I hate exercising but I know I NEED to
AlysaN
Posts: 11
I can never find the motivation to workout. About a year ago I had joined a gym and lost about 30 pounds between exercising and a healthy diet. I ended up moving across country and gained it all back. I have been on track of my diet for about two months now but I'm struggling with exercise. I try to do home things but I can never the motivation to actually do them or I stop in the middle. My husband is in the military so we have free access to gyms but I am intimidated to go and workout with all the army guys.
I've always wanted to be a runner but I don't know where to start. I do those 1 minute run 1 minute walk but I always get discouraged about 1 week in and quit because I struggle so much with it.
So I am really looking for someone who also hates working out but what helped them get started and for some motivation and tips.
I've always wanted to be a runner but I don't know where to start. I do those 1 minute run 1 minute walk but I always get discouraged about 1 week in and quit because I struggle so much with it.
So I am really looking for someone who also hates working out but what helped them get started and for some motivation and tips.
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Replies
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Do something fun! It's doesn't have to be a "work out". Get a hula hoop and use it while watching tv! And of you really want to run, try c25k. It starts you off gently and has you running 5k in 8-9 weeks!0
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If you want to run, why don't you enter yourself into a 5k race in 12 weeks time or so?
You then have to train as you know the date is looming, tell everyone you know you have entered to stop you from backing out
Hopefully, when you then try to go out and train, you will not want to stop and quit as you know you have this date of a race coming up!
Good Luck0 -
If you want to run, and you want fun, look no further than the Zombies, Run! app.
You're welcome.0 -
Start running for 5 minutes a day, only (outside if possible)
Run/walk as needed until you can run for 5. Set up the habit.
That's it.
When you can run a full 5 minutes, your body will ask for 6 then 7.
In no time you will be able to run 5 miles.
The time passes much faster outside than on a treadmill.0 -
Can't beat aqua aerobics! Great, low impact cardio and strength workouts! I am getting ready to go to my class right now! 0
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If you are looking to run..please do yourself a favor and look into running shoes (fitted for you). They cost as much as a pair in a sporting goods store.. I learned the hard way and had to slow down my runs because of a injury.0
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what keep me on track with my exercise was seeing my brother who is 7 yrs older than me, so very ill due to his lifestyle, he can now hardly walk and shakes so badly you can hard get food and drink into himself, he is 52
((((
I don't want to endup like him in 7 yrs time
"I workout, because I can. When I get tired, or I am short on time, or I want to quit...I think about how lucky I am to be healthy enough to workout daily. Be grateful for your health and your ability to become STRONGER. Don't ever take it for granted!"
"If you did have a million-dollar racehorse, would you let him stay up half the night drinking coffee and booze, smoking cigarettes and eating junk food?" "Would you treat your 10-dollar dog or your 5-dollar cat that way? What about your billion-dollar body?"
anyone can add me0 -
There's a whole bunch of exercises you could try - you don't have to run if you don't enjoy it.
Powerwalk, cycle, zumba, pilates, yoga, lift weights, use the elliptical, go swimming. Try group classes and try working out on your own. Try at-home workouts like p90x or Insanity. Don't limit yourself to just one thing 0 -
When you start running, you really need to be patient with yourself. If you're really worn out after doing sprint work like that, try slowing down your pace and going for longer than a minute. I know most people are all about speed when they start to run but you really should try to work on distance first, and then try to increase your speed. A good way to slow yourself down is to keep your feet under you and make sure you're striking mid foot. Also count your steps so they line up with your breathing - 2 or 3 footfalls as you inhale, 2 or 3 footfalls as you exhale.
And as someone else mentioned, the right footwear can make the diference. If you're wearing cross trainers or walking shoes or runners not designed for your specific needs, it's going to throw off your gait and could be part of the reason why you're tired and may lead to injury.
You also need to make sure you're well hydrated and that you eat right to support the increased activity. Running is tough on the body so you need to make sure you fuel it right in order to get the results you want.
Best of luck!0 -
I so needed this thread. I also can't stand working out. There isn't a single exercise that I see as "fun" aside from swimming and I don't have a pool. My mom does but she lives 40 mins away so it's not feasible to drive there every day. I hate gyms, treadmills, jogging, lifting weights, circuit training (the worst yet the one I do the most)...zumba I couldn't even follow all the moves. I just stood there looking around at what everyone else was doing like an idiot. I don't mind ellipticals but I know that's using the same muscles over and over...but at least it burns more calories than a treadmill. I'm also all about instant gratification so if I do work out and don't see results, I stop. Or I'll go to the gym for a week and get a cold and stop "to recover" and not go back for months. I hate being in pain for days after working out. And I DO stretch. If I don't work out as hard to "'pace myself", I don't sweat and feel it was worthless. People that say "it feels good" are masochists. It doesn't feel good. It hurts and I can barely walk or sit down, nor can I breathe. I know it's all excuses. I know this. But it's how I really feel.
Bump.0 -
chances are you can find something you like! i love going for a walk with a friend. preferably a long walk so i can count it as exercise. other than that, i love running and sports!0
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If you always wanted to be a runner, start with C25K (Couch to 5K). It's a great program that is designed for people who are working to get over that motivation hurdle. Also, if you don't like exercise, don't do it. If you hate it, you'll never stick with it. What other physical activities do you like? Softball, tennis, ultimate Frisbee, etc etc. Find what you like and stick with it. I have a coworker who refuses to workout, but they stay very fit by doing Karate and joining a co-ed volleyball league (amateur league). She loves it and gets an awesome workout 5 nights a week, plus extra when she has matches. Good luck, find what you love, and you WILL be able to stick with it!!0
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I am doing Power 90 (NOT P90X)
Every day I wake dreading my workout.
Every day I hate my workout while I'm doing it.
Every day I am so damn proud of myself for having worked out.
Slowly the dread and the hate are melting away, just like the fat. The feelings of a job well done are increasing. It is getting so that when I miss a day, I just don't feel right.
If you need more fun in your exercise -- nothing wrong with that! -- maybe you should start outdoor sport such as tennis, kayaking, cycling etc.0 -
The thought of exercising never filled me with joy - then I found zumba. Find something you love and can throw yourself into and you will soon want to go more often 0
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I so needed this thread. I also can't stand working out. There isn't a single exercise that I see as "fun" aside from swimming and I don't have a pool. My mom does but she lives 40 mins away so it's not feasible to drive there every day. I hate gyms, treadmills, jogging, lifting weights, circuit training (the worst yet the one I do the most)...zumba I couldn't even follow all the moves. I just stood there looking around at what everyone else was doing like an idiot. I don't mind ellipticals but I know that's using the same muscles over and over...but at least it burns more calories than a treadmill. I'm also all about instant gratification so if I do work out and don't see results, I stop. Or I'll go to the gym for a week and get a cold and stop "to recover" and not go back for months. I hate being in pain for days after working out. And I DO stretch. If I don't work out as hard to "'pace myself", I don't sweat and feel it was worthless. People that say "it feels good" are masochists. It doesn't feel good. It hurts and I can barely walk or sit down, nor can I breathe. I know it's all excuses. I know this. But it's how I really feel.
Bump.
hey girl, i totally get where you are coming from and these frustrations, but i just wanted to warn against promises from the elliptical! the burn is usually very overestimated on this machine (at least from the ones i have encountered and from others i have spoken with). in general, the more you sweat the more calories you're burning. i don't find that i sweat nearly as much on the elliptical as i do running or even walking on an incline on the treadmill or outside. i just wanted to mention it since the burn seems to be really high on it from not a lot of work.
do you like walking? i try to walk as much as possible. it helps! and its relaxing! 0 -
i never used to like exercise, it was a chore for a long time... but then i see the definition in my arm when i brush my hair... i noticed the muscle in my leg on holiday pics... i LOVE the results, which makes exercsie bareable.
and then i started insanity and fell in love with shaun t!!!!!!
you have to find something you enjoy, but you also have to stop telling yourself your 'not a runner' or you 'cant' do whatever it is.... yes you can, if you put your mind to it!
9 times out of 10 your body can go way further than your mind thinks it can!0 -
Free use of a gym! I would call them and ask when it is least crowded or when most the wives are there and go then.0
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Hey There
I never exercised before Jan 2012.....I now I really enjoy it
I agree, you have to find something you like. I tried loads of things before I settled on what I like and works for me - at the moment I do circuits classes and strength training. I do a little running (mainly HIIT on the Treadmill, run really fast for 1 min and then walk for 2 mins) but I don't really enjoy jogging/running for long periods of time. Swimming is also fab.
30 day shred was also a good starting point for me as its only a 20 min session, but pretty challenging so it gets the adrenaline going and you get that fab feeling of accomplishment once its over (and you have survived!!)
Try some things out - you will find something that suits you and just keep going at it, the fitter you get the more fun it becomes....plus your body will really thank you for it!
Becky x0 -
I'm not one for exercising either. I have found a stationary bicycle while watching tv or checking the internet helps. The Nike plus for x-box is a great motivator too. I am not into running but I like hiking and am looking for ways to do it year round.
I have access to a military gym and the military guys in there can be intimidating, but they ate people too. Also maybe find a time that's not crowed with them. The military gym I have access to has all kinds of classes and running events.0 -
Oh wow do I know what you are talking about! Here is the thing though. Once you start and make yourself do it 3 days a week for about 3 weeks then it becomes a habit and is bearable. I never do well with doing it at home though. I have to go to the gym. I got off my routine for a couple of weeks after my vacation and it is so hard to get back to it. Yesterday was the first day I made myself go back and I felt like I was back to square one. I did a treadmill run/walk program. I always start there because I have to build myself back up before I can attend classes again. Have you ever tried spin class? I love it and it is the best workout ever. The best part about is you can adjust your tension to make it harder or easier and nobody around you knows you are doing it. So if you a concerned about what the military guys may think, that is a good one. You definitely need to not be intimidated by others in the gym. They respect you for being there...believe me! This about you and your goals anyway! No need to worry about what others are doing or what they might think. You are doing this for yourself!0
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I can understand how you feel. I HATE exercise. I mean, I loate it with all my being. It's hard, my joints hurts, I get sweaty, I'm sore after...
But I also feel great. I feel like I accomplished something. And I know I am doing something good for my body and my mind. I started by making myself go on the advice of my doctor. He said start slow. 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. I figure if I can give the TV or computer 3 hours a night, I can give myself 30 minutes!
I started by walking on the treadmill. It's boring, so I bought a tv for the room I keep the treadmill in. I started watching dvd's of half hour shows I liked. Before I knew it, my half hour was up and I was done. I watched the entire series of Sex and the City while I walked. After a while 30 minutes was pretty easy so I increased my speed. It got a little harder but I kept going. Then I started to increase my time.
I wanted a new challenge so I started going to the gym after work. I found I liked the elliptical but it was sooo hard for me (I started at 357 pounds). I started at 3 minutes. That's it. That's all I could do. I was embarassed I could not go any longer. There were peole at my gym going for 2 straight hours. But everyday I went in there, with my head up and I kept trying. Now I am up to 35 minutes. I started adding weight training. I discovered I LOVE to lift weights.
I still don't love to work out, but I go to the gym at least 3-4 days a week and I have tried to find things I enjoy doing so it's not so much like work. I ride bicycles at home or walk while I watch my favorite shows. I reward myself for small victories. When I logged for 90 consecutive days I bought myself a Polar HRM to more accurately track my calories burned. It makes a big difference, I find myself competing with myself to up my previous burns for the same workout.
I won't lie, I still have alot of days where I'm tired and don't feel like going, but I MAKE myself do it. It's starting to become a habit for me and just like another part of my day. I always feel a great sense of accomplishment after a workout and I try to remember that feeling as much as I can. Good luck with your journey and I hope you find what works for you! :flowerforyou:0 -
Have you tried the Sweatin' to the Oldies DVDs or something like Wii Just Dance? My friend made me do Wii Just Dance at her place once and even though I felt so silly at the beginning, it was so much fun. I didn't have a Wii, so I got myself the Sweatin' to the Oldies DVDs (super cheap on Amazon or eBay) and they're just as much fun. I find them more lighthearted than regular workout videos, I love the music, I can laugh at myself when I make mistakes (in the privacy of my own home), and I know I can't get hurt if I do something wrong. They're about 40 mins long and include warm-up and cool-down tracks. I don't use them much anymore, but they're still my fallback when I just can't get motivated to work out.0
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I think if you even have that "want" to be a runner, you can do it. I so desperately wanted to be that person who just threw on her sneakers and left her front door for a run. So I began. I would leave my house and i always measured my runs in distance. I would say told you have to run 0.75 miles without stopping once. Or whatever you absolute max distance you can run without stopping, you do that. EVEN if it's 0.25. But keeping a pace and breathing in your nose and out your mouth will make A WORLD of a difference. Also, I couldn't recommend getting the Nike plus GPS app on your iphone (if you have one) and set the app to tell you every time you reach 0.25 miles and it will help keep you motivated. I would keep pushing myself to get those little milestones accomplished in my run. I also set goals for myself. I wanted to be able to finish a 5K without stopping. Took me a little while but I did it. I struggled very hard getting past 3 miles, I was always dead when I got there. Then I had a friend who was an extremely good runner come for a run with me to push me in running further distance. Again, I kept a very slow but steady pace. She got me to run 6 miles! Then a week later I pushed myself to run 8! I'm now training for a 1/2 marathon... and this is coming from a girl who once could only run 2 minutes straight. I never believed stories like this until I did it myself. Running is all mind over matter.... if you have a strong mind, you will go far. Good luck!0
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No one exercises for fun. Its work. Until you find what motivates YOU it will be tough to stick with it. c25k is a wonderful place to start. Access to a gym is a bonus. Someone suggested finding out when it is least occupied by men who are serious about why they are there. Do what you can outdoors,walk ,run, cycle, and trx straps are versitle mobile and use only your body weight for resistance. pick up a hrm for an accurate burn if you want to track it.
It all starts wherever you want it to. Hope you start and stay with something soon...look into the mirror and ask yourself what you see and how you want to REALLY change it..( I am a 50 year old grandmother who simply is not going to look like or feel like it)
Best of luck finding your motivation...its in you to try0 -
I so needed this thread. I also can't stand working out. There isn't a single exercise that I see as "fun" aside from swimming and I don't have a pool. My mom does but she lives 40 mins away so it's not feasible to drive there every day. I hate gyms, treadmills, jogging, lifting weights, circuit training (the worst yet the one I do the most)...zumba I couldn't even follow all the moves. I just stood there looking around at what everyone else was doing like an idiot. I don't mind ellipticals but I know that's using the same muscles over and over...but at least it burns more calories than a treadmill. I'm also all about instant gratification so if I do work out and don't see results, I stop. Or I'll go to the gym for a week and get a cold and stop "to recover" and not go back for months. I hate being in pain for days after working out. And I DO stretch. If I don't work out as hard to "'pace myself", I don't sweat and feel it was worthless. People that say "it feels good" are masochists. It doesn't feel good. It hurts and I can barely walk or sit down, nor can I breathe. I know it's all excuses. I know this. But it's how I really feel.
Bump.
The only thing that has worked for me is that I am learning Tae Kwon Do. I know it seems a little OTT but I started as a beginner and I still am very inexperienced but the reason I keep at it, is because there are people now expecting me there when I tell them I will be. Also, my physical ability is still very limited but you pick up the little things very quickly and get the instant gratification of learning something fast or getting closer to doing the BIG move that looks really cool. It might not be a martial art, maybe it's dance or a sport like volley ball. But it makes you part of a team and then it's not just you that you're letting down it's the people expecting you to be there and you feel the gratification of mentally learning something as well as physically working out
X0 -
I so needed this thread. I also can't stand working out. There isn't a single exercise that I see as "fun" aside from swimming and I don't have a pool. My mom does but she lives 40 mins away so it's not feasible to drive there every day. I hate gyms, treadmills, jogging, lifting weights, circuit training (the worst yet the one I do the most)...zumba I couldn't even follow all the moves. I just stood there looking around at what everyone else was doing like an idiot. I don't mind ellipticals but I know that's using the same muscles over and over...but at least it burns more calories than a treadmill. I'm also all about instant gratification so if I do work out and don't see results, I stop. Or I'll go to the gym for a week and get a cold and stop "to recover" and not go back for months. I hate being in pain for days after working out. And I DO stretch. If I don't work out as hard to "'pace myself", I don't sweat and feel it was worthless. People that say "it feels good" are masochists. It doesn't feel good. It hurts and I can barely walk or sit down, nor can I breathe. I know it's all excuses. I know this. But it's how I really feel.
Bump.
hey girl, i totally get where you are coming from and these frustrations, but i just wanted to warn against promises from the elliptical! the burn is usually very overestimated on this machine (at least from the ones i have encountered and from others i have spoken with). in general, the more you sweat the more calories you're burning. i don't find that i sweat nearly as much on the elliptical as i do running or even walking on an incline on the treadmill or outside. i just wanted to mention it since the burn seems to be really high on it from not a lot of work.
do you like walking? i try to walk as much as possible. it helps! and its relaxing!
Thanks for the reply. I do like walking actually. I get out and walk outside sometimes when it's nice out (but how often is it really nice out? lol). But I also have serious self-conscious issues. Like the OP said about not wanting to go to the gym because of all the military guys there working out? I feel weird going to a REGULAR gym! I actually like seeing people less in shape than me because then I think "Okay they're here! They're doing it! if she can do it, there's no reason I can't!" And when I walk outside, with every car that drives by I'm like "are they looking at my fat *kitten*?" LOL BUT IT'S TRUE!! UGGHH! I'm so ridiculous I piss myself off.0 -
When I started my fitness journey, walking to the mailbox was too much exercise for me. I was detirmined to lose weight without getting off my *kitten*. Clearly that didn't work out for me so one day I sucked it up and went for a "run". I could only run for about 30 seconds at a time but I forced myself out there for 30 minutes 3 times a week. After a certain period I couldn't even imagine NOT going out and running. It takes awhile to make something a habit. But after awhile you will fee worse if you DON'T work out.0
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If you want to run, and you want fun, look no further than the Zombies, Run! app.
You're welcome.
I didn't know I could run until I was being chased by Zombies!!! Check out Run for your Lives0 -
exercise in my house is a sware word. HATE IT! BUT.... I did find aqua classes are fun and they give you an incredible workout and you don't even know it.0
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What I do for exercise is walk to and from work (instead of getting a bus)
It's a total of 12km a day and I walk briskly, it means when I'm finished my days work and I get home I don't have to exercise anymore (I find it really hard to get up and do exercise after doing my days work)
If you live far from work and need to get a bus, get off a few stops earlier or walk to the shop instead of driving. 0
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