If you exercise regularly, do you enjoy it?

[Absoluteunit]

Hi MN, I started calorie counting and moving more about a month ago and have lost a stone so far

I am 5'3 and weigh nearly 250lbs and I think it's fair to say I have a disordered view of what is a healthy diet and exercise regimen.

I have upped my steps from my pre lockdown baseline which was only about 2,000 a day . Yesterday I managed just under 15k which I am very pleased with but with my weight being high my ankles and hips are really suffering this morning.

This is where I'd usually give myself a day off to recover but I'm thinking that's probably not the best thing..? If I don't push myself I'm not going to get fitter and healthier am I? (If things got really bad I would stop to avoid injury).

Anyway, it got me wondering if it stops hurting would I enjoy exercise more? I've never experienced the endorphins people talk about, even when I was a lot smaller and fitter, although I do always feel good afterwards so is that it?

Or do people not really enjoy exercise and do it because they should? Maybe I need to stop focusing on enjoying it and just bloody get on with it (I am stepping while I type this so I'm not a complete slacker!)

Has anyone on here previously hated exercise and become to enjoy it? Or do you do it out of necessity?

This won't help right now during lockdown, but the only exercise that I've enjoyed and had what must be endorphins afterward was swimming - which is also really great if you're larger since you don't put pressure on your legs like you've mentioned. So once this is all over I really recommend it.

Right now I'm grudgingly making myself do a fast walk every day, and eyeing up strength exercises like yoga.

Hi @Absoluteunit well done on what you’ve accomplished so far!

Firstly, if you were very active yesterday and aching today, it is fine to ease back today - maybe do a 5000 step day. Time to repair and adapt is just as important for gaining fitness.

Secondly I was never an exercise person, but I have got into running, I don’t love it and I rarely ever want to go, but I do feel good after - I never regret going. As you build fitness maybe those feelings will come. Good luck!

Thank you both

I'm a terrible swimmer but never too late to learn eh? I mean I wouldn't drown if I fell in the water but I have no form at all Breast stroke gives me neck ache and I can't get my breathing right for crawl. I think our local leisure centre does lessons so perhaps I will give that a try, thanks

Ooh I like the sound of a 5k day today - I'm on 4.8 already 😀 But if I sit for too long the biscuits might jump out of the cupboard at me

Ooh I've always wanted to be able to run! I was quite good at cross country at school... I've downloaded couch25k to do on the spot in my kitchen We're shielding and no room for a treadmill sadly. Not the same as the real thing but at least I'll be moving

It's got to get easier hasn't it? Thanks again to you both x

I'm about your height and weight and I love exercise. I go to group fitness classes (F45). I need the high intensity exercise to feel good. I can't do a lot of stuff that smaller and fitter people do but I give most stuff a go and then modify if I can't cope. My fitness has increased a lot and I haven't been going long.

That's brilliant! Have you always enjoyed it or is it a recent thing? Sorry I hope you don't mind me being so nosy. I really hope I start to enjoy it a bit more soon - at the moment everything just hurts too much I think I can notice a slight increase in my fitness is a short space of time so that's keeping me motivated for now.

Maybe I just need to be brave and try a few more different things until I find something I like!

I’m not, and never will be an exercise lover ..but I do lots more now than I ever used to. Like the previous poster , I pretty much hate running, but do go out as the knowing you’ve done it afterwards is great. In addition meeting up with loads of friends In a running club where lots of people are like me (go slow, have a laugh, moan, run different routes, do different training etc) makes it bearable. Its no more than an hour so no sooner have I started than I finish.

I also do kettlebells which would be great for you..hard work but burns loads of calories, and can be fun with a good zoom instructor and great music.

Don’t think that you have to enjoy it , all you have to do is find something thats bearable enough that you’ll do it, even if you procrastinate loads beforehand.

Setting yourself targets or challenges is a great way too ...be that distances, races, a-z of street names...whatever. Audio books also help pass the time.

Good luck with C25k..take it slowly and don’t let the mental gremlins tell you to give up.

How have the past couple of days gone @Absoluteunit? Still on track? :)

I've always hated exercising but realised I needed to do something while I'm not getting out and about as normal
I started doing Joe Wicks 10 minute workouts for seniors, then someone on here recommended Paracise so I found a twenty minute routine on youtube which starts off gently and builds up a bit.
I then discovered Jenny McLendon who does a variety of aerobic workouts, Jane Fonda too, and Leslie Sansone who does walking workouts.

There are loads of exercise videos aimed at beginners or seniors, have a scout about on youtube.

I realised that one of the reasons I never enjoyed exercising is that I get so hot and sweaty, but at home it doesn't matter, so I have a fan going, and get in the shower straight after. I don't think I would enjoy going to a class, I can go at my own pace at home. I am enjoying exercising now.

I try and incorporate exercise into my daily routine otherwise I find trouble motivating myself.

So in normal times I cycle 5 miles to work and 5 miles back (I try and do intervals on the way back) walk to the shop and take a few detours to get the steps in. It's been tougher in lockdown, although the good weather we had helped.

The only exercise I really enjoy is swimming - I'm pretty terrible at it but have improved after watching a few YouTube videos. I do get a buzz after that, although it always leaves me ravenous so I have to be careful not to overeat afterwards!

I listened to an audiobook today for the first time while I went out a walk. Made it lot more enjoyable.

Why not try some strength low impact work tomorrow? Like pilates. It's so amazing for strengthening muscles and core and you just lie down mostly!

15 k is a lot, especially if you are not used to it.

I've done c25k with my teens during lockdown and run twice a week with them. I have to say I don't mind it, but I'm always glad when it is over

swimming and cycling are great exercises for people with achey knees and ankles. weights are also good.

Thanks all. I am still plodding on I've only done just over 10k steps today but I did a workout on YouTube using 2ltr water bottles instead of weights. My arms hurt now but I did feel better for having done it. I've lost another 2lb so that definitely spurred me on!

Thanks for all your recommendations! I'm off to search for the YouTube workouts mentioned

I love the exercise I currently do (or did pre covid), but has taken time to find the best ones for me!
Love horse riding, swimming and walking as my commute. I swim with a club which is sociable. Walking great for destressing after work and quicker than driving/train.
Have tried running and various indoor aerobics classes, but just didn't like them. each to their own !

I excersise 5 days a week. I hate it, I dread it before doing it, but I always feel better afterwards. I'm not sure I'll ever love excersise but I love food too much and to maintain a size 8-10 I have to do it.

It's definitely worth finding a form of exercise you enjoy - I tried running every day one summer, and it hurt just as much at the beginning as at the end (and I was a lot slimmer than I am now). However cycling is what really works for me - I feel good when I go fast, when I push myself. It might be worth giving cycling a go; it's kinder on your joints as it's not high impact. Personally I much prefer to be outside than in a gym, but that's definitely not the case for everyone.

Depends what you mean by enjoy.

I run a lot (30-40km a week a the moment) and I have been running for over 10 years but if you asked me in the middle of a run whether I am enjoying myself I'd probably hit you!!

But you can't beat the feeling of having done exercise. I when I can't run because of injury, I hate it.

I push myself most times I run and I can imagine that this is similar to how you feel right now OP. I'm always aiming to get under a certain time and it's really hard and it hurts and I just want to stop but I keep on going.

If I go running with my daughter who runs much slower, then I enjoy it as it's not tiring.

I think that the only forms of exercise that are fun whilst you are doing them are actual sports. I played hockey for a bit and that was fun and I did a lot of sports when I was a kid which I loved.

I started running having never done any real regular exercise, and the first few weeks I really had to force myself to go, but it eventually became a usual part of my routine and it was a lot easier to find the time by sacrificing a little bit of down time (not having time was my go-to excuse, then I'd sit watching tv for hours...). I still feel like I can't be bothered at times but I do feel better afterwards for doing it.

I enjoy sports but not exercise. But the exercise has become like a routine, a discipline. Just half an hour every day. And the best motivation is feeling fitter, stronger and more agile.
I'd recommend not buying biscuits - or anything else you snack on. The discipline required to not eat bad stuff when you're not busy is too much for me.
Try to get into habits, both in exercise and diet and don't give yourself excuses to get out of the habit.
For the exercise, plan harder days and easier days.
And try to keep busy.

I NEVER enjoyed exercise.
Then we started cal counting and I heard about the miracle Wicks and ... Wowza.
I do now HIIT session 2x a week. Just 15 min each. I am heavier than you and I simply can't last longer.
3x a week I do "stairs muscle work". I use stairs for push ups on 2 different steps to use different muscles (they are easier than floor push ups, but build the strength up), squats, squats with alternate foot on a step and then crunches and push ups without stairs.

Every morning while coffee water boils I do 10 squats, 10 push ups, 10 sec plank with rotating hips, 10 crunches and 10 seconds run on spot. That one is to wake the body up. Better than coffee!

It doesn't sound like much at all, but I can feel my body posture changing, my back doesn't hurt after quite few years of it being a bother and my DH even commented that my butt is getting different shape. Also. I have a neck again😂😂

So yeah. Hate it, but love the results of it.

I don’t think I’ll ever love exercise but it’s been a regular part of my routine for about 3 years now. I do 3 hour long classes a week that include boxing, hiit, kettlebells and Pilates. I workout with a group of lovely people (virtually at the mo) and I think that helps. But it is about making exercise part of every day life I think.

I run almost every day (40+ miles a week)...and not only is it a routine but I love it! It's my 'me' time, I run first thing on a morning so it sets me up for the day, it improves my mental health and has made my anxiety far more manageable, and I do get a real buzz from doing it. It also allows me to maintain my figure and fitness whilst enjoying treats and snacks and not worrying too much about my diet. I've run for almost 10 years, but the last 3 years have been my most consistent in terms of running regularly and the benefits are great.

I must say I've always loved exercise - but also, if I don't enjoy something I stop doing it and look for something else. Yes, I'm looking at you Step classes! So booooooring!!!

During lockdown I've done Bodypump 3 times per week via Les Mills Online. On 3 other days I teach a Zoom Group Fight class (a bit like bodycombat). Having people relying on me to teach has been a huge factor in keeping going. In addition I'll walk, run and / or cycle as well, and on my day off I try to ensure I get my 10k steps.

My job is massively sedentary and I overeat when I'm bored so despite all the exercise I'm still 2st overweight. I started Weight watchers (again!) today to try and do something about that.

I’m a swimmer - highly recommend it to rebuild muscle when we’ve been heavier than we needed to be and lost muscle mass

Pools be open again sometime...

I also do yoga

I love these 2 things and when I couldn’t swim or do yoga I was miserable

At least I have my yoga back now

“”Listen to your body @Absoluteunit, if you hurt, take it easy for a day then gradually build back up again.

You’re in this for the long haul, no need to rush and damage yourself

I hate all exercise. Nevertheless I run 5k a couple of times a week, v-e-r-y slowly, for a bit of cardio. I have never, ever experienced that endorphin business.

This isn't said to dishearten you. I just think that "if only you found the right thing you'd love it" doesn't work for everyone. IMO there are a few of us who just have to grit our teeth, pick the most convenient/least worst thing, and crack on regardless.