I hate it, I hate it exercise. I hate it!

You need to get the anemia under control before you take on ANY exercise program. Depending on how severe it is, you can really hurt yourself. When your iron levels are back within normal limits, then you're ready to start slow.

Most people cannot just take off running one day on a whim. You need to build up to it. If you're accustomed to power walking, do the C25K program to get into running. I've heard only great things about it.

Weight training is another option, but don't jump into a Body Pump class without learning the basics first. Keep it simple and keep it short.

If that doesn't appeal to you, there's more....yoga, pilates, water aerobics, skating, circuit training, the options are endless.


Feel better soon and good luck!

Thanks for the responses so far. It's that 'I love it' that phrase, how do you get to that point where you love it because all I've ever felt is pain, headaches, passing out a lot, loads of tiredness, people say your more energetic ha! Not for me. I exercise I'll sleep for ages. Lol.
Like I see people running and I can see the pain on their faces and I'm like geeezzzzz is it really worth it?

I started to respond here, and then figured out it was actually a blog post. Thanks.

http://boldgoat.com/focus/2014/1/6/love

Accept that you hate it, and do it anyway.

I hated exercise too. And I got really tired of people telling me to "try X or try Y; you'll find something that you like!" Um…no. I don't like anything. I don't hate X or Y…I hated exercise! Even walking--I like walking, but not walking at the pace necessary for exercise. So I started doing 'efficient' exercise. That's why I took up running. I hated it too. But I could get by with running for 30 minutes instead of walking for 45. Now--yes, I am currently trying to lose weight. But I lost 70 lbs by doing only "efficient" exercise: interval training with weights for 15 minutes or running for 30 minutes.

I will say, however, that after 5 years of making myself exercise (only at 15 or 30 minutes a pop), I did learn to like it. But yeah…it took 5 years.

So…accept that you hate it, and do it anyway.

I totally hear you! I have been consistently exercising every day for 11 months, and I keep waiting for that magic moment when I suddenly love it...that hasn't happened yet. But I do like the way my body has changed as a result, and I like earning extra calories, so I make myself do it. I started out mostly walking, but that took up too much time. I finally discovered Jillian Michael's 20 minute workouts on dvd. They incorporate a little weightlifting and a little cardio, and I get it over with quickly! No trip to the gym, no membership fees, no inclement weather to deal with. Done. My advice: Find an short exercise dvd you can deal with and do it while listening to music you like. Also, if you want to tighten your stomach while you are losing weight by eating at a deficit...I found that plank exercises were the most effective for me. Hope this helps!

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Find something you really love, I'm sure there's something out there for you. Personally, I hated exercise too until I started heavy lifting and now I love it!!

If you literally try everything and still hate it / aren't willing to do it just for the sake of getting fit, you can still lose weight without exercise. Just stick to a calorie deficit and you will lose. I wouldn't recommend this as I think some form of exercise is good for general fitness and for how you look once the weight is lost, but it's not necessary.

Exercise can be really boring, can't it? I haven't done a video for years as that was awful. I go to the gym, no more than three times a week, and I enjoy what I do. I don't do anything I don't like, so I rarely use the treadmill as I hate running. I like the cross trainer, as you can do it quite slowly and still look energetic because you're moving your arms as well. The exercise bike is hard at first, because it hurts your undercarriage until you get used to it, but even so, I only do 10 minutes - try starting with 5.

Two things motivate me: I bought a heart rate monitor, which links up to a "wristwatch", and also connects to the technogym equipment. I program in my current age and weight, and it tells me precisely how many calories I burn on each machine. I find that really motivating.

I also do some weights, which I enjoy, but this can be quite intimidating if you don't know what to do. My favourite is the leg press, as you see results in the tone of the back of your thighs quite quickly.

Have you tried the vibro plates? They are really high intensity and give very quick results. You can see this by how many calories your heart rate monitor shows.

Remember, exercise doesn't always feel good at the time, but it's the flood of endorphins you get after you stop that makes you feel good. But you DON'T have to always "go for the burn" - you can get good results from relatively little effort, as long as you target those efforts effectively. For example, I do 20 situps - my tip here is use the Swiss ball, as it removes any strain on the back of your neck, and makes it infinitely more comfortable - and 20 side bends each side (you have to put your feet against a wall, rest your hip on the swiss ball, and side cruch up) and I have really strong abs. I don't have a six pack, but my abs are strong, and that is literally all I do for my stomach.

If finances permit, and if you like saunas / hot tubs / steaming, join a gym that offers those facilities, and tell yourself that's why you are going. pack your gym kit, and you'll probably be able to force yourself to do half an hour before you have the treat.

The way I look at exercise is: find something you enjoy (most of the time, bearing in mind there will be days you really find it hard, or just can't face it at all, but don't beat yourself up), do it to a level that you find bearable, not to the point where you feel like a coronary or an asthma attack is imminent, and take it slowly.

I have a friend who I believe is addicted to exercise, and she has had joint operations and all sorts, but she can't help herself. I wouldn't like to be like that, but I do find it is the difference between keeping the weight off, and putting it straight back on.

Good luck

Have you tried the vibro plates? They are really high intensity and give very quick results. You can see this by how many calories your heart rate monitor shows.

HRM's aren't a reliable calorie counter for vibro plates. Any anaerobic exercise isn't accurately read by HRM's. And vibro plates aren't that effective unless combined with a decent overload resistance program. Just moving around on it with just body weight doesn't do much more than what one could do with just body weight exercises alone. Think of the old shaker belts from the 40's here.

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Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition