I Hate Exercise! Sound Like You? Here’s What You Do

You’re ready to get fit. You think you can handle the dieting part, but there’s one thing that keeps getting in the way – “I HATE EXERCISE!”

Your Problem is Not that Uncommon

Perhaps not everyone hates exercise. Hate is a strong word. Maybe you just don’t enjoy exercise. We’ve all been at the place where we couldn’t get motivated to work out because we just didn’t look forward to the exercise we were about to do.

I personally love to work out. However, not all exercise is creating equal. There are some things I just don’t like. Long distance running is one of them. And by long distance, I mean anything longer than a mile! On the other hand, if you put me on the track to run 100 meter sprints, I can do them all day long. I enjoy them. I like the speed. I like the way I feel after I finish running them.

Some people like running long distances. They LOVE running. That’s a great thing. They have found something that they enjoy. They found the secret to not just getting a workout over with, but actually looking forward to their workout and enjoying it. They would run all day every day if they could.

Find an Activity You Enjoy and Do it HARD

That folks is the real “secret” to enjoying exercise. We all have something we like to do. I could be wrong though. Some people may like nothing more than to just lay in bed all day. If that’s the case, there may be an underlying problem that needs to be looked into.

So you don’t like weight training. I love weight training. I like breaking through new strength ceilings, watching my muscles grow, and having control over the appearance of my body. Is it for everybody? No.

While I am a big proponent of strength training, weight training is not the only way to do it. Strength training comes from challenging your muscles to get stronger. Whether that comes from weight training, dancing, rock climbing, pilates, rowing, swimming, or anything else you enjoy – that’s up to you.

Think About What You Like to Do

Stop for a moment and give some thought about the things you like to do. Do you have kids? Do you like to play with them? Do you have a dog? Do you like to run with it? Do you like any sports? Do you like video games?

The real enjoyment from exercise is watching yourself get better and better at that activity. Whether that means lifting more weight, having more endurance, gaining functional strength, or having your kids notice your more fit body – they all lead to motivation. Willpower is a depletable resource. When you actually get results, it engages the dopamine reward system, which replenishes that willpower. That line came from a commenter, and I thought it was a great way to think about things.

Not everyone is going to like exercise. We’ve been trained to believe that there’s only one way to do things. 3 sets of 10 repetitions was a big one for a long time. If you want to get fit and have long-term weight loss, you need to be active and push yourself at the things you enjoy. Combine that with a diet rich in whole foods and lacking in processed ones, and you’re well on your way to a healthy lifestyle and the body you’ve always wanted. It can be done. It will be done. You will do it.