I hate exercise - help

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Replies

  • backinthenines
    backinthenines Posts: 1,083 Member
    Well people I'm going to my first Zumba class tonight after all this. AND I'm going to cycle (in the rain) to get to the class.

    HAPPY!!!!??!?!?!?

    :P

    As long as you come back and tell us you feel better for it. :wink: :flowerforyou:
  • Maybe you need to look at something a little out of the box? Dancing, of any sort could work. I personally love Zumba, was hard at first but you get the hang of it eventually and it is enjoyable. Some ladies i know do pole dancing, its good exercise lots of fun and could be useful too lol all i can suggest is try a few different things til you find what works for you!!
  • CasperO
    CasperO Posts: 2,913 Member
    You have a bike. Do you like to bike? I love to bike, so I bike a lot. If you can find a nice 10 or 12 mile loop that you can bike in about an hour, and you do that every day,,, you will have fun and cardio up and it's just great. And you will burn up beaucoup calories and drop serious tonnage.

    For me biking doesn't feel like exercise, it feels like playing, and I love it. It's almost time,,, :-)
  • ingeborgv
    ingeborgv Posts: 175 Member
    I used to be just like you. I "hated running". I "was too weak for push-ups". I would plan on going to the gym, but something "important" came up.

    Then I started seeing working out as part of the job of being me. I figured out that I should be able to run 30 min without stopping - after all, I hadn't yet turned 30 (I'm turning 32 in just over a week now, this was a couple of years ago). I started to find running fun and - you will never believe it - intellectually challenging. Because I made my own fitness level into a project.

    A year ago, I hired a personal trainer. And what do you know, litle old "weak" me turns out to be the strongest girl she has ever trained. I just hadn't pushed myself enough to understand I enjoyed the challenge. Now, we do monthly tests for something - I've had a 10k running project, weight lifting projects, interval training projects. And it works - I can now run a 10k in 50 minutes and do 40 push-ups.

    You can do it if you decide to. And you will certainly have a better time of it if you find something you enjoy to do. But for me, the mindset part was the trick - hitting the gym 4 times a week is part of the job of being me. No options. No excuses. It works.
  • I think a goal and accountability are important.

    I set a goal to run a half marathon and then set about preparing and training for it. In the meantime, I told everyone that I was going to run a half marathon. Often when the weather was bad, or I didn't feel like going for a run, I would think about having to go back and tell everyone that I did not run the race, I had quit. I hate the idea of quitting. So, I put on my shoes and went for a run. 5 years later, I'm training for my first marathon, and I've told everyone (including you).

    Your goal doesn't have to be running related. It could be to ride a stationary bike for a certain amount of time without stopping, or to complete the P90X workout series. It could be to complete a session of Zumba. I set some big goals because I knew that I wouldn't be able to slack off and the great feeling once I finished would be its own reward.

    Mike
  • petey49
    petey49 Posts: 58 Member
    Don't think of it as exercise. Think of it as extra food or treats to eat. If I want an ice cream, I know that 30 minutes of vigorous movement will allow me to eat it without guilt. I only have so many calories in the daily budget, so if I want to go over I have to earn them. Sort of like real life, if you want to stay out of debt.
  • CatseyeHardcast
    CatseyeHardcast Posts: 224 Member
    Another good idea is walking. I know it can be boring at times so perhaps download some audio books and listen to them as you walk. Before you know it you are walking further, losing weight and have "read" all those classics you should have but never got round to.

    *Stephen Fry did this and managed to lose a considerable amount of weight*
  • I think forst and foremost you need to change your attitude about exercizing.
  • kjc7
    kjc7 Posts: 14
    leilaphoenix,

    If you don't like exercise, don't do it. Instead find an activity that is fun! Whether that is dancing, competitive shopping, hiking, taking a dog for a walk or playing Red Rover. I'll bet when you were a kid you loved to be outside playing tag or running around with friends in some way. Exercise should not be drudgery. It should be fun. Find some way to move around while having fun. But most importantly, move around.

    Good luck.
  • SaraTonin
    SaraTonin Posts: 551 Member
    I know how you feel. I HATE HATE HATE running, and with the weather below freezing for a good section of the winter here (7th coldest city in the United States), it's even dangerous due to ice and snow. Plus it's cold and windy and depressing.

    I recently started jumping rope and I LOVE it because not only do I not have to run, but it burns nearly 150 calories in just ten minutes. Pretty amazing! You can search Youtube for videos of different exercises to do too.

    Thought I'd share another idea that requires even less travel. No outside for me!
  • leilaphoenix
    leilaphoenix Posts: 839 Member
    Thanks for all the inspiration everyone. I like the idea of having audio books to listen to. I do like to cycle and will start cycling to work again soon once its just a tad warmer (that's 6 miles a day). I cycled all summer last year (March - October) and it was good (although mainly because it cuts my commute time in half!!!)

    In other news, I went to Zumba for the first time tonight. Got the steps pretty easily just pretty knackered afterwards but it was pretty good. :)
  • oysterboy
    oysterboy Posts: 31 Member
    Have you tried wearing a coat? Seriously I've been cycling in to work all winter and it's fine.
    If you're cold then you aren't peddling fast enough :wink:
  • CasperO
    CasperO Posts: 2,913 Member
    Thanks for all the inspiration everyone. I like the idea of having audio books to listen to. I do like to cycle and will start cycling to work again soon once its just a tad warmer (that's 6 miles a day). I cycled all summer last year (March - October) and it was good (although mainly because it cuts my commute time in half!!!)<snip>
    6 miles a day is a nice warmup. How about if you find a nice fun circle and make the trip home a good 12 miler every day. That's about an hour for most of us. You're going anyway.

    An hour on the bike chews off a ton of calories. It'll be your workour for the day, you'll have fun, you'll feel great.

    Thoughts?
  • annette6926
    annette6926 Posts: 13 Member
    So I have been on MFP for a few weeks and doing well with keeping to my daily calorie count etc and starting to lose a few pounds. My next problem is the fact that I don't do any exercise. I need some ideas and motivation.

    I've always been crap at sports in general. I've got big boobs and short legs and just don't feel like I'm made for exercise. I hate running more than anything. The gym bores me to death. I don't like the idea of doing exercise at home infront of the TV.

    I do cycle to work in the summer but its slow cycling and only 3 miles. I like swimming but it is such a hassle to get ready for. I used to do professional dancing as a kid but gave it up when I hit puberty.

    So now I've had a moan - can anyone suggest things I might enjoy that don't involved running of any description? I might like group classes but don't know where to start?

    HELP!

    I was the same, im 33 and never really done much exercise at all the occasional time i'd join a gym then never go! I hate sweating but i recently decided to try some fitness classes (I have dvd's at home which i never really use) I hate the gym, i find it boring, in the last week i have been to Body Combat twice, Body Attack twice and Body step once and altho the first time in each is hard work it really is a great work out and this is coming from a person who normally despises working out, the fact u have someone there getting u to work harder and burn the fat is what i like about it, I am also going to try zumba, legs bums and tums and see which ones i prefer to do and then get into the classes i like best. As for you big boobs situation, get yourself a really good sports bra to keep them at bay!
    I have surprised myself and for once in my life i'm finally getting into working out! I hope you do too!
  • WitherAway
    WitherAway Posts: 13 Member
    I've joined the gym so many times... thinking about going doesn't get me there!!! (I actually joined January.. and haven't been yet) My knees can't take Zumba, or dancing until I loose some weight... pretty ironic isn't it??? I'd love to ride a bicycle, walk in the park, all of the activities I long to join in... require weight loss first :((((((


    Traditional exercise... not for me!!!!
  • LG61820
    LG61820 Posts: 372 Member
    Wither Away, I challenge you on the walking in the park statement. I believe that if you can walk to the kitchen you can walk in the park or anywhere else. Years of carrying 70 or so extra pounds did my knees in. I got thinner, but not fitter. When I decided to get fit I had a lot of pain, a LOT of knee pain. I kept going. I take Inflame Away every day. When things with my knees or plantar faciitis get really bad I'll drink a liquid glucosamine/chondroitin supplement every day for awhile.

    I started by walking, just walking. I parked all extra far away from the door at my job or at stores. I walked on my breaks. I walked in the evening. I started to run just a little and it really hurt, but I stuck with it and it got better. I actually believe that the impact helps your knees! It did mine anyway.

    I'm your elder and now I do a LOT of jumping in my morning workouts and running and skipping in my noontime workouts. I am fitter than I have ever been. It started by walking.
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