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?!

@Twobrews

...but once I’m back home and I’ve got that glow and sense of achievement that I didn’t give up even though it hurt and was unpleasant, that’s when I felt like I’d won at life today So jealous of this, it must be fantastic. I've actually cried after running before because I feel so awful for the rest of the day.

@Twobrews what is it specifically that feels so awful after running? I don’t think it should make you feel so bad for so long.

@Baileysoncereal

Thank you all for you answers

What seems clear is that almost no one actually enjoys the exercise, at least at first, and some people never do.

So what do you all do to make it a bit more bearable?
Is it a case of just gritting my teeth and thinking about living a bit longer / that I may feel better afterwards (not my experience so far..) and hoping that is motivation enough?

I listen to good music, which helps to keep me motivated during the first couple of kilometres, when my body isn't warmed up and it doesn't feel particularly nice, or I listen to a good podcast.

I honestly don't concentrate that much on where I'm running or how I'm feeling after a bit, I get into 'the zone', which you've probably heard of, but maybe not experienced as you haven't persevered with exercise. But it's where you're on automatic pilot and you just keep plugging away and once you're fit enough to not be panting for breath you get into it quite easily.

I'm not going to tell you what exercise to do, but in a pandemic the options are pretty much limited to walking, running, cycling, and online/at home workouts, of which there are a huge array.

I get what you are saying @Baileysoncereal. I hate the feeling of being hot and sweaty.

I'm hugely overweight and recently diagnosed with diabetes and very high cholesterol. I knew I needed to do 'something'. DH was encouraging me to start going to the gym (he loves it) but I hate that feeling of watching the clock ticking very slowly and just waiting for the torture to be over.

What I have found is swimming. The feeling of weightlessness is wonderful. I can plod up and down the pool. Everybody is in their own world. One of the DC game me a waterproof MP3 player for Christmas so now I will be able to listen to audio books at the same time!

I go running and don’t enjoy it. I do it because it helps a little bit to keep my weight down. What I do genuinely enjoy however is tennis. I have two lessons a week and play with friends twice a week. And I look forward to it so much and never dread going. It is the competitive side of it and the constant improvement and learning experience I like I think. Plus it is sociable. I also quite like Zumba because I enjoy the challenge of getting the steps right and I like the music. If you get the right dance class it is a bit like going clubbing. But things like Barre and Hiit training feel really good for you but are excruciatingly hard so I avoid those type of classes.

All my fun is based around exercise these days.

I'm just recovering from Covid and so is a friend, so we can't run but we're both itching to get out so are meeting for a walk this morning.

Every summer weekend, a group of us will cycle out somewhere for lunch.

I've been trampolining with a group of middle aged friends, or climbing, or golf, or swimming. We did darts once and my 50th birthday party was a paddle boarding lesson for 16.

A running race followed by an afternoon in the pub with friends

Etc etc. I agree when you first start out, that breathless, sweaty feeling is unpleasant but you learn to enjoy it. My friends wouldn't dream of just going to the pub now, there will always be a bike ride, walk or a run involved first and there's so much variety and so many things to learn that are "exercise".

I completely agree with you op! What helps me is listening to something while walking; music, podcasts or an audiobook. I've just signed up to les mills on demand (it has a barre class) and am really enjoying being able to do the classes at home. Much prefer dancing along to music than running, jogging or cycling.

The most difficult thing is putting on your clothes and trainers.

I walk loads. It’s MY time. I live in a beautiful part of the country and covered 7 miles yesterday and saw no one. I try to walk everyday, weather isnt stopping me!

I also do online exercise. 15-20, 2 to 3 tone a week. Heather Robertson on Facebook is good an easy and gets be going.
Do a little bit every day. Build up slowly.

Just a couple of things re: running, if that's something you want to try:

1. Don't just go out and run. Do a programme like Couch to 5k (aka C25k), which builds you up gradually from walk-run-walk and running for as little as a minute at a time, to the full distance of 5k over 8 weeks. If you try to run 5k straight away you'll just end up really out of breath and disheartened. You have to build up your fitness gradually.

2. Before I started running I hated getting sweaty and out of breath too. At school, my absolute worst activity was cross country, I HATED it, probably because (as above) it was just too much for me to go out cold and run for 40 minutes. Having started with the C25k programme and now run several times a week for 18 months I can honestly say that I love running, don't even think about getting sweaty any more, will run in the rain, through mud, get cold and wet and that is so not me at all! I've amazed myself what I'll do now, but it's all because I built up gradually.

3. Walking can be really good exercise on it's own. Dawdling along at a snail's pace on flat ground won't get you fit, although it's a good starting point for anyone who is very unfit, overweight or recovering from illness, but regular walking at a pace that gets you out of breath, particularly up and down hills, IS good exercise and done regularly will make you fitter and stronger.

I run occasionally too. Ive run lots over the past 10 years, 6 marathons, 27 half marathons and endless 10 & 5ks but I’ve reached the point where i don’t want to run. Its getting me down as i know i can do it. I need a race to keep me running and training. There’s a group of 10-15 of us who used to run together before thus covid crap and we really miss each other. We’ve net for a few runs but its not the same.

The more you do it, the more you enjoy it!

I actually enjoy the feeling of the movement when I'm running. Apparently people split into associates and disassociated when training, and I'm the former. I concentrate on the way I'm moving, hiw my feet land, how the ground feels under my feet, etc. Its hard to explain, but I feel very "present". When I do hard sessions, I enjoy the feeling of pushing my body to the limits and how yiu feel your blood really pumping oxygen around your body, you feel so healthy.

I've done competitive sport nearly all my life, and I'm now so disciplined I'm unabie not to train. I don't even notice bad weather, I feel like I'm in my own little insulated, impenetrable tough bubble. Years of cross country races in winter in shorts, a crop top and hat and gloves (fashionable amongst fast runners) have led to me believing that I just don't feel the cold on my arms or legs, as long as I have said hat and gloves on and run fast enough.

One thing I do like doing now though is cycling slow-ish, looking at the scenery. It's the only time I'm able to do sport and switch off from pushing myself. It really is very enjoyable in a different way.

But generally, I just enjoy moving. I get a sore back and bottom if I sit for too long anyway. I really loathe exercise classes and the gym, because you don't move anywhere!

Can you focus on being active first and build up good consistent habits and sustain it and then bring 'exercise' into it a couple of months later.

By active i mean ensuring you are not sedentary and get your 10,000 steps a day in. This will help you feel good and give you a sense or achievement. I often do this listening to the radio or a podcast or favourite music. That time outdoors on my own in the zone is brilliant for my MH.

You could dance at home too to favourite music.

Swimming seems like a positive idea to try as it is non sweaty and gentle and you can set yourself small goals. I am also a body pump fan.

Also i wouldn't rule out a personal trainer. They might support and coach you through your fear of being out of breath and find your motivation. Working with someone to face your fears like that could be lifechanging.

I load a playlist of songs I like, and enjoy the break to be honest. I do find running helps clear my mind, and I make sure I have clothing for all weathers otherwise I make excuses. I feel so good afterwards as well, and get a real feeling of accomplishment seeing my performance improve.

I was crap at pe in school.
partly it was due to untreated asthma, thanks to parents who believe that steroids are evil , and partly due to the same parents avoiding exercise whereever they can.
once I moved away and saw a dr about my breathlessness and got treatment for my asthma it turned my life around. suddenly I was not tired all the time anymore and had an itch to just move.

@Thehousejackbuilt
It makes me feel completely wiped out, if I go I'll try and go early enough to get back into bed for a sleep afterwards. My husband can't understand it, he runs and is buzzing for the rest of the day!
My legs ache a lot, which just seems to make everything a struggle.
Then mentally I struggle to think I have to keep feeling like this and feel crap that it's a never ending cycle. Being unfit makes me feel terrible but trying to get fitter makes me feel terrible.

I've given it a good go, I stuck with a women's running group for just under two years. I improved the distance I could run but it never felt easier and I the tiredness and pain never went away and I didn't loose a single pound either which was demotivating. Then the leader changed to a bloke who was total PE teacher with a whistle, class favourites and plenty of 'motivational' quotes so I stopped going.
I've recently tried jeffing which does help with the pain a little but not the exhaustion.

I actually hate walking, and I feel better now I can admit that. I love running and I'm quite fast, but walking - no. It hurts my legs, because you straighten them fully, whereas in running, your legs are always slightly bent.

I actually now have a report from an orthopaedic surgeon agreeing with me - I tore my meniscus, but I'm a-symptomatic while running, but walking makes the ligaments around my knee ache after 15 minutes!

I’ve recently discovered that I like running. The freedom and the strength in my body are what keeps me going. I hate feeling weak.

Have you ever talked to a doctor about this @Twobrews?

I would recommend Fitness Blender Low Impact program to start with. Half an hour workouts without any jumping or faffing about.
Then after 8 weeks you will feel fitter and might be able to consider something more substantial.
The secret is to start easy and set realistic goals. For example, if you can't bake you don't start with attempting to create a 5-tier wedding cake. You make cupcakes. Same with exercise. Don't think starting with running a mile or doing Insanity is a realistic starting point.
I personally don't enjoy exercising but I do it every day. It's like brushing teeth, just got to be done.

I hated PE at school and still dislike team sports and group classes. I’m a solitary exerciser. My go tos are a good daily walk - we have amazing forest paths round here - and weights. Right now the gym is out but I do kettlebells at home. I lost a lot of weight over the last couple of years and being active is helping keep it off.

I love exercising but when I had to exercise in a certain way for my job I hated it so would distract myself with upbeat music and music videos.

I just thought about it and I don’t like exercising at all, I think I have conditioned myself in to thinking I like it.

@zafferana

Have you ever talked to a doctor about this
Yes, she told me I ached and was tired because I was overweight so keep going with exercise.
I was referred to a dietitian who told me my meals were healthy but not to buy junk food. I explained the problem wasn't junk food, I don't really like a lot of junk and that I can over eat on any food, including vegetable soup, fruit and salad. I can't not buy any food because I have a family at home who need to eat.
She told me it was a MH issue and she couldn't help me.

Have you ever been tested for asthma?

@Twobrews ah okay, that makes a bit more sense. Have you had help for your over-eating? I know from experience that gaining even a kg or two over Christmas (like now!) makes strenuous exercise of any kind harder, I can literally feel that extra weight with every step, so I can only imagine how tough it must be if you are overweight.

I’m with you OP! I hate it hate it hate it, for so many reasons - including that the hot sweaty feelings can trigger existing anxiety & PTSD feelings for me, and if it’s not that, I just find it so boring. I’ve also got some health issues which make exercise harder and more painful for me, but annoyingly, regular exercise also helps alleviate some of those symptoms so I know it’s something I just HAVE to do.

Here’s what has worked for me - DON’T start with something that is very cardio focussed. Yes, it’s good for you & yes over time you’ll learn to love it & get the endorphins etc but it’s not the right place to start for an exercise hater, it’s too big of a jump. Start with something slower that is more focussed on strength, muscle building and flexibility - Pilates, yoga (so many different types to try), Qi Gong, Tai Chi are all good.

Pick something that is at a fixed time (class or appointment) & that costs money...honestly this is the only thing that has helped me get into a regular routine. I pay a trainer for private 1:1 sessions, and before that I paid for packs of classes that had to be used in a certain time. For me, if it’s scheduled in AND I’ve paid a decent amount for it, I’ll show up and do it. If I have to rely on my own motivation to do a workout I either won’t bother at all, or I’ll just half ass it and cut corners to make it easier which defeats the point.

Also, building it into your day, like cycling commuting / cycle school run has really helped me. Cycling for the sake of it? Ugh, so dull. Seeing how quickly I can get somewhere & feeling smug about the cars sat in traffic? So much better!

I enjoy the stuff I do now & miss it when I fall out of routine, but I had to build up very slowly and it took at least 3 months for me to feel I “enjoyed” anything about it (probably more like 6 months if I’m completely honest).

Also - don’t let this be a thing you guilt or shame yourself about OP. I think there’s a bit of nature / nurture here.... people who grow up in sporty, active or outdoorsy families seem to naturally enjoy exercise more. If you didn’t have that upbringing (mine could not have been further from that!) then it’s going to feel foreign to you, and it doesn’t make other people better / more worthy than you.