I also hate exercising...for now. I'm so overweight and so out of shape that every single minute is extremely tough! But, I'm also a former runner. I remember how great I felt when I was running and I reached the "runner's high." I remember how much better I felt each day, how much more energy I had for daily tasks, how much better I slept each night. I know that I will love exercise again. For now, I must push through.

I'm one who has now made going to the gym such a habit that I feel "off" if I can't go. (Like today.....) Try to push yourself to do it for a couple of weeks and then it may get to the point you love it. You may not be able to get to a gym, with little ones. But, try walking for now. If you can put them in a stroller or something like that, walking outside is so wonderful. Lots of fresh air!

If the treadmill gets boring, just try to find something else. It just feels so good!

I used to hate excercising, only because I never understood what the whole "endorphin" rush was about. Usually at the end of excercise class I would be sore and tired. It was't until I found something that I truly loved doing that started the turning point. Once I found it, it was not an effort to go because I would miss it if I didn't. For me, if excercise is an obligation, I would find it hard to force myself to go all the time.

That being said (IMHO), I think while excercise will help you with weight loss, I am huge believer (based on my own results) that diet is 80% of weight loss and excercise the other 20%. Case in point, I had been doing kickboxing for about 5 years, but it was not until I started to restrict my calories that the weight melted off. The excercise has toned my body, and while I am now at a weight I have not been in about 15 years, I am in the best physical shape of my life.

My advice, take it slow and find something you love. This is a lifestyle change and you have to find something you can live with for the rest of your life. Forcing yourself to do something now, just for the sake of weight loss, won't stick in the long term. Work on your eating first and then slowly start to bring excercise in.

If we had a thread to save really good posts, I would nominate the above post by ChocoLabLover for inclusion.....

I always hated exercising, but I've been doing it regularly now for 3 1/2 years. But I'm a bit jealous of those of you who say you love it. I do love the endorphin rush (sometimes) and how it makes me feel after. And I love the results!

But I still do NOT like to "put on my shoes" and go do it! There are days I go to the gym practically arguing with myself. I know I'll most likely feel better later, but before I DON'T want to. I'm tired, or feel I don't have time or just plain don't want to. It's like there's this little kid in my head "I don't WANT to exercise " and I have to be the adult and say "I don't care, you're going to do it anyway!"

I also hate exercising, so this thread is very helpful. It's nice to see that others hated it and then changed to love it. I find that the only time I have to exercise is after the kids are in bed for the night, and then I just want to sit and relax.

I think my blog name says everything there is to say about my attitude to exercise.

However, I have recently changed my perspective on exercise, and I now see it as something I do to look after my body - like eat my vegetables, or brush my teeth. I now expect to do half an hour of moderate exercise everyday for the rest of my life. At the moment, I'm trying to do 45min of high instensity exercise everyday, to assist with the weight loss.

You don't have to exercise to lose weight, but you do have to recognise that not exercising is a choice you are making to avoid an incredibly powerful preventative medicine tool. Sorry, that came out harsh, but it's what I have to tell myself when I don't want to go to the gym.

Thank you all very much for your input! Old habits aren't fun to break. :/

Hi there!
Get used to your new eating plan first! You're pretty new at it, so I understand the "gotta eat GREAT, gotta EXERCISE. NOW" thoughts because you do want to change.
I hated exercise, too. I didn't start exercising until I hit 192lbs down from 244lbs. It took me that long to be comfortable with the thought of doing something. I then found an activity that I LOVED and I now exercise 6 hours a week. I SHOULD exercise more, in an ideal world, but I'm happy doing what I'm doing!
SO, maybe just get the diet part down. Then focus on the exercise part in a few months. Find something you love, that you will stick with, because exercise is TOTALLY important in the maintenance phase of your life!
Kira