I HATE exercising! Is it really necessary?

askinnylegendicon · March 2018

Am I the only one who feels this way?

I know that everyone says important to exercise and do cardio or whatever but I just can't do it. I don't want to do it, everything hurts, and I don't have time for it.

I'm fine with sticking to caloric deficit and IF, I've lost 16 kg (35 lbs) since January 8th but I still see no major difference on my body. I see other people who've lost the same amount of weight as I have but they have worked out as well, so they have banging bodies.

I hate my muffin top, I hate my extra thick thighs (I'm fine with my booty tho) and I want to get rid of all that fat, but I guess the only way for that would be through exercise? I still walk and do them stepz though, from 5-12k a day. However, I don't want to run, I don't want to go to the gym and pay knowing that I won't use it because I'm extra insecure.

Anyone who's had similar experiences? What do I do?

LivingtheLeanDream · March 2018

You can lose weight without exercise - losing weight is all about eating less calories than we burn.
But what I will say is, exercise is for more than weight loss purposes - its really good for us, our heart/lungs/muscles etc, even mentally it gives us a boost - if we want to age well and be strong and healthy then its a must. I'm not talking about having to go to the gym either, walking is as good as any so if you are doing plenty of walking already, you are exercising.

Machka9 · March 2018

You don't need exercise.

The way to get rid of your muffin top and extra thick thighs is by eating fewer calories than you burn. You've lost 16 kg, so just keep up what you're doing. Eventually you'll lose the muffin top and extra thick thighs. But you might not have much muscle development.

However, you seem to have a misunderstanding of what exercise is. If you're walking, you're exercising. Exercise is not necessarily running or going to the gym. Exercise is all sorts of things.

Have a look at the List of Sports
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sports

Obviously some things on that list aren't going to do much for you, but there are a lot of options. Try a bunch. Find out what you like.

MichelleWithMoxie · March 2018

you might look into at home workouts. There’s a lot out there on YouTube for free, and even more if you’re willing to shell out some cash money.

MichelleWithMoxie · March 2018

Oh, but no it’s not necessary for weight loss.

estherdragonbat · March 2018

It's not necessary for weight-loss, but it may be useful in minimizing the downsides of the weight-loss process. My experience won't necessarily hold true for others, but what I've found when I exercise has been:

I'm not as hungry. My main exercise is walking and strength-training with lighter dumbbells and I eat back half of what MFP says I burned. A couple of months ago, I had surgery and went through almost a week when exercising wasn't feasible (better known as, 'I didn't want to take a 2-hour walk with a catheter bag attached to me' and I was forbidden to lift anything heavier than 3lbs'). I figured, 'no biggie. I'll just stick to my regular calories. If I'm not exercising, I won't need the extras'. They weren't enough. I kept wanting to eat. I took my deficit from 1lb to 1/2lb. Still hungry. A maintenance break made it tolerable, but it wasn't until I could start walking again that things got back to normal.
I eat out of stress. Exercise helps relieve it.
I eat out of boredom. Exercise gives me something to do.
I eat out of guilt because I ate something over my calories. Exercise gives me more calories.
I used to experience severe cramps at TOM. Exercise (specifically core/abdominal work) has minimized them considerably. Some months, they're completely non-existent. Even when they aren't, OTC meds take care of the issue fully, whereas in the past, they reduced the pains to a more manageable level but didn't totally eliminate them.

I'm absolutely not disagreeing with those saying it's not necessary for weight-loss. It isn't. But in my case, at least, it is necessary for less-stressful, easier weight-loss.

TavistockToad · March 2018

is exercise necessary for weight loss? nope.

is exercise necessary for good health? yep!

the good news is there are tonnes of different ways to get some exercise in, and walking is as good as any.

sschauer513 · March 2018

I would start looking at exercise differently find something you like to do that is sudo exercise. I found I love going on hikes in the woods physically demanding but fun. Do you have to exercise no but exercise builds lean muscle which helps long term with maintaining and overall health. If it is going to the gym you hate keep looking for other ways to exercise you don't have to do 30-60 minutes in the gym daily 15 mins here and there at home all add up.

snowflake954 · March 2018

You seem to have expectations. So you know what you have to do. Good luck.

daloverlyme · March 2018

I did 45 minutes of high impact cardio and a 3-mile walk. I'm feeling it today! I never want to exercise again!

Joanna2012B · March 2018

Exercise is not necessary for weight loss, but is still very important for your overall health. Exercise comes in many different forms, find something that you enjoy doing! It could be riding a bike, walking, hiking, swimming, rock climbing, running, weight lifting, crossfit.....so much more. It's not always performed in a gym.

alyssa_rest · March 2018

I honestly rarely do cardio because I hate it. On nice days, I'll take my dogs for a 2 mile walk, but that's as much as I get. I started doing more HIIT workouts with some lifting and I'm really enjoying it.

Try out different things. You may find something you like. If not, there's always dancing in your underwear.

P.S. Congrats on the weight loss! That's awesome.

dlm4mom · March 2018

I hate exercise too. I am working on losing weight but cutting calories. It is slow going but I am losing. I just can't make myself do it. I do enjoy walking but deliberate walking for a reason. I have been walking more at work and walking around the malls near me.

jugar · March 2018

Sure it makes you sore at first especially if you overdo it. That will go away! Guaranteed. And you will feel so amazing even starting off easy. Move while you watch any episode, walk while listening to music or audio books - it can be simple and still help you feel great.

artbyrachelh · March 2018

Can you join a class? I am like you: I hate exercise and sports. Hate them! But I found a class at the Y with an instructor I adore and the people in the class have become my friends. Going to the Y is social and healthy! Good luck!

brenn24179 · March 2018

funny how people are different. I love the gym, like another said found friends there and like the group exercise but I am semi retired, so it gives me something to do

jgnatca · March 2018

If you were hoping for six weeks of exercise to eliminate the muffin top you are doomed for disappointment.

You aren’t exercising for fun. Find your fun.

Continue to diet to lose the fat.

If you find a fun exercise, you will have a rocking body that is strong and flexible enough to do fun stuff. Like playing in a softball league or dancing Zumba style.

batorkin · March 2018

I'm sorry but nothing worth having ever comes easy. Sure you can lose weight doing no exercise, but having low body fat % does not automatically make you healthy and without regular exercise you probably will never be happy with what you see in the mirror.

You dropped 35 pounds without noticing anything because you are probably pulling from both muscle and fat. You'll keep getting smaller measurements, but you probably won't look "fit" when you reach your goal. Without regular exercise and lean muscle mass, the best most people can usually achieve is "skinny fat". Some people get good genetics and have it easier, but I wouldn't count on that.

It is much harder to gain muscle than to lose weight, so you should do everything you can to avoid losing muscle when cutting. That means exercise and lifting regularly for the rest of your life, and especially when you are at a calorie deficiency.

If all you care about is looking good in clothes, then by all means lose the weight by diet alone. Just lower your expectations and don't expect much definition when the clothes come off.

blackcatfitness · March 2018

I recently switched to a whole food plant based diet/lifestyle two months ago and lost 20lbs in two months. I also worked out very hard for two months....I don't think i would have lost as much so soon had i not exercised but i have known people who just lost 20lbs in a year from switching to vegan

cwolfman13 · March 2018

You know walking is exercise right?

askinnylegendicon · March 2018

cwolfman13 wrote: »

You know walking is exercise right?

I never considered it as exercise tbh, but I guess it makes sense! At least I'm not in my bed all day long. It's just frustrating when you don't magically see results

concordancia · March 2018

Exercises for health:
Walking
Dancing
Hula hooping
Swimming
Water aerobics
Wii fit games
Yoga
Tai chi
Biking

Almost anyone can find something they like, but it might take a while of trying different things.

teiteiboo · March 2018

Muscle burns fat; lifting weights would be optimal for you to rev up your metabolism and continue to burn calories even after you're done exercising and you wouldn't have to do it for an hour at a time or anything like that. Cardio only burns calories at the time you're doing it. Whether we like it or not, this is what we have to do, especially when we get older (40s and up). In the meantime, walking is fantastic for lowering cortisol in your body which is the culprit (usually) behind our belly fat. Good luck to you - you CAN do it!!

iWishMyNameWasRebel · March 2018

Eating right changes your size. Exercise changes your shape. I used to hate exercise too. In fact, I’d still much rather lay in the hammock than lift weights. However, I LOVE the results from the little bit of time I spend sculpting and challenging my body, especially the mental results. I hate brushing my teeth too, but I do that anyway, because I like having teeth in my head and my breath not peeling paint. We do LOTS of tasks that are not what we enjoy, but the results from doing the tasks make them so worth it. Physical activity is no different (for those of us who don’t love it). Also, try lots of different activities, and do the ones you hate the least.

AnvilHead · March 2018

Calories are what matter for weight loss. With that said, you can certainly lose weight without exercise, but you may not like the results when you reach your goal weight.

snowflake954 · March 2018

As I said before--your expectations are high. You are already comparing yourself to great bodies, people that are working out. Without exercise of some kind you will lose the weight, but will lose muscle and may not like the results. So--what's it gonna be? You only get one life and one body. It's up to you to decide--there are no miracles.

lauracups · March 2018

Necessary no, beneficial in so many ways, yes.

haylzcov80 · March 2018

Do you like music? Just pop on your favourite songs and dance, throw some shapes, move in any way you want, laugh, make it so much fun and there you go you have exercised!

rainbow198 · March 2018

I know exactly what you mean OP. I felt the same way early on. But for my health and for my goals I knew exercise would eventually have to be apart of my plan.

So I tried all kinds of sports, activities and exercise and found things I enjoyed. Years later, now I LOVE being active everyday. It's not always a workout either. I'll walk or chase my puppy around, dance silly with my hubby, go on family walks etc.

Good luck!

Movemoreguy22 · March 2018

Just do something that gets your heart rate up.. something fun even if it's a game of it or kiss chase haha..

wandasherratt · March 2018

I understand when you say that exercise hurts, which makes you averse to doing it. This is my second time around aiming to lose about 70 lbs. I'm halfway there, and I've learned something from my earlier experience using WeightWatchers. You CAN lose weight without exercise, and at the beginning, that's probably the best thing to do. If you're carrying a lot of extra weight, of course it's going to to hurt to try to move all that mass! Now that you've lost some weight, you can gradually introduce exercise and slowly build some muscle. Do something that you'll enjoy. Last time around, I did my own exercise by dancing in the living room to a Jerry Lee Lewis cd. It really worked to get my heart pumping and it made my muscles stronger. When you're stronger, you can do more exercise and it won't hurt. Plus, it does suppress your appetite, so you won't be feeling as hungry all the time.

Now, it's 17 years later and I have to lose the weight again. I'm not using WW, I'm using the calorie tracker here at MFP and I'm doing exercise. This time, I've joined a fitness program at the community center, and I can see that doing exercise in an organized way (aerobics class and strength training) is probably better than the do-it-yourself method I did the first time. Different muscles are getting strengthened, instead of just the few that I used when I was dancing. However, it worked for me that time, and this is working this time. In both cases, you build up your resistance over time, and the problem of aching muscles and joints will diminish. As it gets easier to do, you'll be less reluctant, and you'll do more. Success reinforces itself.

I'd say start with some exercise, even if it's just walking at the beginning. Use an app like MapMyWalk to record your progress - it's something solid to look at to remind yourself that you ARE really doing this, and it helps you to push yourself a little further each time. good luck!

I HATE exercising! Is it really necessary?

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