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Exercise

Chat to other fitness enthusiasts on our Exercise forum.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

If you don't like exercise, why not?

239 replies

akaemmafrost · 21/05/2012 16:39

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.

OP posts:
anniemac · 22/05/2012 10:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HellonHeels · 22/05/2012 11:06

I hated PE and all exercise at school. Self-conscious, hated team sports, unimaginative lessons, really embarrassed about not being able to swim. Lessons were: winter - netball. Summer - swimming or 'athletics' with dodgy equipment.

As an adult I have been massively overweight and discovered a love of exercise as part of losing weight about eight years ago. I love exercise now, I ride my bike, have run a lot (but prone to injury so don't run much now), go hiking, work out in the gym, practise yoga, and have finally learned to swim. I like the feeling of having worked hard and it does wonders for my mental health.

OrmIrian · 22/05/2012 11:20

"I think we were made to sweat sometimes. And why would anyone wear make-up to exercise in? It's that sort of thing that creates barriers to young girls and women being strong and healthy. This preoccupation with our appearance at all times and 'fear' of looking like we have actually worked hard."

Quite. When I am running I am sweaty and often stinky, my hair is all messed up and my face is red. So WHAT? I'm running. If I was gardening I wouldn't worry about having muddy hands. if was cooking I wouldn't mind having garlicky fingers. The sweat, mud and garlic all wash off,.

Helltotheno · 22/05/2012 11:22

Anyone who doesn't exercise cos they don't like sweating - and I can relate - one of the best things I ever did was buy a treadmill and some weights. I've kind of gotten over my sweating thing now (though I don't ever exercise out on a very warm day) because I see exercise as being the 'acceptable' face of sweating iyswim. But on v warm days or just for handiness, it's great to be able to exercise inside.

Being honest, vanity is part of it and I actually want to be my optimum weight and look good. Health is also part of it, even though I accept that it's a lottery to which nobody is immune, even people who exercise. At least I have control over some things though.

I agree that it does wonders for mental health.

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 22/05/2012 11:28

Exercise gets the endorphins going hence the feel good factor....I love a good sweat on, no point doing it if you're not gonna go for it.

Yep, another one for the vanity factor.....obv I know its good for your heart too but the main reasons I exercise a lot is apart from the fact I love it, I love looking good(ish)

Miladygardenia · 22/05/2012 12:33

I am renowned at karate for having a white flannel tucked into my gi jacket because of the sweating. I agree, if you're self-conscious about it it does make you panic a bit, which of course in turn leads to more sweating. During a four hour grading I've gone through three jackets simply because I find the sweat puts me off.

But since I started doing the c25k (which I'm on week 4 of, so starting to do more running than walking) I appear to be sweating less at karate. I failed Biology O-level so I have no idea why but no doubt somone caould explain.

Point is, I love my sport enough to overlook the downsides. And, frankly, I'm the only one that worries about it- the rest of the class don't take any notice (in fact some are just the same).

It is difficult to find a form of exercise you really enjoy- I was a member of a gym for 4 years and have recently quit because I got bored. But there are so many things out there to have a go at if your only reason is boredom.

MNHQ
KatMumsnet · 22/05/2012 14:19

Hi, we've moved this into Sport & Exercise. Just to make sure it doesn't slip into oblivion.

ampere · 22/05/2012 14:21

Kat- that's a daft idea! I'd have to make some effort to find it there! Grin

Couldn't you just wheel it over to me here?

Mirage · 22/05/2012 14:24

I hate exercise and haven't been in a gym since 1995,I do a physical job outside and spend a lot of time being cold and wet,so don't fancy paying for the privilege in a swimming pool.However,I'm outside all the time with work and take the dds riding every day too,so am out in the fresh air doing something physical from 9 until 5.30 most days and probably walk around 15-20 miles a week.

UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea · 22/05/2012 14:33

Treacle makes a great point - compulsory bra fitting along with the tampon talk at schools??

StarlightMcKenzie · 22/05/2012 14:44

Betty, exercise has never got my endorphins going.

Sitting down to a comedy, a slice of cake and a glass of wine however.....

CaseyShraeger · 22/05/2012 15:18

I am very uncoordinated and have crap balance. There are sports I think I would enjoy if I were only marginally more coordinated, but spending the entire time picking the ball/shuttlecock/whatever up from where it's placidly sailed past you is dispiriting and also not great exercise. I also have very poor balance; I can just about ride a bike in a straight line but I get wobbly if I have to go round a tight corner and taking one hand off the handlebars to signal results in disaster. I might like swimming if I could swim more than glorified doggy paddle but can't find a course that I can fit around DC-related commitments.

I have started learning to run and am quite enjoying that, but again it's tricky to fit around DC as DH works away for a lot of the week, they are too young to be left and babysitters are expensive. I'm just about managing to keep it up 3x a week but sometimes it is Friday + Saturday + Sunday, which is hardly ideal.

DottyDot · 22/05/2012 15:22

Well I'm overweight, unfit and have never, ever enjoyed exercise - I've tried step, zumba, the gym, wii fit and have stopped all very quickly.

But... I've started cycling to work and love it Grin. 10 miles a day so good going for me and I think the reason I like it is that it's serving a purpose, i.e. getting me to work and home each day. Any other form of exercise just takes up time I could be mumsnetting doing other useful things, whereas cycling takes the same time as my previous train journey and is useful, rather than a chore.

SwedishEdith · 22/05/2012 19:21

There definitely seems to be a type that enjoys exercise and they simply can't get why others just don't. A slightly evangelical tone which I find a tinsy bit off-putting. The link I posted earlier about the exercise myths showed that there are a significant proportion of the population who are non-responders to exercise with only about 15% (think it was) who are "super-responders". Effective exercise need only be 3 minutes per day of extreme cardio-vascular type workout. Now, that has appeal!

CurrySpice · 22/05/2012 19:54

What "type" would that be Edith?

I'm not evangelical at all. But I do snort at some excuses

StarlightMcKenzie · 22/05/2012 20:05

But calling them 'excuses' is judgemental and implies that one 'ought' to exercise or have different priorities to what they have.

Isn't exercise an 'excuse' to get away from your partner, an 'excuse' to feed your kids the same meal as yesterday, an 'excuse' for not calling your mum back, an 'excuse' for leaving the washing up?

FunnysInLaJardin · 22/05/2012 20:07

for me exercise is more about the emotional and mental benefits. I've long since stopped thinking I'm doing it to loose weight, but I am doing it to retain my sanity. It forces me to stop thinking and give me a real high. I twigged this about 6 years ago and since then I enjoy it much more

CaseyShraeger · 22/05/2012 20:13

But at the point at which you came on to snort, the majority of the people who had said they hated being sweaty were people who did exercise regularly (or who had done so in the past but were on a break for non-sweat related reasons). The thread title is "If you don't like exercise..." after all, not "If you don't take any exercise". If someone doesn't like getting sweaty but still exercises, how is that an "excuse"?

notyummy · 22/05/2012 20:21

But most people do have excuses! About a range of things. Why tip toe around it in some angst ridden tree huggy way FGS?! I have an excuse why I eat cake everyday (I like it and I exercise do I deserve it.) Its not rationale- its an excuse. A reason I come up for doing something I like. Just like 'I don't like sweating' or 'I prefer sitting on the sofa' are excuses for not doing exercise. We should all be moving our arses. The people who cycle everywhere or have a job involving physical stuff are the exceptions, but that isn't the majority of us. So yes we 'ought' be exercising. And I 'ought' to stop eating cake. There are rights and wrongs and that doesn't make advocating the right thing judgemental. It may make someone annoying because you know they are correct.....

StarlightMcKenzie · 22/05/2012 20:24

But why 'ought' anyone exercise or stop eating cake?

Who are you to tell someone else what choices they should be making?

How would you like it if I told you you 'ought' to give 40% of your income to charity, you 'ought' to be a vegetarian, you 'ought' to not drive or go on holidays abroad?

notyummy · 22/05/2012 20:41

I probably wouldn't tbh, but you would likely be right. I think if someone is doing something that is damaging then someone pointing it out isn't inherently wrong. I am quite glad that we tell people they shouldn't Hirt their children or drink 12 pints and throw up in the street. One of those is illegal which is the bigger 'ought not' obviously - in fact it's a 'must not'. But that hasn't stopped sensible campaigns around road safety and seatbelt wearing that we're based on people being told what they should it shouldn't do. You may chose not to listen to the message and not exercise (or eat cake in my case), but that doesn't make the message- or the fact you have been told it- wrong.

notyummy · 22/05/2012 20:42

Apologies for the typos Blush.

CurrySpice · 22/05/2012 20:57

I am perhaps being a bit more strident here than normal but most of these "excuses" or "reasons", if you prefer, not to move about more are pretty weak.

Pouncing on one piece of evidence that most people are not "super responders" to exercise as a reason not to is one example. Because that's much easier than listening to all the information / research / common sense / evidence which shows that exercising is good for you and prloongs your life and quality of life

I am no calendar girl for exercise. Very far from it. But even as one of life's natural couch potatoes, I would recognise that exercising is A Good Thing

LadyBeagleEyes · 22/05/2012 21:04

I'm sure it's A Very Good Thing.
I just CBA with it.

motherinferior · 22/05/2012 21:07

The reason people 'ought' to exercise is that pretty well all the medical specialists agree it's important. Look up anything to do with heart health, fighting off cancer, even developing Alzheimer's....honestly, again and again when I write about these 'exercise' comes up, along with 'not smoking'.

I am not sure about a 'type'. I was quite exercise phobic, and I still refuse to have anything to do with organised sports - I am the sort of Bad Mummy who doesn't go to school sports day, I hate it so much. I am lucky to have found that I enjoy swimming.

(Incidentally, I do think we 'ought' to look at the environmental impact of driving and of flying (I don't fly, for this reason) - but that is on a global level, not an individual one. And on the individual level I do very much like cake.)