Exercise is my torture! Got tips?

peanutsbuddy

Exercise was torture for me too but then I found "Walk away the Pounds" by Leslie Sansone. It's indoor walking with only 4 steps added (knee lifts etc). They are 30 minutes long and you can do anywhere from a mile to two miles in that time. My first exercise love though is the old 80's Richard Simmons "Sweatin to the Oldies" DVDs. it does feel like your exercising but your dancing so it's fun. I hated exercise at first but now I actually enjoy and look forward to it. You just need to find something that works for you. Maybe walking isn't your thing. Find something that is. If you have a Wii game, a good way to start is Wii fitness. It's not "quite" as intense and you forget your exercising because your playing games. That's how I started. I also started with 5 minutes and added 5 minutes more every so many days. 5 extra minutes doesn't seem so bad.

I haven't lost a lot of weight exercising but I am getting toned so don't let the scale fool you. Toning and strength training are just as important.

Good luck in finding what works for for you, just don't give up. Eventually you will probably like exercise. I didn't think I would either but eventually I did.

kaorumisako

I am so sure you will enjoy Pilates, most especially Blogilates. Cassey Ho is the best trainer for me!

http://youtube.com/blogilates

maca416

Got to find what you like for me it's biking & walking but I always hate the first 20mins but after that things kick in & I feel very buzzy I guess the body gets the chemicals pumping around.

No good doing something you hate but whatever you try give it a chance.

jenstanley13

For me I did not enjoy exercising when I started but I did enjoy the time I got to myself (no husband, kid, work needing something). I could go for a walk put in my headphones and even though the walking was challenging until I got used to it the stress relief and music made it worth doing. If you hate walking try riding a bike, try dancing, heck I actually started by using a step in my room and telling myself I could only watch the shows I had dvr'd if was moving while watching them...it worked and got me started.

Now my day does not start out right if I don't start it at the gym, I need that time to myself to focus my mind and get ready for the day...getting a better body and feeling better is almost just a bonus for me

Capt_Apollo

your body is just lazy. that's okay. but sometimes you just have to tell your body "hey, this is happening. get over it."

JamBlaze

I agree with what other people here have said, but I also reckon maybe you're pushing yourself too hard. I know that goes against a lot of people's beliefs when it comes to exercising ("No pain, no gain" and all that), but in my opinion, there's a lot to be said for NOT pushing yourself to the max, and instead work on just getting your heart-rate up a bit, getting a little bit of a sweat on, when exercising on a regular basis. I used to really push myself on runs (and occasionally still do), and I wasn't able to take in all the beautiful scenery and appreciate the niceness of being outdoors, because I was constantly thinking "Knackered. 20 minutes to go. 10 minutes to go." So now, I go a little bit slower, I'm a little less hard on myself, and it's so much more enjoyable! Now it's a nice hobby, not a dread. And because it's more enjoyable, you're more likely to stick with it!

5n0wbal1

Find something fun to do! Basketball, dancing, gardening, anything to get you moving! Exercise doesn't have to be boring and mainstream.

tndejong

it gets better. when i first started i only used my elliptical at home. i set little goals. 10 minutes at a time and increased. i have the machine in front of the tv with a fan. i could strip down and not look like a fool in the gym. after a month i got bored. joined the ymca. when i did that i had a friend who did too. we tried several classes. we would go in the cardio room and try everything. set goals of half and hour.. hour.. etc. i got head phones so i can play pandora on my phone. i have made many investments. arm wrap for my phone, better ear phones, etc. now here i am over 4 months later. i have tried everything and increased my resistances and times. i have different goals for different things i do. i suck at running. so im working on that. but i can kill it on the elliptical. i love spin class. i hate zumba lol. every person is different. but i make it my job. i read 30-45 min of activity a day is recommended by a doctor. so i aim for 45 a day and schedule it like work. and now i actually feel bad if i miss a day. i am now a member at two gyms. one has classes and a pool. the other one has tanning and is 24 hours. its crazy what you do in time when you start this!

TallGlassOfQuirky

Keep trying different things until you find something you enjoy (you're less likely to make excuses to skip it if you actually like it). When I started, all I could do was go for a walk because I was so heavy and out of shape. I did it because I needed to, but I didn't actually love it.
Once I was in the habit of exercising, though, I started trying new things and discovered Zumba and one especially fantastic instructor. Even though I do *not* dance and have absolutely no rhythm, I had so much fun that I kept coming back. It taught me that exercise could be fun.
Since then, I found a lot of other things I enjoyed - hiking, swimming, and lifting (although I am not allowed to do that anymore). You don't HAVE to run to be fit - if you hate it, you hate it.
You can try lots of different things and if you find that the only way you can enjoy exercise is by, I don't know, doing Tae Bo in your skivvies in the basement, then do that. Do other stuff too, but keep looking until you find something you enjoy.

Ayirela

I don't know if this will help you or not? However, this is what I am trying now. I am the worlds worst for exercise! I'll start then be like erggg and stop. However, to get real results exercise has to be done. I always liked lifting (when I was younger and went to the gym) but right now with moving and college and a lot of other real life stuff going on the gym isn't an option. However, cardio was my biggest hate! So, I found this link that helps you train your brain to form exercise as a habit. So, naturally I wrote down on my calendar (since I see it every day) what exercise I'm doing that day so I can check it off. I almost religiously have coffee at least 1x a day so I am making coffee my "trigger" so after the coffee I get up and do my exercise. I still haven't found the "one" person I want to make the person I tell every single day...but the steps are starting to fall into place.

If you don't enjoy running/walking find something you do enjoy. There are so many varieties available today, and if none of them meet your fancy look at some of the old stuff. I won't like Richard Simmons Sweatin' to the Oldies was a lot of fun in its day so I have gone back and done it on occasion (I found it online to stream). Right now I'm back doing Zumba (I have the dvd's) because I know it'll slowly rebuild my cardiovascular strength and it doesn't feel like a chore. I actually enjoy it. There are also video games these days that help make people move. My brother (who has always been in pretty good shape and enjoys running and that kind of thing) did some game with a friend on the xbox kinnect thing and he was so sore from using muscles he hadn't used in a while.

So overall, I think it's all about finding something you enjoy doing and making it a habit. (I'm hoping the habit thing will work because it seems like a great plan) The link is http://zenhabits.net/4-simple-steps-to-start-the-exercise-habit

Best of luck!!

ahamm002

First time exercising for an hour (just moderate walking) probably since last summer. Felt like my legs were going to fall off. I'm just curious how people get to the point of enjoying exercise? I used to exercise regularly, and I've ALWAYS hated it. I used to run, and I could never get into it for some reason. I just don't like pain.

I have some personal trainer friends, and they love exercising. How, I wonder. To me, it's like torture. Can they pass that pain-tolerant gene on to me, please? I want to start loving exercise!

Getting into shape is definitely torture. Once you get into decent shape though the pain greatly decreases and it becomes much more fun!

tarnyacarrier

There are so many different kinda of exercise and what others enjoy you may not! I don't enjoy running! Treadmill running is torture! I do high intensity interval training instead of straight running and it's more enjoyable to me. Working out for an hr is unnecessary. You just have to make sure you're doing the right exercises for short periods of time! My favorite workout are combat, pump, HIIT, rollerblading, biking, and lifting weights! If you'd like more info on the right exercises message me! I can help you!

scottb81

People that exercise a lot don't tolerate pain better. They have simply developed a high enough level of fitness so that it isn't painful anymore. There are no shortcuts.

jody664

I agree with everyone's advice to find something you enjoy doing. But for me, I had to change my "self-talk." I would dread working out and all day at work I would say things to myself like "Ugh, I have to go to the gym tonight." I stopped that and starting saying things like "Wow, once I'm done at the gym, I'm going to feel awesome tonight." I also started rewarding myself for going to the gym. My gym has a whirlpool and a sauna, so after my workout I would reward myself with 10-15 minutes of spa time. It helped me start to enjoy going to the gym.

MegSimmons7

THANK YOU EVERYONE for your thoughts! I Love all your advice. I will start implementing ....

pwnderosa

I love to exercise actually but it is all too easy for me to get off track!

When I started trying to get fit again last year, a lot of workouts hurt and were uncomfortable, so I did a lot of "mini" workouts - 10 minutes or so twice a day, once when I got up to wake me up and once when I got home to help me relax. I feel like I can do almost anything for 10 minutes and it gave me a great basis to get started and it really helped me build up my fitness level slowly so I could do more challenging stuff.

The key for me to stick to it has been finding things I find are fun to do though, there are hundreds of ways to burn calories, so if long walks are boring why not try some different things until you hit on something more fun? Biking is great for low impact, dancing, gardening, sports, martial arts, classes, hula hoop (my fave!) etc. I am sure there is something out there you can learn to love! I also run and lift weights but not really because I love it - I just got in shape enough to where it's not torture and I do those things to get stronger so I can be a better dancer (and look cute in shorts)...it gets addictive when you start to see the results!

quiltlovinlisa

Yup yup, finding something you love is key. You don't even have to love it at first, just not hate it. Let me say that the first few times SUCK. Your muscles have to get use to it. Your whole system has to get use to really using it. My first walk after being a lazy butt for way longer then I want to admit too, SUCKED. Seriously, thought I would die. I walk with my mom and we were a sorry pair limping through the mall, getting passed by grey haired couples.

Pitiful!

Now we're walking three miles at an even 3 mph without getting winded and we're pushing to increase our gait. Get this, it feels GOOD. I look forward to walking. My legs crave the movement. It's an incredible feeling.

So finding something you don't hate. Stick with it, you have to give it a real shot and if you can, find someone to go with you to help pass the time. It's a lot easier with a friend.

A few different activities are good to have in your pocket, in case you really can't do your normal thing. My mom was busy this am, so instead of walking, I woke up and jumped on my bike and road four miles. For some, that's child play, for me, I just upped my riding by one mile and ten minutes and it felt GREAT.

So give it a decent shot. One hour is a long time when you're brand new, a couple of jaunts around the block might be more manageable. Just keep moving. Think activity, not exercise. Good luck!

MagicalLeopleurodon

i hate running. and yoga.

so i lift weights and do plyo instead. if walking is torture-try dancing. if that fills you with suck and hate, try weightlifting.

theres way too much variety to just say, "i hate exercise." keep trying until something clicks.

phurst00

Here are some fun exercises for you:

Frisbee
Badminton
Rollerskating
Biking
Walking/Hiking
Tennis
Workout videos from youtube (Leslie Sansone's Walk at Home is very easy for beginners, but still burns ~100 cal per mile)

Schlackity

I'm in the same boat as you. I've been walking because it's easy and I can fit it in anywhere but I'm nowhere near up to the speed that some people are (I get up to about 3 mph right now). I figure any movement is better than no movement, so even though I'm only doing a mile at a time right now, it's better than before. I have some mysterious issue with my feet....I think it's tendinitis, but I also think it's weight-related, so I keep pushing through it to finish my walk with the hope that eventually the weight strain won't be as bad. Then again, I finish my walk, relax for a few minutes, and then the stiffness and pain are so bad that I have to hold onto the furniture to get around...LOL. I'm 46 on the outside but feel like I'm pushing 80 on the inside. If you have an iPod, load it up with songs you really like and that helps the time go by faster. I put stuff on that's more upbeat and try to keep up with it. Good luck!