HATE, for lack of a stronger word, Exercise.

[Kwestburg]

"Running when no one is chasing you, lifting heavy objects that don't need to be moved." Tried treadmill, exercise bikes, mall walking, dog walking, weight training, circuit training - just cannot get over the boredom of it all. Tried MP3 for music or a book on tape, and I slowed down to nearly a halt because I found movement distracting to the enjoyment of what I was listening to! (Cannot walk and chew gum? Hmm . . .) Enrolled in Aerobic Dance/Jazzercise classes for 8 weeks - didn't get results and hated going. Tried volleyball, tennis, golf, and bowling. Hated it. Well, bowling was OK, but that was probably just the pizza and beer feature. Tried YOGA. That was positively the worst. I kept saying to myself - "How long do we just have to STAND here? Let's get on with it!" Swimming was a disaster. I was unable to force myself to endure the ritual of driving to the pool-changing into/changing out of swimwear, and of being cold and damp when I didn't enjoy the swimming part with the itchy red eyes, plugged ears/ear plugs, and dry hair and skin. And no weight loss after all that?

Bought a step for step areobics, a Pilates Ball, Rubber bands, free weights, and a Universal gym - could not force myself to use them for more than 6 to 8 weeks -either on my own with a video, or in a class at a gym. While I complete classes, I have walked away from untold dollars in memberships. I have never lost a pound while enrolled in an exercise program. Since I don't have trouble walking or climbing stairs in the first place, any gain in "fitness" wasn't noticable.

However, I don't mind packing boxes, carrying them up and down the stairs, etc. that I did as a part-time job once. I have the need to be DOING SOMETHING - thinking about organizing the stuff plus the physical labor made the time fly!

Maybe I should get a job with UPS?

And a question, no matter how long and how hard I exercised = with and without the benefit of a personal trainer, I have never experienced the "endorphin rush" that people say they get that makes exercise addictive. People also tell me that exercise makes them feel energized and ready to go out on the town! All I ever feel is disgusted and want to get in the shower then go straight to bed.

Is it possible that I lack the endorphin hormone? I am I the only person who feels this way? It seems like it would be so easy to be fit and trim if I could find something to look forward to, that I want to make time for, rather then dread, blow-off, then feel guilty about. I am definitely more stressed and a less happy person while on an exercise program - just ask my friends!

I am concerned that as I age, my lack of exercise will eventually be my undoing.

Sorry if this sounds so negative. I actually laugh at myself about it and hope you get a laugh out of it as well. And thanks for the space to rant. It felt rather good.

[Valerie]

YES! I can identify!

"Just find something you love doing and do it every day." Well, what if you DON"T love ANY exercise?!

I can attest to age making it more of an issue. I don't know how old you are or how much weight you need to lose, but I'd like to lose about 40 pounds and I'm 48. Also a type 1 diabetic which throws another wrench in the exercise works.

For the past year, my low back has been really sore. Not the ol' "ouch, I tweaked my back" which resolves in a few days, but a painful right hip and always-achy back. My doc says arthritis, which I believe is just the term they throw at any ache or pain after a certain age.

I live at the top of a very steep hill, which makes walking a real drag (literally!).

My back/hip hurt quite a bit so I've come to the conclusion that the only thing that might actually help will finally be losing the excess weight and incorporating exercise regularly. I've started on the treadmill at home in 10 minute bursts with the hope that once I'm on I'll stay a little longer. Breaking it up into a few times a day seems like it'll be more manageable. I'm watching tv while I plod along.

My hip still hurts of course but it hurts no matter what I'm doing so I might as well exercise. Up until last year I still felt like I was in my 30s. My biggest fear is being a mid-50-something woman limping along with a cane or walker.

There's nothing fun, invigorating or rush-producing about using the treadmill, at least not yet. The only good thing I'll say about it is that I'm proud of being able to cross it off my mental list for the day!

[im_nice1]

haha..funny post and well written. writing it got u several calories burnt im sure!

--OK so in 15 yrs of nearly regular exercise, ive never felt the endomorphin rush either.
--treadmills and the like make me want to sleep too!
--ive also wasted thousands of dollars in various memberships, leaving as they bore me.

But I plod along on the exercise schedule..sometimes off, sometimes on..switching exercises, tapes, memberships as my enthusiasm wanders. because in all those years thats the major thing which has made me lose weight. .

like me ur problem seems to be a lack of sustained attention, and a sense of purpose leading to boredom? so i would give 2 armchair suggestions:

1-do soemthing which feels purposeful: eg. volunteering for habitat for humanity, gardening for old ppl, hiking trips on weekends? think outdoors...not exercise.

2-team it up with a good diet program and track your weight. the moment u lose weight and start getting compliments ...ur motivation will soar thousandfold..even if u still dont get the endomorphin rush.

[TeeniBikini]

I think you came up with your own solution, but you've overlooked it.

I hate exercise, just for the sake of exercising. I also feel the need to be doing something. I don't usually do the same kind of exercise everyday, either. Since I feel the need to actually do something, I just try to make my everyday activities more of a workout.

For example:

If I have to stop by WalMart on the way home, I park way out at the end of the lot and take a brisk walk to the farthest entrance. While I'm in the store, I don't pick things up along the way - I purposefully think of something way on the other side that I need, and then do it again once I get to that side. It's like mall walking, but I'm actually accomplishing something.

Last night, I was meeting my family for dinner, in a restaurant at the foot of a very high bridge. I parked at one end and walked over to the restaurant, then walked back to my car after dinner. It's only 1.6 miles, but a full half of it is uphill, so it was a pretty nice workout.

Sometimes I go for a bike ride, down the beach at sunset because it's just so pretty, and it's such a nice ride. I don't really feel like I'm doing it for exercise - I feel like I'm doing it for fun.

Whenever I go somewhere with my neices, if it involves much walking at all, I get one of them to ride piggy-back, so it's a little bit of a workout for me. It doesn't seem difficult, while I'm doing it - but I'm carrying around an extra 30-50 lbs on my back, and I know that has to be burning some extra calories.

Be creative with how you do ordinary things everyday and you'll be able to squeeze in alot more exercise than if you have to force yourself to do things you hate.