To not get why people refuse to exercise?

[JumpingJacky]

Exercise near enough saved my life, literally, and I am evangelical about it but still people make so many excuses as to why they can’t do just a small amount, and don’t realise that they are suffering for it!

I have a relative who suffers from back pain. He spends a large majority of his day sitting. I have suggested various low impact exercises that I know through experience will help but he won’t do them while continuing whingeing and moaning about being in pain!

A friend who is overweight complains that she has pain in her knees and ankles and is finding walking hard which is stopping her doing stuff. I know weight loss is hard so I suggest she joins the gym (she can afford it and has time) to use the low impact machines to at least build some strength into her legs and get a bit fitter but she’s just not interested whilst continuing to whinge and moan!

I get it that exercise is hard and can make you uncomfortable and sweaty but for the benefits to your body that’s a small price to pay surely?

If it was me, and I did start exercising to help my health, you would literally be the last person I would ever admit it to. I would not give you the satisfaction.

How is this any of your business OP? This used to be said (maybe still is) that its a very masculine trait to offer solutions to people's problems instead of gving them what they want which is to be listened to.

You say that you are evangelical and that's a very good word...but very few people want to be evangelised at!

I once remember a sneery PE teacher curling her lip and commenting about a girl running round the track - 'Look at her! What an amoeba!'
That's terrible, of course, but has no real relevance to op's question.

My free time is very minimal as a single parent of a small child, and I like to spend it doing things I find enjoyable because life is too short to work, play toddler games, do the housework, do the shopping and the cooking and then exercise.

I could. I have time to. But I can also spend that time reading or painting or doing something else that actually does actually feel worthwhile.

People accept that dogs need exercise every day and if you didn't walk your dog, you'd be accused of neglect. Humans are animals as well, so should also be exercised everyday; just walking for 30 minutes would be enough.

People’s dependence on cars doesn’t help. Just walking or cycling instead of driving, having a Fitbit and building up on those steps is good exercise.

Honestly OP, I'm pretty bloody fit but I still don't have a 'plan optimised to my goals' because I find it quite hard to force myself to follow a rigid timetable & that's as someone who (mostly) enjoys exercise.

TBH all but a handful of 'evangelical exercisers' I know are people who are going through a short term obsession but will probably revert to type and end up less fit / fatter than they started out.

Outside of people who are really dedicated to a particular sport or hobby, the fittest people I know are the ones who quietly do a bit every day and STFU about it. The same could be said for healthy diets.

@Mistymountain

People accept that dogs need exercise every day and if you didn't walk your dog, you'd be accused of neglect. Humans are animals as well, so should also be exercised everyday; just walking for 30 minutes would be enough.

But we humans can make our own decisions, we don't need minders. People make their own decisions independently of those who've seen the light delivering sermons.

Inthink the reason why many people get in a hump about exercise is that in the heads of many it's about weight. And we don't talk about weight.
But it's not (just) about weight. I absolutely hated it and still don't really enjoy it most of the time but am very much aware of it's effects ony body. The health benefits are undeniable. 🤷🏻

Mandatory disclaimer of: I don't mean people who genuinely cannot exercise due to medical issues.

I exercise daily, but can totally understand why people don't want to. It's boring, it's tiring, it's painful. Hate people whinging about back and joint pain but equally hate exercise bores who drone on about half-marathons, park runs or which trainers are best.

People are lazy, that's why.
People are looking for instant results, instant gratification so get bored after one try and give up.

"Exercise" can be anything and everything (pretty much). Unless very serious and rare medical condition, anyone could find something they enjoy, and even sometimes they could become reasonably good at.
They can't be arsed.

Just look at kids: naturally they run, they jump, they dance, they are constantly on the go in parks and soft plays. Normal children are not naturally still and doing nothing. We give them screens and tablets and mess them up.

I would keep quiet though, you are not going to win that one. People know, they chose not to.

I get my exercise walking to the car thanks.

My back pain was a herniated disc which exercise would have worsened
I miss exercise but it brings me out in hives, literally, so no I can't exercise. Not something I disclose in RL

This used to be said (maybe still is) that its a very masculine trait to offer solutions to people's problems instead of gving them what they want which is to be listened to.

But why should anyone have to listen to someone else moaning about something which they could do something about.
I had a headache this morning because I drank alcohol last night. I took some painkillers and know that I’d be better not drinking....I don’t go around telling everyone how bad my head hurts and if I did I’d expect them to roll their eyes as it’s self inflicted. People do have to take some responsibility for their health and if they don’t, they need to recognise that others don’t want to listen to them moan.

People can not exercise, eat a bad diet, smoke, drink, take drugs, whatever....but I don’t want to hear about the obvious consequences of that.

I exercise daily, but can totally understand why people don't want to. It's boring, it's tiring, it's painful.

It's sounds more like rehab than actual exercise as a hobby. It doesn't need to be boring and painful.

What should be painful and make you sluggish, uncomfortable, unwell, not sleeping well is to not exercise.

I have arthritis and have to do a yoga or pilates class at least 6 days a week and on top of that stay in movement most of the day. Otherwise I will be in terrible pain and struggle to do my work. I have grown to love exercise but I definitely haven't always. I don't think I preach about it but I do make recommendations on forums etc for us with arthritis or if someone asks how I can be so strong even though I have this illness for example. Without exercise, I would be a totally different person.

@JumpingJacky

Exercise near enough saved my life, literally, and I am evangelical about it but still people make so many excuses as to why they can’t do just a small amount, and don’t realise that they are suffering for it!

I have a relative who suffers from back pain. He spends a large majority of his day sitting. I have suggested various low impact exercises that I know through experience will help but he won’t do them while continuing whingeing and moaning about being in pain!

A friend who is overweight complains that she has pain in her knees and ankles and is finding walking hard which is stopping her doing stuff. I know weight loss is hard so I suggest she joins the gym (she can afford it and has time) to use the low impact machines to at least build some strength into her legs and get a bit fitter but she’s just not interested whilst continuing to whinge and moan!

I get it that exercise is hard and can make you uncomfortable and sweaty but for the benefits to your body that’s a small price to pay surely?

Because I hate it. I absolutely hate it. I’m a healthy BMI but haven’t got great fitness - everything I try I just hate with a passion. I did the couch to 5k and got to the end. Came back crying most days towards the end and after I had completed it because I felt so ill. Lungs so painful, banging headache, dizzy. A few times whilst running I had minor panic attacks because it felt like I couldn’t get enough oxygen and my heart was going to stop. I have lost vision totally when running- it all goes black. This is when taking it very slowly and going out 3 days every single week for 4 months. Barely got any better - still loathed it. Tried body pump and it’s given me back problems for life. Tried spin hated it despite multiple different instructors. Tried body combat, aerobics, Zumba, dance classes, tennis, badminton. Just hate them all and how exercise makes me feel whilst doing it. The only thing I can tolerate is walking and that’s because I love the outdoors and nature. But that’s just about it.

@KaleSlayer

This used to be said (maybe still is) that its a very masculine trait to offer solutions to people's problems instead of gving them what they want which is to be listened to.

But why should anyone have to listen to someone else moaning about something which they could do something about.
I had a headache this morning because I drank alcohol last night. I took some painkillers and know that I’d be better not drinking....I don’t go around telling everyone how bad my head hurts and if I did I’d expect them to roll their eyes as it’s self inflicted. People do have to take some responsibility for their health and if they don’t, they need to recognise that others don’t want to listen to them moan.

People can not exercise, eat a bad diet, smoke, drink, take drugs, whatever....but I don’t want to hear about the obvious consequences of that.

then walk away

Spiderplants you’d have no need to lecture me as I’m a veggie too . That’s slightly different anyway as it’s personal opinion not a fact such as exercising improves physical and mental health and relieves pain if you do the right ones.

@Carolduckingbaskin I also have degenerative disc disease. I was told an operation was too risky and my only option was to build my lower back up. Your DH’s PT must have been pretty shit. Two weeks straight everyday in the gym on the crosstrainer and on the lower back weight machine reduced the sciatica pain that I’d had for 5 years which kept me awake, and I could hardly walk from, by 90%. Within a month it was gone and has never returned as I’ve built my lower back up. I seriously used to think I’d end up in a mobility scooter. It still blows my mind that I used to worry about that.

Well when I say evangelical it’s more that I was extremely overweight (over 18 stone). found it hard to move, was in extreme pain, had health issues (now resolved by exercise), bad MH and ‘no time’ so exercising was the last thing I wanted to do but when I finally decided to try it after much nagging from DH I was astounded by how much better I felt within just a few weeks. So I kind of think I am entitled to preach seeing as I’ve been there myself.

I hated every minute at first. I used to mutter swear words under my breath and be a beetroot faced sweaty mess furious that I had to do it. It can be boring but you can listen to music, podcasts or audio books.

Friend and BIL have seen my transformation right in front of their faces but still won’t do anything themselves .

I’d never advocate running though! Too much risk of injury and damages the joints in the long run .

Yeah I moan. And I have no interest in exercising a certain way because you do.

*Mistymountain

People accept that dogs need exercise every day and if you didn't walk your dog, you'd be accused of neglect. Humans are animals as well, so should also be exercised everyday; just walking for 30 minutes would be enough.*

Humans are not dogs though.

I agree that exercise is an intrinsic part of a dog's life, but for a dog that walk is far more than physical activity.
The physical act of walking and running is important for a dog, but equally is the change of scene, the stimulus of new scents, other dogs, wind, rain, temperature change, different terrain, change of sensory input, a mental flush as much as a physical work out.
Human can achieve many of those things without exercise.
So not a good comparison.

then walk away

I already said earlier that I’d distance myself from anyone like OP describes.

So I kind of think I am entitled to preach seeing as I’ve been there myself.
No! No, no, no.

Great what you've overcome and fair play to you for doing it, but just no.
Nobody needs your sermons.

I have a friend that does the same to me. An 'expert' in exercise for recovery. Tried to push me to do all sorts of classes including lifting. My consultant and physio were gobsmacked and said under no circumstances would anything she suggested be a good idea. She claims they don't know what they're taking about.

@motherloaded

I exercise daily, but can totally understand why people don't want to. It's boring, it's tiring, it's painful.

It's sounds more like rehab than actual exercise as a hobby. It doesn't need to be boring and painful.

What should be painful and make you sluggish, uncomfortable, unwell, not sleeping well is to not exercise.

If you work your muscles properly they burn (aka hurt). Exercise for me will never be a hobby (with the exception of skiing and hiking), but a necessary chore.