Am I the only one that doesn't enjoy the healthy lifestyle?

I hated running and all kinds of formal exercise. I also hated limiting my food. Then I realized that if I exercise, I don't have to limit my food. Or at least not as much.

Somewhere along the line, something clicked in my head and I realized that a "healthy lifestyle" wasn't punishment for a slothful life, but a way to treat my body well. And that there's a LOT of really delicious foods out there that are pretty good for me. I don't have to eat just salads. I might not eat everything I want, but I want everything I eat. I'm not going to stuff something gross down just because it's good for me.

On the other hand, I realize that there's loads of things I don't enjoy that I do because I have to as a responsible adult. Like paying bills, mowing the lawn or scrubbing the toilet. I think of exercise as basic human maintenance, just like toilet scrubbing is basic bathroom maintenance.

I really only wanted to be able to run a 5k as a personal challenge to myself, and having that as a goal made me stick with it long enough for it to become a habit. And kind of fun. It relieves stress for me. I don't enjoy strength training in the same way, but I love the results. The ~2 hours a week I spend lifting is something I consider an investment... or bill paying. I like looking a certain way, and exercising is the price of looking that way.

But... yeah, if someone told me two years ago that I'd run, on purpose, and enjoy it... I'd have laughed my *kitten* off, too.

This except I still hate to run, but have found I LOVE LIFTING....

Eating healthy is a chore for me. I LOVE chips, and I get salt cravings all the damn time. And sometimes, I just don't feel like cooking, so I want to cheat. My fiance is a super-hardcore-health-freak who works out for 2 hours a day, takes a rest day once every 2 weeks, and will only eat what we prepare. Yeah, he's THAT guy.

Me, I like to have a bag of chips once in a while. I've only just started enjoying my workouts, but that's because I've needed to. I have had severe anxiety and depression for 10+ years, and only since working out regularly have both started to disappear. I am much happier now that I'm fitter, but it's been a pain in the friggin *kitten* to get there.

The healthy lifestyle sucks, but I guess the only thing is that it's worth it in the long run? At least that's what I keep telling myself. Until then, tofu it is...ugh...

Dyanna, Thank you, I think I am more like you, in this to avoid pain and health issues. I only wish I had known how bad it would get when I was younger and did not have so much too lose

Used to, but now I'm addicted to it. I hate eating badly and I feel gross when I don't get to work out.

I don't mind exercising and cutting calories I but HATE eating healthy! I do not like vegetables. I can't cook and do not enjoy it and I'm not home alot. I don't have health food stores close to me. It's a PAIN! I can't fathom adhering to one specific diet (Paleo, clean, vegan, etc.) for the rest of my life.

I have however, set a few small goals for myself though. I cut out alot of things I was eating but don't really need to eat. Poptarts, pastries, donuts, etc. and I don't miss them. I do have a couple junk food snacks a day (within my calories) but try to keep it to a minumum, like an ice cream sandwich or some M&M's. If I have to go cold turkey I won't make it.

Next I want to give up soda and cut back on fast food. But I'm not going to try to do everything at one time. I think that's where alot of people fall off the wagon. Hopefully I will get to a point where I will be eating all healthy one day and loving it like others on here. Maybe I won't, I don't know.

As far as exercising, you don't have to go beastmode to lose weight. But if you like to eat, it does help you to be able to eat more. But just try walking, and experiment with some different activities until you find one you enjoy or can atleast tolerate.

It is my determination to stay thin that keeps me in this lifestyle. Yeah, I have terrible self esteem now, and only have 10 pounds to lose, not 30+. But I'd rather be skinny than hate myself than fat.

I do induldge in a snack now and then, part of my 'meal plan' is to have one snack a day. Usually like chocolate or cupcake.

As long as you are eating good things 80% of the time, you can use the other 20% for cheese, condiments and snacks.

I hate having to log everything and count everything. It's such a pain in the *kitten*. If there was a cost effective way to have all my food counted out and measured for me so all I had to do was eat it when it was time to eat I feel like I would do A LOT better. As it is, I almost always sabotage myself on the weekends. I wanna eat something good because all week I've been eating bland tired old diet food. And by good I mean full of calories, sugar and fat!! That's what tastes the best right? LOL If it's not the food it's the booze. Half the reason I got as big as did was because of beer. I like beer and had a habit of binge drinking so it didn't take much to put on 30lbs in two years. And I LOOOOOOOOVE wine. I would drink it every night if you gave me the chance. Probably two glasses....at least! I don't much mind the exercise. But if I have to do a cardio machine it feels like a chore. And give me a break about trying to schedule it in everyday!! PFFT!!! I'm about to start a job and I have no idea how I'm going to fit it in everyday. Luckily there's a gym close by so It shouldn't be too hard. What I am worried about though is at the end of the year I'm going to embark on Motherhood. How the hell am I gonna keep fit with a little one?? And then like how much are you supposed to really eat when you're preggers? It's all really confusing and sometimes I just wish diet food tasted better and that I could stop the world for an hour a day so I can catch up on my exercise. BUT I guess you really just have to find something you really enjoy doing for exercise. Try gardening...burns mucho calories.

I have always enjoyed being active and eating healthy. As a kid I would beg my Mom to make spinach and brussel sprouts. I still eat brussel sprouts and spinach 6-7 days a week along with many other vegetables and fruit. Its hard for me to go even one day with out some sort of physical activity. Even on a rest day I find ways to sneak some in. I have done it for so long I can't not do it!

But you know what? I agree with you. I am so sick of the up and downs and it comes to no surprise that I love desserts and real cheeseburgers, also. A great veggie pizza or some coconutty Thai curry. I am tired of not being able to finish a plate because it puts me over "my allowance" for the day. Tired of weighing my food and always always always thinking about it. It does not come easy to me to either not eat something or to not eat as much as I want.

I have my moments and I am on it and I love the results. I am in my BMI range but to look/feel decent in a swimsuit I need to lose 10-15lb. But I have to work so hard for each and every pound. That saying "You didn't gain it over night...'? Sure, maybe but I easily gain 5lbs in a week and it will take me over a month to lose it. And knowing that I will probably gain it back like I always have makes me wonder why I even care anymore.

I wish I could just be happy with where I am and just stop caring so much. No, not be in my overweight or obese range. I wish it was all just a little easier. I don't mind putting work in it, but why does it have to be so MUCH work.

As you can see, you are not alone. I like how I feel when I've been working out, someone I feel taller and slimmer. I do the 30lbs yo-yo and get SO frustrated everytime I gain weight. The benefits of working out outweigh the lazy and gluttonous version of myself.

Just try to think of the benefits and focus on one day at a time. Having a buddy does REALLY help and I find having something to work towards (I have my first 5km on friday and I'm totally crapping myself about it! LOL!). I also find that changing up what I'm doing helps as well every 4 weeks or so. Longer and I just get bored!

Keep at 'er and good luck!

If it doesn't feel good, then you aren't doing the right exercises or you aren't doing the exercises right. If it doesn't taste good, then you aren't eating the right foods or you aren't taking the right approach to food. You have to find what works best for you. You have to find what makes you happy. You have to figure out what you can stick with for the rest of your life.

Right there with you. Just the other day when i was walking to the gym on my lunch break I sent my husband a text that said "why cant i be going out to lunch like a normal freaking person instead of spending my lunch hour in the gym"

i absolutely hate working out. However, I really enjoy dancing so Zumba is a ton of fun for me. I have hired a personal trainer and I hate every minute of it except the social aspect. Oh and i kinda dig how my body is changing.

but i totally get how you feel.

Welcome to my life! I always go through these periods of being really good about what I eat and getting in some exercise and then I get to a point of just wanting to be able to eat whatever I want (which is always unhealthy) and I lose all motivation to exercise. That's usually when I'll start gaining weight again/back.

What seems to work for me is the fact that I don't deprive myself of anything anymore. When I get a craving for something, I go and eat it. I had a pizza craving last week, so I bought a pizza. The only thing that I did differently is that I ate two slices instead of the whole thing. I also logged it into MFP. I'm not saying that you shouldn't eat healthy or that healthy foods aren't a better choice, but sometimes you just need to eat some pizza, or a burger, or a donut, etc.

Oh, and I'm with you on not liking to work out. I hate working out and getting sweaty. But I definitely see better results when I do it. Though I'll never become a gym rat or even a fan of exercising, no matter how healthy/in shape I get.

Nope you're not the only one. I hate exercise and I have cooking so have always lived on conveniecne food and sat watching TV. I can't see that I will ver enjoy the gym or healthy eating, I miss my old food.

Oh, I hear you! I loathe 'exercise' for exercise' sake, so I make sure it's not really about 'exercise' - I use my commute as my daily 30-odd minutes of brisk walking, and get home in about the same time it would take me if I was doing battle with rush-hour traffic. I don't change clothes, just lose the heels for a pair of sandshoes or flats.

I find this approach really helps - it's productive, it's not 'wasted' free time when I have little enough of that as it is, it doesn't require any special equipment, or an expensive membership to a gym with over-loud, bad music and lots of people with that slightly manic 'I'll do this if it kills me' look in their eyes :laugh: I also get to see my city in every season, top up my Vitamin D when the sun's out, and have enough calories in my allowance for a few extra indulgences - I eat whatever I want, in moderation, and within my calorie goals. Life's too short not to enjoy, and for me, restrictive diets and 'work outs' are a punishment, not a pleasure.

I have recently added a few strength exercises because I want to tone up my arms for the summer (legs and behind are well taken care of by walking!), which I do in my PJs, before my shower in the morning - so far, that seems manageable. Apart from walking (also my primary mode of transport at the weekend - if it takes an hour or less to get somewhere on foot, I walk. In London, you leave an hour to get pretty much anywhere anyway!) I love to dance, so a dance class every week or two keeps things interesting and fun and doesn't feel like 'exercise'. I will never be a runner or a gym bunny - I have no desire to be. I may never have a model body. What I will be is fit and healthy, and consistently so, because I've found a method that works for me and my life, and that I can enjoy! Good luck finding yours!