Exercise phobic!

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Replies

  • aedreana
    aedreana Posts: 979 Member
    I have always avoided exercise. I was sedentary even as a child. Physical activity makes me agitated, hostile. I am told this is "adrenaline." I tried taking swimming lessons at age 15, just in case anyone ever tried to murder me by throwing me in the river. I wss unable to learn to float, much less swim. My limbs were not strong enough to cut through the water! Never have I at any time of life been able to run more than several steps. Literally. I came in dead last every single time we were forced to run in school. Never learned to dance or skate. The only child in my first grade class who couldn't skip. Energy is a foreign concept to me. I watch my dogs run, and I am in awe. I am 61 years old and very healthy. I am 9 pounds over my ideal weight of 112, but I started my diet this past Saturday. I have a very fast metabolism and can eat much more than most people to be this size. I am not a masochist. I have. a low tolerance for pain. I realize that high-strung, energetic Type A personalities find exercise relaxing and stress-reducing. I am a mellow Type B. Physical activity stresses me tremendously. My point is this: exercise is not for everyone.
  • joanna_82
    joanna_82 Posts: 151 Member
    walking is great- do it at a good pace and it will have real benefit.
    Do whatever exercise you feel comfortable with and then increase as you get used to it.

    DVDs at home are brilliant but honestly don't worry about what other people think of you at the gym. Anyone who is there to work hard doesn't notice anyone around them anyway.

    And give yourself more credit- you are trying hard, getting out of your comfort zone and making changes- Well done!
  • AshleighCowie88
    AshleighCowie88 Posts: 100 Member
    Im training for Tough Mudder in June and its proving a real motivator for me.

    You're brave! Best of luck!! x

    I'll need all the luck I can gather! Thank you! :)
  • Frappleberry
    Frappleberry Posts: 251 Member
    Hi everyone.

    Bit of background:

    I'm a 25 year old couch potato! Would like to lose around 40lbs in the hope of boosting my self esteem and so I can stop being
    "The fat friend" !! Got engaged at Christmas and there's absolutely no pressure from him to do this - it's about me and how I feel about myself. My weight has been consistent for about 4 years now (suppose I should be pleased it hasn't increased!) but my main issue is I don't like exercise! Well....that's a bit of a lie. I enjoy swimming when I actually go and I started jogging a few months ago (not for very long!) but I hate being the "fat girl" sweating it out. Literally bright red face and sweat pouring. It's so unattractive and embarrassing next to all the slim, perfect hair and make up types!!

    Anyone else feel like this? Words of wisdom or support?? :(

    X

    Sweat is just fat crying! Embrace the sweat, who cares what people think! Once you start losing weight you won't be the "fat" girl exercising for long! Good luck :)
  • TinyBriony91
    TinyBriony91 Posts: 15
    Take up a team sport that you love, you will bearly know you are exercising!

    I never get time to 'work out' as such, but I still do around 2 hours exercise a day as I own a sports horse and ride with my local riding club, so every day I am mucking out, grooming and training with him. I've been doing it all my life and have never had to watch my weight because of it! In fact the only reason I have this 7 pounds to lose now is because my horse injured himself last year and was out for months, and I really love chocolate. Combination between no riding and lots of chocolate, well you can imagine, ha.

    Good luck! x
  • PonkiPoodles
    PonkiPoodles Posts: 12
    I feel exactly like you! I can't stand going to the gym or doing the same routine exercise over and over again. So I started looking for activities where I could do something that didn't remind me of exercise, but that moved my body sufficiently to where I felt like I got a good work out.... so I signed up to volunteer at a local horse rescue. (Not for everyone, but I love animals!!) I mostly volunteer as a barn hand, but I get to ride horses etc. and after an hour or two of feeding, watering and grooming horses it feels like I got a great workout.
  • bregrig
    bregrig Posts: 154 Member
    I loved doing T25 at home before I was confident enough to go to the gym. And there are so many at home exercises to do! Even doing jumping jacks during commercials while watching tv helps tremendously!
  • sloth3toes
    sloth3toes Posts: 2,212 Member

    I've logged the activity as aerobics (high impact). Does this sound right to you guys? I am unsure exactly how to log the dvd given that I don't own a calorie counter wrist watch thingy! The makers of the dvd say the 'average' person will burn 300-350 calories per session but Im dubious to rate my calorie loss so high and came out with '190 burnt'.

    It depends on how accurate you're trying to be with your logging in general. If you're using a food scale, and trying to get everything dead on, then, you'd probably want a Fitbit to accurately log calories burned, as well. 190 might be just a touch on the low side ( how long did you exercise for? ) But, better to log calories burned low, and calories eaten to the high side, than vice versa. As you did.

    Physical activity stresses me tremendously. My point is this: exercise is not for everyone.

    I read all the replies to see if someone had already pointed this out. And you did. Since the OP has already embarked on an exercise program, or is actively trying to get one started... I don't want to take away from that. But, the fact is, for weight loss only, it's calories in / calories out. Nowhere does it say that anyone HAS to exercise to lose weight. Simply eat at a caloric deficit, and you'll lose weight. Not everyone exercises.

    That said... I lost some weight before I started exercising. I just wasn't 'ready' to start exercising right away. After I'd lost some weight, I slowly ( I am a sloth :blushing: ) started exercising. I got back on the stairclimber that was being used as an indoor clothesline, then I went back to the pool. Then, back to the gym. I don't really like physical activity. But, as time went on, I found it more tolerable. And, I don't wanna jinx myself, but maybe, just maybe, I'm starting to enjoy it. I am now somewhat addicted to it.

    And while there is no requirement to exercise to lose weight.... I know for myself, that I feel much better physically, and about life itself, because I am exercising. And the #1 reason that I exercise, is because it means I can EAT MORE FOOD ! And gawdamn, I like to eat. :wink:

    Also, check these links:


    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1235566-so-you-re-new-here?hl=so+you're+new+here

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

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    ETA links
  • cmouse41
    cmouse41 Posts: 1 Member
    I reckon most people who don't like sport or exercise just didn't happen across something they like doing yet.
    I never got on with most team sports that well and yet that is what most schools focus on but luckily back then I found gymnastics and then trampolining (excellent all round exercise...give it a go if you haven't tried it yet).
    I didn't do any exercise for many years and then realised I really needed to do something (gaining weight and still being a smoker back then) so joined a gym which bored me to tears so I went back to my childhood sport of trampolining and 10 years later (and into my 40s now) am still doing it and loving it and trying other sports out every so often too. Latest discovery is bouldering (no harness and ropes to worry about) which is great fun.
    I also have a load of fitness games for Wii and PS that I do such as Zumba and EAactive etc. though I'm happy to admit that somedays I really just cba and just fall asleep on the sofa :-)
  • pookeyism
    pookeyism Posts: 84 Member
    Then why do something so strenuous? Just do what you like, but do some of it everyday.

    If your intent is to keep this off permanently, your solution has to evolve into happy habits. Do what you LIKE.

    (note my picture - there is no exercise called "running around like a goofy kid swatting at your friends with swords" - but I do it and love it and it is exercise, except I don't even think of it like that. I probably burn about 800 calories or more any given practice)
  • MrTolerable
    MrTolerable Posts: 1,593 Member
    lmoa - you don't have to even exercise with other ppl. ...but I think I work out better around other ppl -

    bring the intensity if you want too loose that much weight, but regardless the gym life isn't ganna do much for you. With that much weight you need to get a on a caloric deficit.

    -I'm not even saying eat clean, but at least start consuming 35-40% protein and a high fat diet (fat as in healthy fat, almonds, extra virgin olive oil... etc...) keep the carbs near nothing..especially the nutty carbs that American's should be red-faced about... pizza, donuts etc... if you gotz to carb make it oatmeal or a potato


    with that much weight its got to be a diet and lifetsyle change.

    GL! :flowerforyou: :drinker:
  • allofme32
    allofme32 Posts: 92 Member
    Exercise sounds like a chore to you. Don't make it a chore. Make it enjoyable. Sneak it in.
    I started getting physical by simply walking my dog a little father from home. Then when the weather got nice I began taking long walks around my job at lunch time. These long walk began with 5 blocks, then 10 blocks then 20 blocks. Now I walk 2 miles in 1/2 hour during my lunch break. Then I started feeling good....mentally and physically. So I began to push myself a little more.
    The more I exercise, the better I felt. I used to feel tired all the time. I had to sustain myself with coffee and sugar just to stay awake at work. Now I am alert and perky.

    Now I forgo the elevator at work and walk up the 6 flights of steps 2 or three times a day to my floor at work.

    I take the train sometimes which forces me to take the stairs (8 flights altogether). I sneak it in.

    Once you start to feel good, once you start dropping pounds, you will get motivated to push your body to see how far it can go.

    Keep at it girl!! You can do this!

    P.S. If you like dancing. Zumba is hella fun!!!
  • johanneleger
    johanneleger Posts: 49 Member
    I do know what you are talking about, since I sweat just thinking about it. But I still go out there, and I just tell myself that people are not as judgemental as I think. What would I think if I saw someone like me jogging, red faced and sweating ?? WELL, I would think that this is a girl who is not just sitting at home waiting for "it" to happen, she is doing something about it and is working really hard at it. I would cheer if I could. Be proud everytime you go out there. "Do something today that your future self will thank you for" :)

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