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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think you can't enjoy exercise if you just ... don't?

382 replies

catscurledupbythefire · 09/04/2017 12:28

I would be interested if anybody ever has because I. Hate. It.

I hate - classes (am a bit thick slow to pick things up, so can take keep up. Plus can see myself in the mirror) the gym generally as I just get bored and it hurts and I can't focus on anything like music or a film because all I can think is 'ow this hurts, ow, ow, ow' walks (get bored on my own) running (no chance) cycling (hurts my backside) swimming (I just can't be doing with all the faff.)

So - any ideas? Or should I just write off exercise and moderate my food intake RIGHT down?

OP posts:
TimTamTerrier · 09/04/2017 13:14

I hate exercise, but I do quite like a bit of violence so my session with my personal trainer always includes a bit of boxing. Boxercise is not the same as it's the impact that I enjoy. I like to stare at the bag and imagine whoever it is that has annoyed me recently and hit them hard until they are battered, bloody and begging for mercy. In my trainer's previous location I used to enjoy beating the shit out of a tractor tyre with a baseball bat, but unfortunately the ceilings are too low in the current place.

I'm quite mild-mannered in real life. Grin

LiveLifeWithPassion · 09/04/2017 13:14

What about walking for a purpose?
Go top up your milk and fruit or whatever with a brisk walk to a shop about 20 mins away. Child in buggy.
Walk to the park instead of driving.
Walk to the coffee shop to meet a friend etc.

lljkk · 09/04/2017 13:15

How heavy are you, OP? If you can run 100metres then you can learn to run further (if you want to). but I find running hardcore & wouldn't try it if unfit (you sound unfit).

What do you think other people enjoy in exercise that you cannot ever enjoy?

neveradullmoment99 · 09/04/2017 13:15

I dont like it either and tbh feel that if you start you have to maintain it otherwise all the muscle turns to flab. Its at that point that i feel i have to maintain it that bores me shitless. The only thing i sometime do is leave the car at home and walk somewhere or try to built it into my life - dont take the lift, take the stairs. You could also invest in a fit bit. They monitor your steps to make sure you maintain activity.

Original poster
catscurledupbythefire · 09/04/2017 13:16

I probably do sound negative but in fairness the thread title did make the rough premise fairly clear, I think. Bit daft to get all huffy over someone hating exercise :)

I don't like podcasts, loud music or audiobooks particularly.

Maybe boxing could be good. Not sure, though.

OP posts:
UppityHumpty · 09/04/2017 13:16

I hate it too so am trying to improve general day to day activity. I have a Fitbit & am aiming for a consistant 10k steps per day. I improve flexibility in front of the TV & doing the basic yoga poses - downward dog, plank, corpse pose, baby pose etc. I also really like hiking so try to do a big 10 mile hike every month

BBCNewsRave · 09/04/2017 13:17

Ha! You sound a bit like me. (Although I quite like walking, because I just daydream, but need a familiar route for that and not one with cars whizzing past and no pavement!)

Hate running/jogging, I'm so slow and it's so painful. It triggers a mini-breakdown in me and I spend the rest of the day sobbing and feeling wretched. Do not understand endorphin rush!

I do a class now, there's a few of us with mush for brains who get muddled up but everyone's encouraging - there's not a competitive thing going on at all (partly because we are all so wildly different abilities). Perhaps try a few different classes to see if you can find one with the right atmosphere?

Also, I've done aerobics vidoes on youtube - you can slow the video down if it's hard to keep up, and also if you do the same one a few times you start to remember the steps. I quite like them because you can pick a 20min/half hour one and just get it done out the way without faffing around going anywhere!

Original poster
catscurledupbythefire · 09/04/2017 13:17

Oh, I couldn't run the length of myself never mind 100 metres.

I have NO IDEA what others enjoy. DH claims he can think his thoughts when exercising. We have concluded my thoughts don't go further than "FUCK me this HURTS ow ow ow ow OW." Grin

OP posts:
LilaoftheGreenwood · 09/04/2017 13:19

I love how a lot of people are saying "make it social/competitive!" That would be my absolute worst nightmare Grin

It is boring and it does hurt but it's still a good idea unfortunately. I don't understand people who listen to podcasts or watch films either, I'm working too hard when I'm exercising to focus on something like that.

disappearingfish · 09/04/2017 13:19

But you haven't just said you hate exercise, you also hate the countryside, music, podcasts, headphones, walking with friends....

Think of exercise as unpleasant tasting medicine that keeps you alive.

OldandJaded · 09/04/2017 13:19

I hear you. I'm fairly active in my general life, 2 horses and 2 dogs to look after and a job that isn't physically 'demanding' but I'm on my feet and move about for most of the shift.
I feel good after a couple of miles walk with the dogs - but more because I've enjoyed playing with my dogs than the exercise itself, I wouldn't go if they didn't need it. Ditto with caring for the horses, it's a pretty physical lifestyle (don't ride any more though) but I enjoy looking after the horses and being around them rather than the exercise it affords me.
Went to a few classes years ago, felt fat, wobbly and self conscious and like I was going to die afterwards!
I guess maybe trying to find something where exercise is a by product of something you enjoy could be the answer for you, I don't know what though!

Original poster
catscurledupbythefire · 09/04/2017 13:21

No, I haven't! I don't hate the countryside and haven't said that. I don't hate music et al but I don't love it enough to detract from the hideousness that is exercicsing. Plus, I don't like headphones. And I said I did like walking with friends but don't get to do it now!

OP posts:
Hulder · 09/04/2017 13:23

I know everyone says that there is a form of exercise out there that you will like if only you can find it, but for some of us, finding it is jolly hard.

I'm not naturally interested in exercise, I'd rather read a book. Neither am I that sociable so the doing something with friends/as a team thing is out really.

I liked swimming until the chlorine was setting my ezcema off and I got fed up of the massive washing/creaming ritual I had to do to keep at it.

I have had the endorphin rush from high intensity stuff and enjoyed doing videos but being hypermobile makes it hard - you always have a joint hurting somewhere and end up getting scared. Probably personal trainer would be the only option but currently no time or budget for it.

The only thing I've really solidly enjoyed is horseriding which I was obsessed with as a child - and now I'm allergic to the fuckers.

After a while, you start to think nature is conspiring against you to make you a couch potato.

TheseAreTheGoodOldDays · 09/04/2017 13:24

I don't 'enjoy' exercise, in the same way that I don't enjoy brushing my teeth, or washing my hair, or prepping my lunches ahead for the week. I do those things because it's beneficial to me in the short or long term and exercise (for me anyway) falls into that same category, so I just suck it up and get it done.

Megatherium · 09/04/2017 13:24

I don't really understand how you claim to be bored even when listening to a really good audiobook. I agree with you that walking in itself is very boring, but I have found that audiobooks and podcasts are my saviours. I never really seem to have enough time for reading otherwise, so I feel I'm killing two birds with one stone.

Icouldbeknitting · 09/04/2017 13:25

I used to like the gym, back when I was young and slim. Now I don't even like the thought of it (although I have just signed up in an attempt to reduce my wobbly bits). I walk, I can set off from outside my door without getting changed and get on footpaths and cycle trails that mean I don't have to dodge the traffic. I bought a Fitbit last May and started walking a bit further every day. At about the same time I started using MFP to log what I ate and the two combined has meant that I've lost 4.5 stone. I walk further and the hills are smaller now there's less of me to haul up them.

I do more or less the same walk each day but it's always different because I play Pokemon Go and today there might be something different waiting for me out there. If you're too grown up for that then Ingress is another location based game but it's not much good for me because I'm too rural. If you can find something that makes exercise interesting then it gives you something else to think about other than the timer counting down.

Original poster
catscurledupbythefire · 09/04/2017 13:25

Yes, I know what you mean there Hulder

TheseAre but brushing teeth and washing hair doesn't huuuuuuuurrrt.

OP posts:
isupposeitsverynice · 09/04/2017 13:26

Get a dog. It probably won't make walking less boring but you'll have to do it anyway Grin

Original poster
catscurledupbythefire · 09/04/2017 13:26

I don't know Mega again it's a concentration thing. I'm not brilliant at focusing. And I lose focus because I see a bird and then have to refocus and go back. And I'm thinking 'I want to be at home!' And I hate headphones.

OP posts:
Original poster
catscurledupbythefire · 09/04/2017 13:27

DH said no.

How mean.

I want a frolicking puppy to frolic with. Although the last dog we had was a complete nutter!

OP posts:
Barrytheunicorn · 09/04/2017 13:29

I think if you hate exercise you just haven't found the right exercise for you yet.

I really don't like walking, fitness classes, biking, running, weights or endurance stuff, or even the gym. Actually, especially the gym, I just watch the timer on the machine constantly feeling like time has slowed down.

I do love clubbercise (you exercise in the dark so no one can see you fall Grin and get to wear neon bracelets) if you do that with a friend it's actually really fun and not like exercising, I also like rowing canoeing, surfing, snowboarding and doing Jillian (forgotten the rest of her name shred dvds) and hiking up mountains which obviously you need to live in the right place for.

Obviously surfing, snowboarding and mountain walks aren't done often enough to count they're more like treats but the rowing, clubbercise and shred I do often.

Try to look for some more alternative sports there are things like netball teams you can join, park run if you look on 'thisgirlcan' you'll probably find loads of more interesting suggestions

JanetBrown2015 · 09/04/2017 13:29

I hate it too. That's the bottom line for most of us. It was a lot easier when I had to cycle to the tube station or there was walking in the working day. Now there isn't. I don't mind doing it in nice country places on holiday but that's once in a blue moon. I do stuff like mow the grass. I do a few stretches at home (but I mean a very very very few) yoga stuff and I lift heavy stuff at home - big coffee table yesterday, a few boxes today so currently that seems to keep me reasonably fit but it is not good enough for old age.

If it's a choice between sitting down or moving sitting down will always win out. We all know we should but it's very hard for some of us. My father was not fit in old age and died at 79. He did a few country walks but didn't manage to make exercise part of his life (he worked until he was 77 but just from a desk) and I am sure that had a bad impact on his later life health. I don't want to be like that but I can't find what I like. if I go out cycling men shout at me. if I run people make comments or stare (I have quite big breasts). if I go for a walk down pollution clogged London roads with clothes that totally cover me I don't get male comments but it's not much fun. It's an exercise in diesel inhalation.

Original poster
catscurledupbythefire · 09/04/2017 13:30

That's so annoying that people make comments. I would hate that. I used to cycle to work, ages ago, that was OK.

OP posts:
Nousernameforme · 09/04/2017 13:32

can you lose weight on pilates?

herethereandeverywhere · 09/04/2017 13:33

I'm with you OP. I walk to get from A to B as I don't drive, but that's it. I actually like skiing so I exercise 6 days out of 365....!

I have tried:
team sports (I'm so rubbish I'm the one letting the side down)
racket sports (no coordination - just humiliating minutes/hours of me flailing a racket then picking up the ball/shuttlecock and trying again)
running (I can't breathe after 2 minutes)
hill walking (ditto)
swimming (also the breathing thing combined with limbs like lead and an impending panic that I'm about to drown
classes (I'm so uncoordinated I look like an electrocuted fool, it's so embarrassing I'd rather not be there)
gym (I can never remember what to do with what machine so I wander round feeling silly/cold jog a bit on the running machine until my breathing closes over, then give up)
cycling (fine if slow and flat, pain in coccyx for the next month)

I do 'yoga' once a week, very gentle, must burn about 7 calories. Even then, far from a rush of endorphins or feeling energised I'm exhausted for the rest of the day and end up napping on the sofa instead of doing my chores.

I'm just not cut out for it. I wish I was.