I Hate Exercise

Karb_Kween · October 2016

I hate it too

ROBOTFOOD · October 2016

I hate resting. But you don't HAVE to exercise in a gym. Go hike a mtn. Rock climb, surf, wakeboard, hell go golf.

Packerjohn · October 2016

The ability to move is a gift. Don't waste the gift, find some form of movement you like and do it.

girlinahat · October 2016

dreamsignals wrote: »

Do you eat enough to support your exercising? If you're on the big caloric deficit, it could be partly responsible for low-energy workouts, slow recovery, etc.

I don't love exercising, but I love climbing. I end up doing lots other exercises in support of my climbing. I don't like low-intensity cardio in general , and the thought of HIIT irks me, but apparently I like jump rope - which is a great warm up for climbing.

This sort of thing.

I used to hate exercise that made me sweat. But I enjoyed swing dancing, which made me sweat. Exercise doesn't need to be the gym, it could be walking, hiking, cycling, climbing, dancing etc. I started running to improve my CV fitness and to be a better hiker and dancer. Now I'm starting strength training to be a better runner.

It's about finding something you enjoy. BUT. If you are feeling that lethargic after exercise then two things are going wrong - you are not eating enough to fuel it, and you are pushing the exercise too hard. Lessen the workouts, increase the fuel and work on levelling out the two.

Sara1791 · October 2016

Packerjohn wrote: »

The ability to move is a gift. Don't waste the gift, find some form of movement you like and do it.

Yes. & it's not guaranteed to always be there.

jgnatca · October 2016

Sara1791 wrote: »

Packerjohn wrote: »

The ability to move is a gift. Don't waste the gift, find some form of movement you like and do it.

Yes. & it's not guaranteed to always be there.

Which reminds me. I passed a stunning fall leaf the other day. Being in a hurry, I didn't pick it up. Now the wind has blown it away and today the snow covers. Opportunity lost.

Sara1791 · October 2016

jgnatca wrote: »

Sara1791 wrote: »

Packerjohn wrote: »

The ability to move is a gift. Don't waste the gift, find some form of movement you like and do it.

Yes. & it's not guaranteed to always be there.

Which reminds me. I passed a stunning fall leaf the other day. Being in a hurry, I didn't pick it up. Now the wind has blown it away and today the snow covers. Opportunity lost.

I stopped and photographed one today.

Made me so happy.

billglitch · October 2016

I used to be a jock now i am just an athletic supporter ;-)

MsRuffBuffNStuff · October 2016

Just take a walk...it doesn't have to be crazy. If exercise is sucking up your time, energy and finances, something is wrong

cnbbnc · October 2016

I guess my question is...do you even want to exercise? It just comes off sounding like you're finding every reason in the world why it wont fly for you.

Not every exercise is for everybody, but there is something everybody can find to do and enjoy. It doesn't have to cost money. It doesn't have to leave you breathless or exhausted. It doesn't have to take a lot of time. And it doesn't have to involve pull-ups....

Try some different things and find something that's fun. Or at least tolerable.... There are a ton of things out there. It is hard getting started, I'll give you that. But once you find your niche I think you just might enjoy it. That being said however, the defeatist attitude has to go because what you're doing now is talking yourself out of everything which is going to leave you stagnant.

arditarose · October 2016

I don't do exercise I really hate. Maybe you should find something you like?

MadDogManor · October 2016

Op, you are not alone - I hate exercising too. For all the reasons you've stated.

Ws2016 · October 2016

Is there a question?

Machka9 · October 2016

What's to hate about cycling down a quiet country road, breathing fresh air, taking in the scenery, listening to the birds.

clicketykeys · October 2016

Hi everybody! OP here. Thank you all for weighing in. I appreciate both the suggestions and the commiserations

You've asked some great questions, and I'll try to address them. (Warning - this may get long-ish.)

1. Find an exercise - or adjust current exercise - so that I'm not tired all the time. I have been doing both weights (mostly dumbbells and bodyweight stuff) and cardio (going for a walk/jog). The parts of me that are the achiest are my calves and feet, so I'm guessing that comes from my cardio. The thing is, I don't feel like I'm doing that much. I'm out for about 40 minutes, and only about 15% of that is jogging, which I added in about two weeks ago. It just doesn't seem like I'm doing that much??? It doesn't seem like what I'm doing should be making me feel this sore and tired. Of course, as a teacher, I'm on my feet a LOT during the day. I'm just not sure what to do about this to make my feet not hurt. After reading everyone's responses, right now my plan is to cut cardio and just do weights for maybe the next two weeks, and just see how my body responds.

2. Find an activity that I enjoy. Okay, so I like dancing. Zumba is a type of cardio I enjoy. But classes are too much of a drain on time (getting to the gym) and money. Here's my question, @ws2016 - how do I not feel embarrassed by the fact that at home, by myself, when I do Zumba, everything shakes? Our house is on a foundation, not a concrete slab, and so if I do any cardio IN the house, the bookshelves and cabinets wiggle and everything rattles and I feel like a freaking elephant.

BTW, @jgnatca, I have Pokemon Go and would love to be able to play, but it requires cell service with a data plan. The game itself is free; its required tech is not.

@girlwithcurls2, swimming is definitely something I'm interested in. There's a community fitness center near where my mom lives that I could drop in at for just $3/session. So the cost is minimal - mostly it's a time issue. It'd be 3 hours out of my day just to pack, travel, change, exercise, shower, change, travel home. But that might be something we could do together on weekends. That'd make it likely 5 hours... but I get along well with my mom, so that's not a bad thing

I work Saturdays through October, but after that it might be a good option!

@rickthexpreacher, maybe weights instead of cardio? You might be able to sit in a chair and use a therapy band without too much stress to your respiratory system. Also, check with your dr about whether singing would be good for you. Sounds weird, but it's a non-exercise-y way to build lung capacity. Bopping along to your favorite tunes (there are lots of karaoke tracks on youtube!) could be really helpful!

3. Eating enough to support exercise. Granted, this is an assumption, because I am crap at logging. But I'm not losing weight (over the past 3 weeks) which makes me fairly certain I'm not at a calorie deficit. That IS a reasonable deduction, right?

4. Eating the right stuff to support exercise. Protein noted! Planning to lift weights this morning and have a spinach-and-cheese egg scramble after. Also, I picked up some Powerade Zero at the grocery store to add in some potassium and magnesium. Hoping that helps! Other ideas SUPER welcome

5. What I'm trying to accomplish... @kimny72, that is a very good question. I think what sent me into my downward spiral was when my husband (bless his heart) tried to encourage me by saying I was getting healthier. And... I don't feel like I am? Or at least, I don't feel like there's any particular need to be healthier than I am. At 6'1" and 190, I'm overweight but just barely. I'm able to do pretty much everything I enjoy. The things I can't do (well) are more a matter of skill or muscle memory, not strength or endurance. I think clearer goals would definitely help. I teach. Our school has a JROTC program. I think it would be fun to be able to drop and do 50 push-ups with my students. I think that would surprise and amuse them. I'd like to be able to run 3 miles (5k) without having to stop and gasp for air, so that I could run alongside our cross country team. I'd like to be able to do drills beside the football players to encourage them to keep going. If I can do it, so can you, right? (Only I don't know that I can do that yet!)

6. Do I *want* to exercise? @cnbbnc, I'm actually pretty good at forcing myself to do things I don't want to do. But I'm not seeing results that make me feel like it's a worthwhile expenditure of my time, energy, and resources. Usually, it doesn't actually make me miserable. But it's never something I enjoy or look forward to. It's something I do because I should - or because I feel like I should. I'm not sure that's reason enough.

So, after reading all of your wonderful, thought-provoking responses, thinking it over, talking about it with my husband, current plan is to stop cardio and focus on weights for the next two weeks, and see what happens. Also, to talk to my mom about maybe going swimming on the weekends starting in November. I know this is a huge post, so if you've bothered to read all of it, thanks! And if you have other ideas or suggestions, I'd love to hear them. I really, really do appreciate your responses.

RaeBeeBaby · October 2016

I know lots of people have already said it, but definitely stop doing whatever you're doing if you really, really hate it! As far as the Zumba goes, who cares if the furniture shakes? Dance as if nobody is watching. I dance all over my house throughout the day, whenever the mood strikes. My fur babies are used to it, as is my husband.

I haven't seen anyone mention this in previous posts, but maybe you should also have a physical exam. Make sure you're healthy enough for the things you've been doing. Out of breath from cardio when you've been doing it awhile is a concern. Not to suggest you have anything serious, but perhaps anemic or vitamin deficiency.

I want to throw in a couple exercises that I do that are fun - disc golf and aquasize. Love workouts in the pool. Love throwing plastic frisbees at baskets with my husband (not at him). That's not just a workout, it's a blast! Last time I picked apples off a tree in the middle of the course (akin to picking up the leaf).

Carpe diem!

AnnPT77 · October 2016

OP, congratulations on moving from rant to action plan. That's impressive and inspiring.

Your doing so somewhat renders my first thought less useful, but I'm going to make the observation anyway, because there may be folks reading for whom it could resonate:

Don't self-define as "hating exercise". It's a super-broad statement. It's a very extreme statement, very black & white. I've seen so many people among my acquaintances self-define into a tiny, safe, unproductive and often unhappy box (about many things, not just exercise), leaving themselves no room for growth or change.

There's both a tiny conceptual shift, and at the same time a big gulf between "I hate exercise" and (say) "I haven't found the right kind of enjoyable activity yet" or "I'm finding my current exercise routine unsatisfying and unenjoyable". The latter ideas create mental space for change, for new ideas, new options.
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clicketykeys wrote: »

(much amazing good stuff snipped)

2. Find an activity that I enjoy. Okay, so I like dancing. Zumba is a type of cardio I enjoy. But classes are too much of a drain on time (getting to the gym) and money. Here's my question, @ws2016 - how do I not feel embarrassed by the fact that at home, by myself, when I do Zumba, everything shakes? Our house is on a foundation, not a concrete slab, and so if I do any cardio IN the house, the bookshelves and cabinets wiggle and everything rattles and I feel like a freaking elephant. BTW, @jgnatca, I have Pokemon Go and would love to be able to play, but it requires cell service with a data plan. The game itself is free; its required tech is not.

(more goodness snipped)

Your house is dancing with you. I think that's pretty cool. Nice intensity, @clicketykeys! But if it really bugs you, would trying a low-impact version make a difference (and maybe take some stress off your feet, which seem to be one of your challenging body areas)?

jgnatca · October 2016

Lovely explanation of all that you are thinking and feeling. I'll throw in a few random thoughts.

Your final goals seem to be to portray an adult that has got it all together; one tough lady. Might it be just as important lesson to portray an adult with regular failings, who doesn't yet have it all together, but tries anyways? How would the team react if you came in and did three trembling push-ups?

I like your new plan.

Oh, by the way, with Pokemon Go I've scouted out all the local Pokestops and gyms in Wi-Fi zones. Check the library and the local colleges.

ChloeCoco1245 · October 2016

I recommend starting out by just doing a few walks here and there then get more into some yoga or slight abs or legs then keep growing. This will help your body feel and grow better when you ease your way into working out instead of going full force to quick. If you ever need more help don't be afraid to ask me!

Red_Pill · October 2016

How dare you. I kid.. But seriously, once you've been at it for a good while you'll learn to love it. It's natural to dislike doing something you suck at. I sucked at playing the piano at first now I'm f**king awesome. It takes time. And also, like someone said, don't do exercises you genuinely hate. For example squats. Atm I'm not really a big fan of squatting. So I go heavy, do a few reps and I keep it moving. Or for you, you can just cut out what you don't like completely.

I Hate Exercise

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