If you don't like exercise, why not?

[akaemmafrost]

I run or swim most days. Whenever I mention that have done this I nearly always get the same responses:-

Oh you are good.
God, I couldn't be bothered with that.
I hate exercise!

Seriously, it made me wonder why do people see it as such an evil difficult thing?

So just being nosy really.

Why don't I like exercise?

• It's boring (no. 1 reason. No exercise I've found actually engages my brain or is in any way enjoyable.)
• It makes me hot and sweaty, two things I cannot bear. Especially the being hot thing. Urrgh.
• It's painful. My lungs, legs, back and even my arms (wtf?!) hurt when I run.
• It takes up time I could be spending with DS or doing something productive
• I personally don't seem to be able to improve my fitness. Been doing short bursts of running daily for about two months now, and still tire quickly, still hurt, and am not losing much weight despite exercise + dietary changes.

I really wish I could be like you OP and actually get that buzz. I hear that exercise is supposed to make you feel good, endorphins and all that, but when I've finished exercising I just feel depressed and exhausted

It's just not true that you'll like it if you just keep at it. Yes it becomes easier, but it's still boring, sweaty and time consuming. I think it's like anything else- some people like cleaning fgs!

I have exercised regularly for years, cycling and dancing. I still hate it, even though I have picked the two things that I manage to squeeze a bit of enjoyment from.
I would much rather not do it and still be able to eat copious amounts of cake.

I was very sporty at school, good at running (hate it now) athletics and team sports so it's not an overhang from that.

I'd just rather be doing something more interesting.

I hate getting out of breath and feeling unfit, but obviously can't get fit without going through this phase

if someone could fast forward me to the fot stage, i would do regular exercise to maintain it probably

*fit not fot

Because it always ends up in disaster.

Last time I went to the gym, they had a new treadmill which I went on, said I didn't need any help.

Ended up putting it on pretty fast on an incline..

Then my ex's best friend walked in and started on the bike behind me. I didn't want him to see me so had to keep running ( stupid I know)

I swear I was saying my goodbyes to lobed ones in my head, I couldn't breath!

He got off the bike and went on something else facing the other way, so I jumped off the treadmill, my legs completely gave way and I collapsed.

What. A. Dick.

Loved*

I had a phase (3whole months) of doing shred and thought i would learn to love it . Lost no weight. Gained no tone. I resented the time it took out ofmy evening for no gain. And yes i did push and work hard and sweat abd grunt. Hateful activity.

TheflyingFishFinger
Aka, see what you started!

I started cycling to work, between 15 and 18 miles 3 days a week last year.

At first the cycling was tough and I got very tired. Now I miss it if I don't do it. I've also lost nearly a stone and saved money not using the car.

Emma would be very interested to know how the rowing goes?

It isn't boring! Once your in a steady rhythm and your breathing is OK, your mind is free to really think. I have solved more problems (work and personal) running than by hours of anguished thinking and worrying.

Not to mention music and audio books if you want them. And if you run on a sunday morning and your mp3 receives radio you can listen to theArchers omnibus

I like swimming, but the admin involved in getting dressed, undressed, etc etc.

I like swimming, but the admin involved in getting dressed, undressed, etc etc.

I have a feeling that many people do have the potential to be fond of one particular form of exercise...but that finding that form isn't always easy.

I loathe, passionately, stuff like aerobics, and I've never been any good at running (though I suppose I could work at it) and organised sports make me quite panicky with terror and hatred.

OTOH I swim, three times a week, 60 lengths before breakfast. Have done for decades (mostly. With blips, obviously including SPD-ridden pregnancies). I troll up and down among the octogenarians and I bloody love it.

I love exercise.

I love kickboxing, boxing, resistance training..I love sweating and I love hurting ( in a good way as long as I haven't pulled anything)

I cannot love running. I keep persisting as I reckon it's the way to shift the weight and get the cardio truly working, but I find it soooooo boring.

So I reckon it's about finding the things that you enjoy, and also an element of having to want to do it , same as stopping smoking, there's loads of people out there who know its good for you but you will find every excuse under the sun not to do it because actually you don't care enough?

"but that finding that form isn't always easy."

True! I used to swim twice a week before I had the kids, feeling v virtuous and hating every second of it and not improving at all

Running is different. It allows me to release my inner nerd. I can use maps and time myself and compare one run with another, and make special running playlists. I spent happy hours with an OS map searching out footpaths and little lanes to run down Now I run with dog I have to stick to footpaths though.

I dropped out of PE at school and was often last to be picked.

From about age 25 I realised I loved exercise. I've also know a few people who didn't look after themselves and it doesn't end well, you can wing it when you're young, but bar being run over by a bus then I intend to stick around for many decades yet. I really don't want to suffer ill health when I'm old.

Ah, you see, I would hate to use my brain when exercising. I feel I'm more suited to the....meditative approach

If I'm stressed out and go for a run by the time I come back I am calm and cheerful. I listen to my favourite music while I run, my mind is open and free as Ormiran said. When I get back I am exhausted but in a really good way.

It's like taking a sedative .

I hate that it makes me feel like I'm dying, even when I was a kid and did loads of dancing, swimming etc running for more than a minute makes me feel like my chest is trying to kill me and I don't feel ok for literally hours, like my lungs are bruised.

And paying £40 I don't have to go and do something I find very dull is a challenge. I went to the gym for a while when I was unemployed and it got me back on an even keel, emotionally, so I know it's good stuff. But I find it SO boring and end up clockwatching. If I could watch a film or read a book when exercising, and not look at the time, I would get a lot more done without thinking about it.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17177251 I take comfort from this research - if I could be bothered to even do 3 minutes

elephants before I got into running I would read the paper or a book at the gym while on the bike or cross trainer. The paper is easiest as can be draped conveniently on the front of the exercise equipment.

It's just so damn boring and repetetive, and hurts......

It hurts in a GOOD way though !