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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:
UppityHumpty · 09/04/2017 13:33

You can lose weight with pilates as long as you eat under 2k a day calories

disappearingfish · 09/04/2017 13:36

Agree with @TheseAreTheGoodOldDays . Doing things you don't like is part of being a grown up. You can keep on like a huffy teenager and enjoy osteoporosis or heart failure in your 60s or you can just get on and do something,

I do have sympathy with fitting in exercise around looking after small children, it's hard to prioritise your own wellbeing when your kids are young.

SallyGinnamon · 09/04/2017 13:36

I hear you!

I've tried loads of things over the past nearly 50 years and hated every one of them.

Endorphins after exercise? Feeling great? Hell no. I just wanted to smash plates or thump someone. Brought out an angry, aggressive side I didn't know I had!

For 8 wonderful months i worked 25 mins walk away from where I live. It was great because I walk rather than dawdle and I got fitter and more toned. And I didn't feel like I was exercising because I was walking for a purpose not just for the sake of it.

But sadly my contract ended and now I have to drive to my new job. Nowhere to park en-route if I wanted to walk part way either. So the weight has slipped back on again 😪

user1486669405 · 09/04/2017 13:37

I suggested in your thread yesterday that you attend classes. You said you couldn't but I stand by my suggestion. I exercise 5 times pw. I don't 100% love it and I hate running but do it anyway. I have started to enjoying everything but running a lot more over the 15 months I have been exercising. It took at least 6 months to get to that point. You just have to have patience and self discipline. That's the key thing with your dieting and wanting to set a good example to your children - perseverance , taking on challenges, not being a quitter. It's all good stuff and a lesson they will apply to their studies, careers, etc.

Again I will suggest body conditioning, as that is a class aimed at all ages and fitness and they always give options to make it easier. No class will be immediately followable the first time you do it. You have to go at least 5 times to pick it up. Body conditioning will have minimal requirement to be co ordinated. If 70 year old women who are 18 stone in my class can do it, so can you. I follow the harder route now and that combined with all the other stuff i do is giving me stomach definition I've never had in my life before. I'm 45. It didn't come over night. I also hated exercise before. I had no stamina before, I just decided I wasn't going to sit around in the evenings/weekend.

You just have to get on with it and stop whining.

ShotgunNotDoingThePans · 09/04/2017 13:40

Have you tried Bodybalance? Mixture of pilates and yoga but without the spirituality or the overemphasis on bloody 'core' exercises? I've only done it a few times but I always feel like I've had a massage afterwards rather than being in pain. I don't think it's enough to do by itself, but might be good as a gentle intro and make you a bit more flexible.

ShotgunNotDoingThePans · 09/04/2017 13:41

Also: the old age thing is not just about strength and flexibility; joints need to move in order to be lubricated and the pain of arthritis is no joke.

herethereandeverywhere · 09/04/2017 13:42

Wow user! How do you find the time to exercise 5 times per week?!! Do you not have kids and a job? (if so then totally understandable).

Dozer · 09/04/2017 13:42

As you seem to have a strong psychological aversion to all the forms of exercise people have suggested, an initial goal could be just to do it, and not hate it (rather than enjoy it).

If it hurts a lot, at the time, you're probably doing it too hard for your fitness level and need to start slower, eg streamed pilates or gentle aerobics or yoga classes aimed at sedentary people!

Town walking while window shopping?

Lalsy · 09/04/2017 13:42

OP, do you find headphones uncomfortable? I always did and then discovered Bose silicone thingies which have been a revelation!

I think classes are one of the quickest ways to get exercise done and you don't have to think about a plan - I usually feel really uncoordinated the first time or two in a new class and then find it easier. No-one else cares how bad you are. And I have found circuits type things don't require much co-ordination - you just get on on your own at each station.

Dozer · 09/04/2017 13:43

Les mills bodybalance is great but hard if you're inflexible/weak IME.

Original poster
catscurledupbythefire · 09/04/2017 13:44

Electrocuted fool is a PERFECT description of me at a class!

OP posts:
pandarific · 09/04/2017 13:45

Yeah, exercise is shit. No getting around it unfortunately though.

DistanceCall · 09/04/2017 13:47

I'm an introvert and hate exercise for exercise's sake.

What works for me is walking. I live in a city, and walk everywhere. I also go for walks whenever I can, listening to music or podcasts.

Seems to be working for me so far.

swampytiggaa · 09/04/2017 13:48

I started my fitness thing by using a pedometer. Got a cheap one at first then upgraded to a fitbit for the challenges etc.

I was amazed. I thought I walked loads. Turned out I didn't. So my first goal was to hit 10k steps every day. I lost a chunk of weight very quickly.

I have since gone on to running which is a really social thing for me - probably my only social life lol but actually just keeping your steps consistent makes a massive difference. I walk absolutely everywhere now.

Good luck with finding something you enjoy :)

DistanceCall · 09/04/2017 13:49

Oh, and I also take care with portions and so on. Exercise helps, but in my view what you eat is more important to keep in shape.

peaceout · 09/04/2017 13:50

I get a pretty big endorphin hit from most forms of exercise, not sure if I'd do it if I didn't
Then again I'm very focused on optimising health and I'm well aware of how harmful sedentary-ness is so that might motivate me

AliceKlar · 09/04/2017 13:52

YANBU. I loathe it. Everything I've tried. Loathed. When I was 24 I found out I had really high blood pressure. The consultant prescribed a shitload of drugs and told me to find an exercise I enjoy and do it regularly. I couldn't.

I walk nearly every day. I go as fast as I can for about an hour. I loathe it. In summer I'm a sweaty wreck, in winter I'm a windblown miserable wreck. My brother helped me changed my thinking when he compared it to brushing your teeth. You don't enjoy it esp when you're tired and just want to get to bed, but you just do it because you know you need to. My friend adores all exercise. Loves the gym, loves every sport and would turn up to watch two bluebottles playing football because he loves any ball being kicked! I'm very envious.

KikiMadeMeDoIt · 09/04/2017 13:52

What Titsy said - brushing your teeth doesn't really bring joy and a rush of happy chemicals, but it stops your teeth falling out of your head, which is a Good Thing.

Exercise may not always bring a rush of happy, but it helps to increase bone density, which stops fractures happening from minor falls, another Good Thing.

If you feel you want to do something it might not be helpful to have people telling you to do that thing, it might be more useful to check out the benefits of starting the thing. If you feel like it, read up on the Transtheoretical Model and work out which area you're in.

disappearingfish · 09/04/2017 13:53

Exercise helps, but in my view what you eat is more important to keep in shape.

You may be slimmer but you won't be "in shape" unless you exercise.

Slim, unfit people on average die younger than fat, fit people.

Original poster
catscurledupbythefire · 09/04/2017 13:54

Can you be fat and fit though?

OP posts:
Miniwookie · 09/04/2017 13:56

If you're inflexible you SHOULD do yoga. It will really help. It's not just for bendy people. Have you tried weight lifting? HIIT? - you work hard but get lots of rests. You definitely get the rush from that Smile

Nousernameforme · 09/04/2017 13:56

If I could do all necessary exercise in 2 mins either end of the day then I wouldn't have a problem

disappearingfish · 09/04/2017 13:57

Yes, you absolutely can! Obviously it's not ideal but weight loss / maintenance is only one one benefit of exercise,

And don't equate slim with healthy.

Original poster
catscurledupbythefire · 09/04/2017 13:57

oh honestly I couldn't do yoga. The paving slabs outside my house are probably better at yoga than me.

OP posts:
dementedma · 09/04/2017 13:58

found my people!
i understand about the staying healthy in old age thing but fuck its boring!
Yoga and pilates is ok but dull. Bouncy gym bunny classes are expensive, competitive and loud.
Walk to get from A to B and at lunchtimes if I can. Running make me breathless, hurting and then I throw up or feel shit.
I get the need for it but have yet to get the pleasure either during or after.