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

[catscurledupbythefire]

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?

Exercise is only 20% of weighloss. 80% is what you eat

I hated exercise then I found a few things I enjoyed
Walking - but playing Pokemon go
Aerial hoop and pole fitness - just fun but really good for core and upper body strength
Lifting heavy weights - PT introduced me and I love it
Spin class - 30 mins and done. I don't always enjoy it but I can battle through 30 mins! And you don't have to be coordinated unlike step/aerobics

A perfect diet won't address all the damage caused by not exercising
And vice versa

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

I don't think you can be fat and fit, to be honest.

Neither do I.

Well, I can't!

The problem is as my post shows above I just don't want to. I know everything is just an excuse - men shouting if I cycle or job etc. I could easily exercise int he house. I found a good squats routine noly 7 minutes but only did it for 2 days. I've a home DVD which is only 20 mins but very strenuous and that didn't last long last year. I am a member of our gym until end of this month but never go except for a steam/sauna. I decided I liked long wakls on beaches bare foot so I went off to Barbuda in January for a week on my own and that was really lovely - no other people other round, 3 hour beach walks bare foot every day, popping in the sea, my own little beach house so own cooking. But that's a ridiculous limitation to put on myself that I only like exercise if it's in a place with no one for miles , and lots of beach walks. Basically I am saying I hate exercise so will not do it.

It's obviously willpower for most of us or not having it. The pleasure from sitting down is so so much nicer and better we don't move much. i just watered plants with 4 watering cans which are sa bit heavy but that's not really going to count. I would like to get out of breath every day and secondly lift a few things that are heavy and thirdly have a regular walk (and keep up my usual yoga stretches which are the only thing I don't mind doing as I am lying flat on the ground on my back when I do them).

I love love love exercise but can understand that it's not for some people. But you can walk, do a yoga class, try something new until you find something you can tolerate. Do it with friends or make friends doing that exercise.

I quite like to mix my commute up with a run- train halfway and then run, and it means I lose less of my day to faffing around at the gym. You could do the same with walking - get off the train or bus a one, two, three stops, etc early on your way home, or walk at lunch/ when you get up?

You can only get flexible by working on it. I am extremely inflexible, get out of breath, sweat a lot. Look a total cunt in gym gear, can't do a lot of the stuff. But I try because I know it's beneficial to me and my weight.
I don't enjoy the gym but I go because if I didn't I would be 4 stone overweight rather than 2.

Just do what you can then stop, and slowly, gradually you will improve.

OP - If you do a Pilates class 1:1 to begin with on the reformer machine you will be AMAZED! You really can't go wrong. Book a course of 10 sessions and go for it.
Group Pilates lessons are not so great to begin with as you may be doing it wrong / going throughly the motions. But once you know what you're doing you can then benefit from the groups iyswim.
After about 5 sessions you will feel an improvement in your core strength. Everything comes from core strength! So things you would dread now, like running, will suddenly seem more manageable.
When you start running do walking for one minute, then slow jog (feet close to the ground) for one minute and alternate. Then build up from there.
To give yourself a metabolic boost to kick all this off, go in a vegetable juice or soup detox for 5 days. You will lose half a stone straight off. Google it. You can have the juices delivered to your home (expensive though) or just make your own.
Good luck.

Fat and fit - read this article to the end:

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/mar/09/fit-fat-unfit-thin

I don't dread running, I just can't run. I can run for little bursts looking like a wounded warthog but then have to stop. Last time I ran was for a train. I thought I was going to die.

Yes, some are excuses but running and yoga/flexibility isn't an excuse. I really can't. Even DH gave up years ago. And believe me he doesn't give up easily!

The only things I have managed to stick with are walking when it's built into my routine - i.e. I have to do it to get to work! - and getting an exercise bike for home because I can read a book on it or plonk it in front of the telly to distract myself from the shitness of exercise. (I put a cushion on the seat until my arse got used to the saddle.)

Exercise honestly is about so much more than using calories though. Being sedentary is so crap for you. I am fat still but I know I'm healthier when there are muscles moving under the flab!

Some people 'respond' very well to exercise, some don't. It's genetic. Michael Mosley did interesting research on that.

I'd bet my house on 'high responders' = love exercise, 'low responders' = hate it.

I love it and respond efficiently to it. Never knew how fortunate I was for that. Thanks mum and dad.

Also remember you're not in PE class, you don't have to be good at it, you just have to be moving and out of breath! I do avoid classes for that reason though. No wish to display my flailing purple-faced efforts in front of other people.

Do strength training with weights.

I don't know whether you have Kieser Training where you live, but I really like their philosophy - which is that it is medically necessary, and not supposed to be fun, and also, that you should train at every machine for only two minutes.

That keeps the boredom at bay. Granted, I still hate it, but it is over soon, and they actually recommend going there maximum twice a week.

With walking, try to find something where you have a good reason to walk. Perhaps Pokemon Go works for you.

As for not being flexible enough for yoga- that's exactly why you should do it, how flexible will you be at 70?

The weird thing is, I loved PE at school! It's since having a baby exercise and me are no longer friends.

I don't understand the Pokemon thing and I'm not sure I want to!

Download some podcasts, talking books, and you will love your walks even more?

I don't love walks! I don't really like talking books or podcasts much. I'm not being deliberately awkward. In all truth and honesty, I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer. I struggle to focus.

Ok, you're a hopeless case then 😁
I thought when you said you didn't like walks because of boredom then walks were the lesser of all the evils and if we can relieve the boredom, then that will sort it. I know, get a dog!

I want one, but DH says no!

How about music? You can listen to music. And just look around as you walk.

I just can't run. I can run for little bursts looking like a wounded warthog but then have to stop. Last time I ran was for a train. I thought I was going to die.

That's the same for everyone. You just have to walk to get your breath back and start again. And then you stop again. Aim for a total of 30 minutes. Keep doing it and after a while you'll be able to run for longer periods of time until you can run 30 minutes or 60 minutes or more without stopping. It doesn't take that long if you stick at it. But if you don't want to do it, don't do it. No one's making you.

You absolutely can be fat and fit-because I am!

I've done it the opposite way to most folk, I'm seriously addressing the weight now (slimming world) but I'm very fit thes days