How do you keep yourself exercising is you hate it?

[Youbutterbelieve]

I know I have to exercise to retain my health and mobility. But the only exercise I enjoy (and therefore do) is hiking and that's reasonably sporadically due to work and young kids.

I need to include more regular exercise in to my life, ideally resistance/ weight stuff. But I hate it. I'm one of the 12% of people who doesn't get exercise induced endorphins, so I don't get a clear benefit from having done it - makes maintaining a routine so much harder!

I'm not overweight and I'm reasonably fit (can easily hike 15-20miles a day, multiple days) but I know I need to be more regular.

How do maintain an exercise routine if you hate it?

Bought a cheapo treadmill on Marketplace, set up.a desk over it and watch videos / work webinars etc while I walk. Can easily go 45 minutes while still officially being productive at work.

Is there anything you'd fancy doing, but put up barriers. I only ask as I've fancied doing clubbercise for a couple of years. Didn't try as I felt I was too old (57) and maybe not fit enough. Kept thinking about it, and one morning just thought, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Have been going four months now, can't quite get some of the routines, but generally keep up and there are others my age. What I'm saying, is dont have barriers, give whatever ago a couple of times if it appeals - you don't have to go back.

I think that podcast that @Defiantlynot41 linked to could be the answer to your prayers @Youbutterbelieve . I’ve just started listening to it.

It’s not my favourite thing either but I want to be fit and strong, (and not have bingo wings) so I crack on. I like Sydney Cummings on YouTube. It’s free and different every day so I don’t get bored. I do it 5am to 6am before work and before anyone else is up. Short workouts (30 - 45mins) and the key for me is rolling straight out of bed into my workout gear. Once I’ve actually mangled myself into my sport bra, shame prevents me from removing it without having trained 🤣🤣
Once you start to see it working, (you’ve toned up or can lift heavier or your hikes get easier) you might hate it less?

I have gym buddies. And open water swimming buddies.

The accountability of meeting them gets me to the gym/cold water on the days I'm not feeling it, and also gives me someone to grab a coffee with afterwards, so it becomes more enjoyable.

I don't actually mind the gym, and actively like open water swimming, but snuggled up in bed of a cold morning, I regularly don't want to do either...

Don't do heavy weights every day, your body needs to recover. I enjoy Pilates so I do that, but the resistance training is me planning for an independent old age. It does also help with getting a good night's sleep though, so that's a plus.

For me it's podcasts. I don't listen to them any other time of day so if I want to listen to them, I need to exercise.

Tricks my brain into thinking of it as a treat.

Find something you find fun

There are so many options out there these days
Arial hoop (like a low trapeze) hula hooping, circus skills, pole dancing fitness. Anti gravity yoga in hammocks, synchronised swimming, roller skating, rowing and sailing, dance classes, aerobics with different genres of music. (These are all things my friends have tried though I just stick to gym classes tbf)

Also if you try one class and hate it don't assume it's the whole class that is rubbish different instructors and different music makes a huge difference

If all else fails just buy some weights and commit to doing 20 minutes a few times a week and watch TV or listen to podcasts / audiobooks whilst you do it

The only thing that works for me is getting up early a few times a week, quick coffee and doing a 20min class on YouTube before the morning really starts.

Personally, I hate exercising but this is what helps me… (I go to a gym)

• join a gym very close to your house, preferable an expensive one that has a fixed contract so you’re forced to go
• join classes a few times a week
• try less conventional ways of exercise like yoga, pilates
• go for a walk on your lunch break

Can you recommend any good you tube videos? Thanks

@Sunshineandrainbow

I do 'Bodyfit by Amy'. She has a few new ones most weeks. I've been working out with her for 6 years and I look forward to her videos each week.

Also Kassandra yoga is brilliant.

Get a stationary bike and watch box sets hour a day. Then some home weights,

On YouTube I recommend Caroline Grivan for weights, and Joe Wicks for hiit.

I was in our local town yesterday. Parked the car, walked to the estate agents, then the solicitors, back again, through town, then Tescos. I was in town about an hour and a half so no need for gym or any formal exercise.

On YouTube - I would just try out a few and see who you click with

I like fitbymik, Kayleigh Cohen, occasionally do some yoga with bird

I find Joe Wicks too high impact for me, and Caroline Girvan too over complicated and hard

I would also start with something short and relatively easy because it's dispiriting to try and fail and you can always ramp it up

I have four jobs, three very sedentary, but I do get out for a walk in the evenings, even if it’s at 8pm. It’s dark and the walk is around residential streets but it’s better than nothing. It can be an hour’s walk, or 15 minutes. As long as I get out and do something I feel fine!

Like others have said, I park furthest away from the supermarket/office and always use the stairs. Try and have a lunchtime walk if I can. Our holiday this year will be hiking and cycling instead of a lazy sunbathing one 😀

I could have written your post OP. I only enjoy hiking and skiing. Neither of these fit into suburban Monday to Friday. I'll be so fit when I retire 😁
You've had some good suggestions already. I'm going to try some myself.
One thing not mentioned yet is Nordic walking. It's basically walking with cross country ski poles. It apparently engages more muscles and burns more calories than ordinary walking. There's a Michael Mosely R4 podcast about it. I tried for the first time yesterday, and it was ok. I think it'll be easy to fit in half an hour or so a few times a week.

Another suggestion, get a recumbent bike and just pedal away in front of the TV. Plus you might want to ass some weights in.

I know that this is such a clichè thing to say, but find an exercise you enjoy and it’ll be so much easier.

I used to despise exercise of all kinds, but then I found one I love and now I exercise 5 or 6 days a week and have to force myself to have my days off.

@Bookaholic73 What is it?

Walking is great and I walk around 10,000 steps a day but it is not really enough. My muscles are still weak and I have no stamina if I have to move fast!

I’m inordinately smug about my excellent cardiovascular health which I probably inherited proud of my low heart rate and blood pressure, and my general stamina when it comes to things like hiking, gardening etc; when I am procrastinating about a ½ hour jog I remind myself of where these came from and give myself a slap and get out there. No endorphins for me either, sadly (and the next person to say “you’re not trying hard enough” will also get a slap. I get them from chocolate and champagne with no trouble at all).

What helps me is just doing lots of little bits so

at home - when wfh
15 mins skipping
11 mins on a rower
10mins yoga
7 mins weight s(the fitness app with Jillian Micheals is great).

when in the office - walking 10k a day.

it’s just a chore but I like how fit I look in the mirror when naked, and that keeps me motivated. At 50 I still have an hour glass figure and and want keep it ! So exercise and fasting and no sugar is the price. Plus if you don’t exercise then the aches and pains will start ! Good luck.

Oh yeah get a rebounder. Great fun for the kids and good for your exercise and pelvic floor. Win win. Loud dance music on and bounce away like a loony. If you don’t get endorphins from that I will be amazed