To not understand how anyone enjoys exercise??

[Baileysoncereal]

How do you motivate yourself to exercise when it’s horrible being out of breath and sweaty

I’m not moving around at work anymore (covid related furlough/unemployment) and after a few months, I’m really noticing a difference in how unfit I am and how easily I’m out of breath. I’ve tried a ton of sports, and there’s nothing I enjoy and I can never be bothered putting in the effort anyway
Eg. Why run if you can jog, why jog if you can walk.

I hate being sweaty, I hate being out of breath, I hate not being good at something and I love sitting on the couch and watching TV.
So how do you motivate yourself or even shock actually love exercising?!

I used to hate it too. Just the thought of having to exert myself knowing it would make me sore, sweaty and out of breath made me decide not to.

Then I was in constant pain from disc degeneration in my back (very fat as well), the really strong pain meds I was prescribed made little difference and I could hardly walk let alone put my knickers and socks on. My hospital consultant told me that unless I wanted a risky op which might not work anyway, the only thing I could do was try to build up my back muscles.

I was in such agony, I decided to give it a go. I had gym membership before but never went but I rejoined and started on the xtrainer for cardio as that was lower impact and less painful than walking. Even 5 minutes at Level 1 almost killed me. I also did very light weights including the lower back machine. I went everyday for 2 weeks straight and by then my pain had lessened by about 50% and I never looked back. I’ve been a regular exerciser for almost 3 years now. Gone from size 22 to 12 without dieting and I can now easily do 30 minutes on the xtrainer at Level 16, lift 55kg on my back and leg press 130kg. I love the feeling of sweat pouring off me and believe me theres no way I would have said that a few years ago! I also love feeling strong and it’s done wonders for my mental health. My bone density has increased (as a menopausal woman) and I now have optimal blood pressure so was able to come off meds for high blood pressure. Even while the gym has been closed, I will go out and do a jog/run most days and I REALLY was not one of those types! I can actually run as well which never ceases to amaze me.

Loud dance music makes all the difference.

Exercise is so important and it is really hard to begin with but if you keep it up and treat it as something that is a necessity for self care like brushing your teeth or putting cream on your face, you really will learn to love it. Maybe not when you’re doing it but the feeling it gives you afterwards and the benefits you start to see later make it all worth it.

I’m with you op it’s an ordeal for me I hate it. We have a small gym upstairs and I read the paper on the spin bike or listen to music on the stepping machine. I know I’ll always hate it.

Personally I think PE teachers (esp those of the 70s 80s and 90s) are largely responsible for the obesity crisis. unless you were a potential Olympian you soon learned to equate exercise with humiliation.

Swimming is good, because you don’t get sweaty, weights are good because you don’t get out of breath, yoga great because the flexibility and strength are almost secondary.

Running will never be enjoyable for me. I’ve tried so many times but all I keep thinking about is the cold painful legs of school cross country.

I totally agree ihatefish. There was no need for it. Exercise could have been a fun lifelong skill, not a series of humiliations. I hope PE teachers are better these days.

I hate being hot and sweaty! I don't 'do' exercise as such, but I'm very active - I love walking my dogs, helping my friend with her horse, and although my job isn't arduous, I'm on my feet most of the time. I like riding my bike if it's to get from A to B, and my housework might count as exercise because I usually have the music up and dance about a bit. Actually unless it's really hot, doing housework is the only time I get a sweat on. Oh I like swimming too. I tend to think activity is every bit (or more) healthy than planned exercise.

@Thingsdogetbetter

Another vote for body pump - no getting out of breath, and no jumping up and down. Got me into weight training as well. Did wonders until this lockdown round and now I'm kicking myself I've gone all wobbly again.

Join Les Mills on demand. I've lost a stone in lockdown using this!!

I hate it all. I hate getting changed, starting thy exercise, hurting, finding it hard, being bored (45 minutes of spin kills me if I haven't got enough to think about), going to the gym, going outside, going out in the dark, going out in the cold, getting wet feet from puddles....

But I like how it makes my body look. I like feeling strong. I like rarely getting ill. I like finishing the exercise. I like the days where I run faster than on another occasion or I've held a weight longer.

Totally with you. It's so boring and utterly shit.. Sweating totally does suck!! And bloody DOMS!!! And people can piss right off with the 'great feeling afterwards' bollox!!

I'd rather be watching telly or reading a good book any day!!

It is necessary though.

Harumph!!!

And yes, I think pe of our youth ruined many of us. All that emphasis on team sports. No one ever showing you how to run etc, so you did it twice a year and it was miserable. No thought about teaching you skills for life.

Do fun exercise. No need for sweaty mess and boring peddling a static bicycle.
Do it together with others. Dance is fun and excellent exercise. Swimming outdoors is great fun and definitely not sweaty.
Walking is good and not sweaty- choose somewhere beautiful and it is anything but boring.

I don’t love exercising but I’m a teacher and wanted to lose weight to give myself the best chance of surviving vivid (when I eventually get it). I did couch to 5k. I still don’t live running but I do like being outside, I’ve also started running with others which helps!

I used to be you OP
didn’t get it
Tried the gym. Didn’t know what I was doing.
As a new mum at the time I thought the Wii was doing a great job (LOL)

In reality it was about finding something I enjoyed. My friend started dance classes, I joined in... and THEN life changed.

It’s madness. I’ve become a fitness instructor since.

I also now go to the gym, but you won’t fine me running. No chance lol

You only enjoy it if you become addicted to it. I did Wu Shu Kwan many years ago and just lived for it, I went several times a week, ran everywhere, now I'm a fattish slob and hate exercise, mainly because I sustained an injury and am partially disabled so any kind of exercise is really painful.
How I'd love to be that fit and happy again. It really boosts the brain and makes you feel fantastic.

I like exercise, but I don't like all exercise. I enjoy yoga, which is as much for mental health as strength.

I have swum all my life, and you can get a swimming high like a running high, get into the rhythm and just keep going. (Probably not possible in a public pool in January, assuming you're not in tier 4 and pools are open anyway, but it calms down in February- and at my pool, when it's been open, you now have to book, do it won't be massively crowded.) Also swimming washes off the sweat as you go along.

Walking is good to get you started, and you can find out more about the local area, footpaths you don't know and so on.

There are do many different types of exercise, there will be something to suit you. There might be less of a range at the moment, because of pandemic restrictions, but there's a lot of online classes. And sweat isn't so bad. Showers and washing machines exist.

I don’t really enjoy exercise while I’m doing it. But I do enjoy the massive endorphin rush I get after - it’s addictive and keeps me going. Also I love certain things. I love having time to myself away from the house. I love cycling past all the nose to tail cars on my way to work. I love listening to audio books while I run. I love tracking my times and watching them improve. I love entering races and the thrill of race day. I love the fact that I’ve run a marathon.

I think you can’t expect to enjoy exercise straight away but there are things about it you can find to enjoy.

It took time and persistence but now if I don't run I feel like my head is going to explode. It's like therapy

The best bit of exercise is knowing that you've done it. Once you start seeing and feeling the benefits, it's worth it for a sweaty half hour in every 48 hours.

I exercise primarily for mental health but the more you do the easier it gets.

Took up group fitness at 40 and regret not trying it sooner.

If exercising alone good music, podcasts etc help.

I hate exercise and I'm 47 so no coming back for me now I reckon

But I do love music and there are some podcasts I really enjoy so i make playlists on Spotify and dowload my favourite podcasts and I save them up especially for runs and then it feels like a sort of treat though I still loathe every single step of my painfully slow run!

I do a fair bit of cycling, after I've done a good ride and had a shower I feel so good physically and mentally

Pain is weakness leaving the body!

I hate exercise, hated school sports. Only did aerobics as I love skiing and needed to keep fit. And then I tried T’ai Chi......
Genuinely love it to bits, was surprised at how good it is at replacing aerobic exercise. You don’t get red in the face or sweaty. Excellent way of improving stamina, balance, general flexibility.
Loved it so much that I trained as an instructor and taught it for 13 years. Just given up during 1st lockdown but still practising myself.

Exercise doesn’t have to make you red in the face, sweaty or totally breathless. And you don’t have to see it as a chore. Try different things - plenty of stuff on line now so you can also avoid the embarrassment factor as well.

I love it, I like the way it makes me look, feel and the health benefits. I don’t run but mix a variety of things so I don’t get bored. It keeps me at my target weight so I don’t let it slide.

Lifting heavy shit and feeling the muscles grow just makes me happy 🤷🏻‍♀️

I’m lazy, fat and love sitting on my arse. The trouble is 50 is looming, diabetes and heart problems are in the family and I hate the way I look. But as I said I’m lazy.

Was talked into getting a Peloton (30 day free trial). Love it. I’ve done a few different instructors, all good so far. No one can see me, I don’t feel judged, it doesn’t matter if I’m having a really bad day. I thought I’d hate all the fake motivation but it’s actually better than I thought it would be.

I’ve still got over a couple of weeks to change my mind and send it back, but so far so good