zumba.

AllTehBeers

I hate it. I ran just because I knew I had to do something. I felt like ****ing king of the world when I finally ran two straight miles, something I couldn't even do in high school. Now my knee sucks and I can't run and I hate that more.

Work towards a goal and when you accomplish it, you'll want to kill it again and again.

stargazer008

Choose an exercise you love! I love walking and I do that as my main exercise.

kcoburn327

I think you should find some stuff you enjoy... Start with walking, swimming, water aerobics. Or something else.... A year ago you wouldn't have found me with ten miles or a gym... Now I work out 4 to 6 times a week and I love it

MarincicS

I am very lazy and would far rather sit in front of the computer or TV or curl up with a book. And for a while when i started trying to improve my fitness, i really struggled to work out. But just lately, after many months of forcing myself to do it and using any excuse not to, i am actually starting to not hate it.

I have a short term competition going on with a friend right now - not competing against each other but with and for each other - and having that short term, very challenging goal that i might actually be able to achieve, has me going to the gym putting in crazy time on the elliptical (pet name: monster) and treadmill every day.

So 2 things. As you get fitter and feel stronger and healthier, it DOES become easier to motivate yourself. And second, for some people, attainable goals - some short term ones even that you don't have to wait months and months for but can see on the horizon - that might help make working out easier too.

But in any case, walking and running are great. Exercise doesn't have to be formal or organized to be good exercise.

Good luck!

kelly_e_montana

I have finished C25K and run regularly, but frankly I don't like it so much. I love lifting, swimming, hiking, cross country skiing, walking, and my newest passion is POLE FITNESS! I agree with the posters that say that say that exercise doesn't necessarily mean going to a gym. I live in a fairly walk-able community, but I can easily put on 2-5 miles of walking per day if I decided to do my errands on foot instead of driving. Same could go for biking. Being outside drives me, but I like going to the gym, too. I don't like working out at home. You have to find what works for you!

I would definitely suggest C25K! It really, really works. Also, I recently found a running partner that I train with once per week and that adds a social aspect to my exercise. I'm also starting a yoga class with another gal a different day of the week. I like a mix of solo exercise where I can sort of meditate and some exercising with a friend for interaction.

If you don't like lifting but want strength training, you should try pole fitness. It's so fun that you don't even realize you're working out til the soreness hits! Incredible workout for upper body and core.

P.S. I did find exercise difficult and painful when I was heavier. But, it really works and you will feel better if you keep it up. Start with Leslie Sansone videos if nothing else. Get to three miles. I wanted to wait til I got below 200 to run again, and I did.

leesyc81

Running ..nice and simple?..You're in for a surprise.

This ^^^^ I do boxercise, 30ds and other exercise DVD s, lift weights and running...running is the hardest I find. Exercise bike is easy though and cross trainer, maybe do that.

gabijadc

I have gone from HATING exercise to LOVING it!
In reality - I just hated the exercise that I did. I realized there are literally thousands of different ways to ecercise, you just have to find the ones that YOU love and that fit you.

I used to go running - hated it! Actually, STILL hate it!
Aerobics - never liked it, jump rope - nope, exercise machines - nope.... etc.

What did it for me was HIIT training - once I discovered it I didn't stop and now it's been maybe 3-4 years that I still do it and love every second.

Bottom line: come on... there are SO many ways to exercise (also sports!) - there has got to be at least ONE that you will love!

Nepion

I have to agree, I prefer to be doing other things, like playing video games or knitting. However, I'm finding the more I deliberately exercise the less onerous it becomes. Now I feel disappointed if I don't get to exercise. (I'm still not sure I'd actually say I like it.....)

As for running, I started the C25K a few weeks ago and it's been great to have something to guide me into running. I suggest you try it if running seems like something you'd want to do.

Ophidion

Man this quote has been used by me three times in the last day but it has been relevant each time.

Don't wait for the storm to pass, learn to dance in the rain.

Find a physical activity you enjoy besides the obvious ;P belly dancing was mentioned...a lot of people enjoy dancing and rollerblading.

My partner does roller-derby and I enjoy fire-twirling,circus skills and going to take martial arts back up.

deanjou59

Hang with it for a few months consistently and I really think that your strong dislike will change! You got this!

LJSmith1989

Running ..nice and simple?..You're in for a surprise.

Nice and simple, I know what she means by this. Its a good excersize for starters... but don't underestimate what it takes!

MissMormie

Do you like brushing your teeth?
Do you like cleaning the toilet?
Do you like getting up at 6am to go to work?

So why would you need to like exercise? It's just one of those things that are part of life.

And like brushing your teeth, you like being able to smile and chew..
And you probably also like a clean toilet that you're not afraid to sit on..
And you probably also like the pay check coming in..

And with exercise you might not like doing it, but you will (after months of not liking it) start to feel more energized, stronger, better looking, less tired, less often sick, less pains from doing stuff. Ow, and life years longer in good health.

If that's not good enough for you I'd also stop cleaning the toilet and brushing your teeth.

MIM49

I agree that C25K is a great place to start to get to like running... although it's the runners high at the end that I enjoy rather than actually doing the running. I tend to complain for the whole run and then the high at the end and the success of finishing makes me forget how bad it was when I was doing it. And for some reason, I always look forward to going out again.

Sounds like giving birth--all the work and pain but then the prize at the end.

bill323

I never liked to jog or run so when I tried hitting the treadmill it was easy to give up. Then someone recommended just walking on an incline which I was able to do no problem. Eventually I got to the point where I got anxious watching the calories burned go up so slowly that I started to jog for a bit then go back to walking. Now I just set a calorie goal and its up to me how fast I want to get there.

GiveTheGeniusACookie

I want to refrain from saying I hate exercise but do strongly dislike it. I'm not sure if it's because I'm heavy and it takes a lot of energy or if I'm just lazy. I don't like the gym. I don't like lifting weights. The thing is I would love to be a runner. Walking and running. Nice and simple. Has anyone gone from hating exercise to loving it? What changed and why?

I loved running,walking and playing sports. Then I got selfish, lazy, lost all respect for my body and mind, and lost that luster for life.
Somehow losing all those things made me gain a S*** ton of fat! So now that I have recollected my senses and self respect I am trying to lose the fat so I can run again and do all that other stuff. This time around though I am going to lift weight....I dont mind being weight heavy if its pure muscle.
I am very lazy as well, but failure is not an option.

GiveTheGeniusACookie

Do you like brushing your teeth?
Do you like cleaning the toilet?
Do you like getting up at 6am to go to work?

So why would you need to like exercise? It's just one of those things that are part of life.

And like brushing your teeth, you like being able to smile and chew..
And you probably also like a clean toilet that you're not afraid to sit on..
And you probably also like the pay check coming in..

And with exercise you might not like doing it, but you will (after months of not liking it) start to feel more energized, stronger, better looking, less tired, less often sick, less pains from doing stuff. Ow, and life years longer in good health.

If that's not good enough for you I'd also stop cleaning the toilet and brushing your teeth.

Love this! :drinker:

alexapatel

I hated running until c25k. (well still kind of dislike that I can't get past week5 day 3-the 20 minute straight of running) The app has helped me get into it and I have never been a runner. Having a plan to stick to helps me push myself and with some good music going on my ipod the time starts to fly by. I also signed myself up for a 5k, so I know it'll be an epic failure if I don't get myself into running.

As far as working out, I don't necessarily love it, but it has become a routine. I feel guilty if I don't go and I realized after working out 3 days a week since Jan 1st. if I skip out on a week I feel really lazy tired and blah. Working out doesn't really make me SO happy but the way I feel when I do does.

LJSmith1989

Runners high. . . . from running

Lifting, because I enable beast mode


Of course its hard, Its really hard. No excuses, not ever.

couch 25k. google it.

You mean business!

idaholawchick

I found a cardio exercise that I enjoy but I still pretty much hate my boot camp class. However, it's as fun as weight training is going to get for me and I love the results. I just view it like a job and made the commitment. I gave up on trying to find something I liked, and picked something I could tolerate!