Would you exercise if you didn't have to?

Ok. For all you gym lovers, good on you, get down with your bad selves.

I. I am NOT a gym lover. I hate the smell. I hate the chatters, I hate the non chatters. I hate the people who slam the weights down and I hate the tv channels. I hate running shoes and my shirt rides up uncomfortably.

I'm also Type 2 Diabetic (newly diagnosed.)

The thing is, since I started restricting my carbs to more reasonable levels, and started a drug regimen, I am dropping a consistent and pleasing amount of weight. I'm losing about 4 pounds a week which my doctor is quite pleased with as my nutrition plan is being followed.

So, if you didn't have to go? Would you? And can you tell me seriously why? I know for me it's mental and I will most likely eventually have to do it as the carb cutting won't be enough and I'm trying to mentally prepare myself.

I really don't know. I enjoy it to a point, but I could use that time for other things, too.

I HATE going into the gym, though. You might find you enjoy exercise more if you at least do your cardio elsewhere. Swim, walk, run, bike, rollerblade -- whatever -- outside instead.

Of course I would.

I like getting the benefits of workout out.

I hate going to the gym, but luckily, there are many other ways to get exercise. Hiking, canoeing, walking, running, swimming, body weight exercises, my home gym, jumping rope, playing basketball, volleyball, etc, and may more, are all ways you can get exercise that don't in any way have to involve me stepping into a gym.

I workout because I like it, always have and I've always been active, also because I like it. Not everything I do is in the gym, but some of it is because that's the only place I can go to lift weights or swim or cycle with a group etc. You should pick things you love to do, that make you feel fantastic when you're done. So Yes I exercise because I want to, not because I have to.

I don't have to exercise but I choose to. I love lifting heavy. It makes me feel good about myself. It took me almost a year of trying different exercise methods to find something that I enjoyed. I did workout DvDs at home, treadmills, biking, yoga, running outside, bodyweight exercises, HIIT, weight machines, etc. until I found something that I really liked and would stick with. For me that was heavy lifting but that isn't for everyone.

Try different types of exercise until you find something that you like.

Nobody in this world truly has to do anything except for eat, drink, and breath to live and eventually die. That's all which is required. Everything else is a choice. I don't have to go to the gym, nor run (Which I find enjoyable) but I choose to do so. My options are:

1: Not work out, continue to gain weight and become unrecognizable to myself in a mirror, become type 2 diabetic (Like many in my family), suffer the long term consequences of being type 2 diabetic (Loss of sight, loss of feeling in extremities, possible loss of limbs, liver and kidney failure, increased risk of heart disease, increased risk of stroke.) and knowing I am placing an undue burden on my loved ones because I made poor choices.). That doesn't sound too great to me, but it's the easy way to do things, until things go bad (I've seen this first hand too many times now.).

2: I can work out, loose weight, be happy with my self image, be more confident, be more energetic, be more able to help those who need help, have a greater chance of living a longer, healthier, and more fulfilled life...... I will still die as in the above example, but it most likely won't be a long, protracted over several years, painful and sometimes humiliating event. In doing this, I do know I have to give up some time with family, as well as foregoing eating everything I want at all times. I don't have to give anything up in regards to food, only how much of it I do eat. I'll happily give this up in order to not go through the misery I have seen loved ones go through by deciding not to go to the gym and other poor life choices.

I would. Not because I like it but because I don't JUST want to lose the weight. I want to LOOK and FEEL and BE healthy and fit. That is what exercise does for a person.

I sure would! I love how I feel after putting in a good workout, whether it be at the gym or jogging outside, etc.
It relieves stress, and gives me energy. Three years ago I hated to exercise, now, I love it and would not ever want to give it up.

5 years ago I would have said "no, I wouldn't exercise if I didn't have to"
Now it has become habit, I miss it when I don't go. Several reasons....stress relief, I feel better when I leave the gym, I sleep better when I exercise consistantely, I have more energy all the time, I love the feeling of hitting a personal best on some sort of lift...I overall, a happier, healthier person when I exercise regularly. That being said, I don't do everything in the gym, I walk outside, ride a bike outside, go swimming, take different classes. I have even tried a trapeez class.

For the first time in my life, I can honestly say "yes!". I started lifting back in October and found out I love it!

I truly hope you can find an activity you love doing.

Idont have to work out and I hate doing it. So I don't. No one has to exercise. I walk and take the stairs, but I don't go to the gym to get in my fitness.

So, if you didn't have to go? Would you? And can you tell me seriously why? I know for me it's mental and I will most likely eventually have to do it as the carb cutting won't be enough and I'm trying to mentally prepare myself.

I haven't read any replies so perhaps this has been covered, but I'm not sure I understand the questions.

No one has to go to the gym, ever. No one has to exercise to lose weight (not counting preferences and lack of willpower). But exercise is very important for everyone's health and especially for a diabetic. In fact, studies have shown that some diabetics who begin exercising can reduce symptoms of diabetes even if they lose no weight at all.

If you don't like the gym, exercise somewhere else. At home, outside, wherever.

if by "you didn't have to" you mean I could still get fit without exercising, I wouldn't but I would still take a walk or even a jog when I feel like it cause it's really unwinding. but otherwise, i would continue working out

You don't have to go to a Gym to exercise. if you hate it in all likelihood you wont keep at it long term. Maybe search out an exercise that you can do that you may enjoy that doesn't involve a gym.

this. its not sustainable if you dont enjoy it, especially if your goal is to lose weight like most here exercise isnt even a neccessity.
i personally love lifting, feels great and gives me a chance to show how far ive come since i started this journey

I love taking walks, horseback riding when possible, and dancing, so I would do those things regardless. I don't find most other forms of exercise enjoyable. Being inside of a gym is about the last place I want to be.