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Exercise

Chat to other fitness enthusiasts on our Exercise forum.

How do I learn to love exercise?

53 replies

Baldieheid · 09/07/2023 17:01

Anyone any tricks to make exercising less of a chore? I work out at home and I have to FORCE myself to do it, which means I just don't. I've always got an excuse. I'm not motivated at all. Why not, I don't know. I feel horrible the way I am at the moment. I feel achy and I frighten myself with how much harder everything is to do compared to a couple of years ago. I can't go on like this. But even that's not enough to make me do it.

Does anyone else struggle? I don't understand why I'm putting these roadblocks in my own way...it's beyond stupid. I'm being a total idiot and I'm disgusted with myself.

OP posts:
MajorDanger · 09/07/2023 22:57

You can learn to love how it makes you feel which makes it easier to do.

There are days I really don’t want to but, if I miss one of my 3 sessions a week, I feel so sore, stiff and aching, so I know it’s important to do. Once I’ve done it I make sure to tell myself how glad I am I’ve done it and I also really focus on how good my body feels. That carries me through the sessions I desperately don’t want to do.

Baldieheid · 09/07/2023 23:33

I have found my tribe.

All my friends who exercise claim to love it. Now I suspect I've been hoodwinked.

OP posts:
Farmageddon · 09/07/2023 23:37

Baldieheid · 09/07/2023 23:33

I have found my tribe.

All my friends who exercise claim to love it. Now I suspect I've been hoodwinked.

The thing is, I do actually really like it sometimes....I love the benefits of it, I love that I'm stronger and have more defined muscles. And I sort of get a high afterwards which feels great.

Muu · 09/07/2023 23:41

Can you try jogging? After the first few times (which you won’t enjoy) you’ll get a buzz and you might get addicted to it.

I love jogging and I actually miss it when I haven’t done it for a while. I don’t like working out at home and the gym is expensive/inconvenient/makes me too achey.

LakeFlyPie · 09/07/2023 23:48

Baldieheid · 09/07/2023 17:12

I'm not a massively sociable person but you actually might be onto something with classes. 20+ years ago I did spin classes and absolutely loved them. We had to give up our gym memberships for financial reasons but there's a few newish locations within a 20 min drive from home that might be cheaper than Bannatynes.

I'm a bit reluctant to sign a contract as I have health issues that flare up now and again forcing me to stop, but I see a local gym with a rolling monthly contrac.t..

I'm pretty unsociable/ introverted but love my gym classes. Feels like socialising but without the chat😁 we just get fitter and sweat together!

LordSalem · 10/07/2023 00:17

I do mine last thing at night which helps me feel tired

ClaraBourne · 10/07/2023 00:20

A great playlist helps! Even if at home doing weights or cardio (or the weighted hoola hoop) I can do anythng with some great tunes.

RayKray · 10/07/2023 06:27

Find something you enjoy.

I am one of those people who love it, I honestly do. I am excited for every session. But only if it's lifting heavy stuff.

I was similar to you before I found lifting. And now too if it was anything cardio-focused I too would be resisting. If it was a class with lots of people I'd be reluctant. Finding the thing you love is the difference.

NCTDN · 10/07/2023 06:36

BunnyBettChetwynd · 09/07/2023 22:53

@NCTDN D'you fancy starting a MN crap netball team? I love it but am soooo useless at it that I can't find a team bad enough to have me. We could do a bit of dropping balls at vital moments, trip over then all have a fag and a coffee.

GrinGrinGrin

NCTDN · 10/07/2023 06:37

I tried really hard to talk to people at exercise classes but it didn't work.

HabberdasheryAddict · 10/07/2023 06:40

Sorry, don't have time to read the whole thread..... just about to start my daily session with Ms Girvan...

Look her up on YouTube. Caroline Girvan.

You will curse her. You will sweat. But you'll keep doing her workouts. She's that good.

SerenadeOfTheSchoolRun · 10/07/2023 06:49

I started daily weight lifting after reading a book by Ranghan Chattergee called 5 minutes a day or something. He suggested forming a habit by linking it to something you already do and making it easy. So now, every morning, while the kettle boils, I do around 5 mins of weights and squats etc. The weights are kept near the kettle. It is just an engrained habit - I don’t love it or hate it. I just do it. It is short so doesn’t feel daunting and it is every day so I hope it is doing me some good.

The other thing I do consistently is parkrun. Can’t say I love running (although it does grow in you) but I love being outside and sociable and am a bit of a stats geek so like the collecting of different locations, different finish times, etc. You don’t have to be able to run 5k to start. They encourage walkers. Alternatively the C25k app is good if you want to build up confidence first.

FrenchandSaunders · 10/07/2023 07:30

I think most people struggle to motivate themselves OP.

The key for me is to do a gym class with a friend. We both work from home permanently now so we weren’t getting the walking with a commute etc and decided we needed to do something!

The fact I’m picking her up (or vice versa) makes me go … the days she can’t make it I’m mentally wanting to cancel. Really have to force myself … she’s on holiday at the moment so this week is going to be tough 😀

mondaytosunday · 10/07/2023 07:41

I hate it. I've had a PT for about 8 years now and still hate it. If I didn't have her I wouldn't do anything other than walk. Oh the delight when (on the very rare occasions) she has to cancel or I can't make. Swear to god twice a week I go through all the excuses I could possible use to cancel - then reluctantly go.
She's lovely, caring, very good at it, but no I just don't like it and never will.
I quite like swimming it hate the palaver that goes with it. Pilates I don't mind so much, but I have yet to join a class near me and I moved here two years ago.

yipeeyiyay · 10/07/2023 08:02

I hate it. I do it 6 days a week. I think knowing that many many people who do it actually don't enjoy it. Without it though my mental health suffers and I have no motivation.

Baldieheid · 10/07/2023 08:35

Thank you all. I can't run or jog alas as I have ankle issues, but I do have a very underused exercise bike, YouTube, and some dumbbells.

I just need to do it, even if I'm a miserable sod about it. I don't want to feel like this any more.

OP posts:
Luana1 · 10/07/2023 08:39

I swim 3 times per week, sometimes it is a real chore to go but I just focus on how I feel afterwards. Also I input the exercise that I do in the CarbManager app where I track my food, and it is really motivating to see how many calories a swim session burns. Swimming is also great if you can't run due to ankle/knee issues.

lljkk · 10/07/2023 08:59

I do tonnes of exercise but there are so many forms of exercise I dislike.
I would loathe... home-work-outs, gym, loud music classes. Am sniffy about stuff like park-run (I don't want progress reports). I hate salt water in my mouth or being cold, I don't want to do anything expensive. I have injury issues so wouldn't even want to try weight-training (now). I'm terrible at ball sports so would let whole team down in a competition.

I have, however, tried all of above so... that's my suggestion. Just try different things. I'm terrible at tennis but can enjoy squash, etc.
Active travel, long country walks with DC, gardening, lone outings to countryside, those are my go-tos.

florenceandthemac · 10/07/2023 10:14

For me to love it, I have to see results. Basically I need to challenge myself but also see that it's worth it.
So when I ran, I had to see my pace getting better or being able to run further.
Now I do more strength training than running, so I have to witness being able to lift more as I progress.
I only run now, maybe once a week, for cardio benefits. But I don't enjoy it as I've got no real running goal.

Stairmaster... I hate it but I do it once a week, again for cardio. I watch an episode on Netflix etc whilst I'm doing it to get me through it. Usually a series my DH won't watch so therefore I have to watch it alone, this time is perfect

HabberdasheryAddict · 10/07/2023 10:27

Baldieheid · 10/07/2023 08:35

Thank you all. I can't run or jog alas as I have ankle issues, but I do have a very underused exercise bike, YouTube, and some dumbbells.

I just need to do it, even if I'm a miserable sod about it. I don't want to feel like this any more.

Here - try these...... they are both enjoyable and effective:

Full Body Stretch and Strength Routine | Increase Flexibility | 25 Mins

Hello everyone! 25 minute Stretch and Strength RoutineI thought I’d share today my simple stretch and strength routine I like to do on my mat. It focuses on ...

https://youtu.be/X_zuWITrq88

SportsAndExerciseMedicineDoc · 10/07/2023 10:53

Sorry for the long read :) It’s a complicated topic, and below is just a taster.

It’s sad to read some of the comments here on feelings about exercise.

You’re not an idiot and have no reason to be disgusted with yourself. And, those that like exercise don’t hold some magic power or are full of grit or whatever else they like to tell themselves or others.

The tips and tricks you’re after have to affect three different areas: (i) what exercise currently means to you (ii) feelings during an activity, and (iii) your recollection of the activity afterwards and likelihood of repeating it.

Tips and tricks

For (i) what exercise currently means to you:

It sounds like you are in a vicious cycle of failure; you can get out of it. If your ‘why’ is any of the following: lose weight, better health, better numbers, lower cholesterol etc etc then they’re the wrong ‘whys’. They’re abstract and clinical and far off into the future. Research shows, in the long term, these ‘why’s’ are associated with doing the least amount of exercise.

Wrong why leads to -> exercise is a chore -> I should do this -> FAIL and then restart. A cycle of failure.

So, the first trick is to understand how you frame exercise and shift from ‘chore’ to ‘gift’ and ’should’ to ‘want’ to do it.

To solve this, you can choose more immediate rewards that you’d like to get from exercise: fun, energy, improved focus, lifted mood, and connection with others.

For (ii) feeling during an activity:

Don’t do things you don’t enjoy; eventually, you’ll stop doing them.

Feelings during an activity are largely dependent on your current fitness level and the intensity of the activity in relation to your fitness level. Building up the volume at lower intensities, brisk walking, easy cycling, hiking etc, tends to be more enjoyable and gets you into a habit of movement. Jumping into higher intensities often makes exercise feel unpleasant and like a chore. No pain, no gain is completely wrong. Elite athletes spend a lot of time doing easy base-building before sharpening with goal-specific intensities.

You can use ‘reward substitution’ as a neat trick to make an activity more enjoyable. You say you have an exercise bike at home. One thing I do when building endurance is use the exercise bike whilst watching a series on TV. This means you get an immediate reward (watching your favourite show) whilst exercising.

At medium intensities, music or podcasts can help make the perception of effort more manageable.

For (iii) recollection of activity:

If doing higher intensities, one neat trick is called the slope of pleasure. We tend to experience an exercise as more enjoyable and remember it as more enjoyable if, during a higher-intensity session, we start off hard and get progressively easier rather than the other way around.

For each of the three sections, there are loads more tips. You'll get a long way just by finding some forms of movement you enjoy doing consistently and where you can increase the volume. If you can get into that routine, you find people get something called self-efficacy transference - they believe they can do certain activities and begin trying new, related activities.

yipeeyiyay · 10/07/2023 11:50

lljkk · 10/07/2023 08:59

I do tonnes of exercise but there are so many forms of exercise I dislike.
I would loathe... home-work-outs, gym, loud music classes. Am sniffy about stuff like park-run (I don't want progress reports). I hate salt water in my mouth or being cold, I don't want to do anything expensive. I have injury issues so wouldn't even want to try weight-training (now). I'm terrible at ball sports so would let whole team down in a competition.

I have, however, tried all of above so... that's my suggestion. Just try different things. I'm terrible at tennis but can enjoy squash, etc.
Active travel, long country walks with DC, gardening, lone outings to countryside, those are my go-tos.

What is active travel please?

Baldieheid · 10/07/2023 11:57

SportsAndExerciseMedicineDoc · 10/07/2023 10:53

Sorry for the long read :) It’s a complicated topic, and below is just a taster.

It’s sad to read some of the comments here on feelings about exercise.

You’re not an idiot and have no reason to be disgusted with yourself. And, those that like exercise don’t hold some magic power or are full of grit or whatever else they like to tell themselves or others.

The tips and tricks you’re after have to affect three different areas: (i) what exercise currently means to you (ii) feelings during an activity, and (iii) your recollection of the activity afterwards and likelihood of repeating it.

Tips and tricks

For (i) what exercise currently means to you:

It sounds like you are in a vicious cycle of failure; you can get out of it. If your ‘why’ is any of the following: lose weight, better health, better numbers, lower cholesterol etc etc then they’re the wrong ‘whys’. They’re abstract and clinical and far off into the future. Research shows, in the long term, these ‘why’s’ are associated with doing the least amount of exercise.

Wrong why leads to -> exercise is a chore -> I should do this -> FAIL and then restart. A cycle of failure.

So, the first trick is to understand how you frame exercise and shift from ‘chore’ to ‘gift’ and ’should’ to ‘want’ to do it.

To solve this, you can choose more immediate rewards that you’d like to get from exercise: fun, energy, improved focus, lifted mood, and connection with others.

For (ii) feeling during an activity:

Don’t do things you don’t enjoy; eventually, you’ll stop doing them.

Feelings during an activity are largely dependent on your current fitness level and the intensity of the activity in relation to your fitness level. Building up the volume at lower intensities, brisk walking, easy cycling, hiking etc, tends to be more enjoyable and gets you into a habit of movement. Jumping into higher intensities often makes exercise feel unpleasant and like a chore. No pain, no gain is completely wrong. Elite athletes spend a lot of time doing easy base-building before sharpening with goal-specific intensities.

You can use ‘reward substitution’ as a neat trick to make an activity more enjoyable. You say you have an exercise bike at home. One thing I do when building endurance is use the exercise bike whilst watching a series on TV. This means you get an immediate reward (watching your favourite show) whilst exercising.

At medium intensities, music or podcasts can help make the perception of effort more manageable.

For (iii) recollection of activity:

If doing higher intensities, one neat trick is called the slope of pleasure. We tend to experience an exercise as more enjoyable and remember it as more enjoyable if, during a higher-intensity session, we start off hard and get progressively easier rather than the other way around.

For each of the three sections, there are loads more tips. You'll get a long way just by finding some forms of movement you enjoy doing consistently and where you can increase the volume. If you can get into that routine, you find people get something called self-efficacy transference - they believe they can do certain activities and begin trying new, related activities.

OMG

You've nailed it, for me at least. That first point is spot on.

I'm going to print this out and tape it beside my bike, if you don't mind.

Thank you

OP posts:
lljkk · 10/07/2023 12:47

@yipeeyiyay : Active-travel = walking, running, rowing or cycling ... which also gets you to places you need to get to. Travel that also happens to be exercise. Walk to & from the baby massage class, cycle to work, run home after you took something to the post office, etc.

megletthesecond · 10/07/2023 12:49

You don't have to love it. You just have to do it. You will love the long term benefits though.
I never enjoy it, but I'll love a heart bypass or shorter life a lot less.