Help! I absolutely dread excercising...
pianoplaya94
Posts: 185 Member
I dread it to the point where sometimes I will drive to the gym and sit in the car for an hour before FINALLY going in (or occasionally I'll change my mind and go home). I listen to music to make it a bit better. Any tips on overcoming this resistance and just excercising? Another way of thinking about it?
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Think of the final results0
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then why are you doing what you are doing?
stop doing it...find something you like better...or least objectionable...
I love my exercise...very rarely do I not want to do it...0 -
Wow...an hour...that sounds awful! You need to find something you enjoy doing! I would start trying different types of exercising; biking, hiking, running, swimming, etc...because you've got to find something you actually love to do...that way you'll want to do it! Or maybe talk to your doctor about getting on some sort of anti-anxiety medication...that could help.0
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Find different exercises that you DO like?0
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I exercise almost daily. My wife on the other hand, exercises "seasonally" and had your same attitude.
I got her taking Zumba classes at the gym the past couple of weekends. She is just a newbie, but so far she loves it so far.0 -
Maybe start with exercises you can do at home rather than going to the gym. If you are just starting out and new to exercising then I don't blame you for not liking it. I didn't like it either - before. It will grow on you, but you have to push yourself to do it (thats if you really want to). Keep in mind that weight loss is possible without exercise.0
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"HTFU"0
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You really need a friend to go with that way you keep one another intrested by talking out your accomplishments having a workout friend would be great for you. Of coarse you can do that here to we will all have open eyes and look forward to reading about what you have done. Now make that drive to the gym count then let us know what you did.0
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Is it the gym or the exercise?
If it's the gym, try doing videos at home or download a running app (C25K is a good walk/run training app).
If it's the exercise itself, what is it that puts you off? Is it not knowing what exercises to do, is it getting out of breath, is it boredom, etc?0 -
what they all said find soemthing that involves movement which you cna put up with, it doesnt have to be the gym.
Have you worked out what it is about the gym that makes you dislike it?
Find that out and then you will be closer to your solution.
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I'm with you, OP. I have always hated exercising, but I only sit in the car for half an hour outside the gym. I am so tired all the time, but, rather than energizing me, exercising makes me more tired. I can't stay awake and I fall asleep in inappropriate situations. I can't offer advice, but I wanted to let you know that you are not alone.0
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What has helped me is realizing it is a way to release. It's a stress reliever. I love reading and gaming, but I'm turning my exercise into my "me time". Think of it as your meditation, where you can be you, whilst improving yourself at the same time. Start slow. The goal is so you don't think of it as a chore.
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There is a trend to the advice that I think most people are going to completely agree with.[Then] why are you doing what you are doing?
stop doing it...find something you like better...or least objectionable...
I love my exercise...very rarely do I not want to do it...
Like you, I am not a good gym member either, but I do like biking, hiking, swimming, walking, martial arts training, and other activities. For me, they are fun to do. I do need to add into the mix some more strength training, but there are great "at-home" routines that don't take me that long to do.
Find things that are not "exercise", but are fun physical pursuits.0 -
I've been going to the gym for over 2 years so I'm definitely not new. But I have also been dreading going for those 2 years... I go about 4 - 5 times a week.
I don't mind the gym aspect of it. It's the actual exercising I don't like. Probably a combination of running out of breath and boredom. I sometimes run which I like slightly better but it is just not the same intensity as the gym which I find is the best for weight loss.0 -
This is more illuminating.
Do you use music?
Have you tried other forms of exercise, other machines or classes? HIIT?
Sports?
I know a bit of where you are coming from, but to kill the boredom then its a bit of what everyone was saying= focus and know why, easier if you do something you enjoy, bit of just get on with it.
I record all my times so have been able to see the performance increases over time, do you do that? When I use music it helps me relax and as I use times as well it helps me focus. Its only a small % of people you see at the gym who really go for it and it seems far more common to see people going through the motions.
Are you doing weights? How long are you running for? I find in most situations its faster and more rewarding to get on with it than the energy you could waste over fretting.0 -
I would think I would hate wasting that much time doing literally nothing with my life- rather than going in and doing 30 minutes of work.
wasting time annoys me. Working out- not so much. But like cleaning annoys me- and I hate doing it- I'll only put it of for so long- because wasting time doing nothing is a waste- but if I just suck it up and clean- then I only feel like I wasted 30 minutes in stead of an hour procrastinating.
Suck it up and do it.
While you're doing that - look at other things with long terms goals- exercising aimlessly IS aggravating. But when you have a goal- that makes it more worth while. So find something you like- and or find some long term goals- but stop wasting your life away procrastinating- that's just silly.0 -
Have you tried classes and/or videos? A lot of times just the mental focus involved in following an instructor makes the time pass more quickly. My old gym had the cardio machines facing the weights area so there was plenty to focus on (ie boys picking up heavy things and putting them back down) but after I moved the elliptical/treadmill/stairmaster got WAY boring in a hurry.0
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I hate cardio machines. I only do fitness classes mostly Zumba. And some walks outside. Try more new things and see if you can find something you like.0
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Ideas
1) read while doing cardio, that's how I tricked myself into an hour on a bike
2) buy some AWESOME new workout clothes that put a bounce in your step
3) reward yourself for working out (non-food) ex: I love tanning and lifting, so I don't let myself lift until I've done at least 20 mins of cardio. If I do cardio and lift, I let myself tan :-)
4) get a buddy or trainer for accountability
5) quit exercising and just go play. Have kids or friends with kids? Playground. Have a dog? dog park. Live new water or a pool? Swim. Have friends? Adult rec soccer/softball/dodgeball league.0 -
I get so bored at the gym but I have serious allergies that make strenuous exercise outside dangerous and difficult.
So what I do is watch TV or a movie on my phone. I download or stream a show that I'd be watching at home and tell myself I'd be watching this at home anyway so I might as well be watching it at the gym. Right now I'm making my way through Jurassic Park 45 minutes at a time.
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The money used for the gym membership would be motivation enough for me.
Walk outside. I love meeting my 10 000 step goal 0 -
theredhead77 wrote: »I get so bored at the gym but I have serious allergies that make strenuous exercise outside dangerous and difficult.
So what I do is watch TV or a movie on my phone. I download or stream a show that I'd be watching at home and tell myself I'd be watching this at home anyway so I might as well be watching it at the gym. Right now I'm making my way through Jurassic Park 45 minutes at a time.
Great taste in movies there
Also yes OP, have you also tried music apps like pandora or spotify to spice up your music selection?0 -
Sometimes doing you want for yourself later can help with what you want to do now...When you are really ready you will find that something and stop fighting yourself so hard...It starts in your head. You don't HAVE to do anything, but doing nothing is also how you get nothing...0
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Try out different things and see what sticks. As one person said, try classes. You might find one that you like....and there are all kinds: Pilates, Tai Chi, Aqua Aerobics, Spin Class, Yoga, Circuit, etc.
Who know? It may just be that you might want a social aspect added to your exercise regimen.0 -
Sometimes, before I do a major exercise, I find myself stalling, or finding something I have to do first, or exaggerating a pain I have and deciding maybe I shouldn't do it today. And the reason is fear: fear of failure, of weakness, of finding out I'm so far away from where I think I should be that I'll give up in despair. And if I skip one day, I sometimes end up skipping the whole week, since I'm a Libra and have to be balanced.
Tonight I made myself do my exercise of the day (one armed pushups, likely with atrocious form) and my fears were, as usual, unfounded. So, OP, my advice to you is not to be afraid to fail. Chances are, you won't. And even if you do, you STILL got better, because you exercised, and your body is that much better because you did.
In fact, I'll go a step further and say...don't fail. There's no reason to try an exercise you don't think you can do. If you don't think you're up to a tempo run at a 5% incline, then make it a run you know you CAN do. Lots of guys here approach weight training or running like they have to be on the edge of failure for every lift to get the most out of it, or wonder if they'll make their run time without collapsing to improve their VO2 level. You don't. If that's what's keeping you from exercising, then swear to yourself to make every session within your capabilities without apology. Think you won't improve that way? You will. Your form will get better, your joints will catch up to your muscles, and your confidence in yourself will grow until you can't WAIT to bump up the MPH on the treadmill another tick or two.
There's more than one way to exercise your heart, is what I'm saying.
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Why are you going to the gym and what are you doing there? If it is so boring, whatever it is you are doing is not the right routine for you. Time to try something else: dance, swim, try different classes, do yoga, pilates, get a bicycle and use it instead of your car, schedule a long walk before/after work, choose a new sport to learn.0
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I don't like the gym, I feel like a hamster in a wheel. So I started trying new things, and about a year and a half ago, I took up Taekwondo. I love it! It's interesting, and progressive, and has a purpose other than fitness. I feel like I'm really achieving, and lo and behold - it makes me want to do other 'fitness' type stuff so I get better at it!
So I second the 'find something you like better'.0
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