Hate Working Out
 

I have been counting calories for almost a week now. And I know you need to burn more calories than you take in. BUT I hate working out...i hate going to the gym. I just don't like to "exercise". So I take the stairs, I park farther from the door, I dance (at home when alone ;)) but is this all really enough?:?: Maybe when after I have lost some weight I won't "hate" going to the gym so much. (sorry i am rambling) Any suggestions on other ways to burn up those calories???

Good question! I hate working out too.. I actually loathe it. I need to start making myself at least 30 minutes 4 or 5 times a week. We have a treadclimber and I hate using that.

I think the fact that bothers me the most about it is giving up my free time when I get home from work. I would rather watch TV sitting on my behind after teaching middle school kids all day.

I like to dance around myself, but I don't think I burn enough calories doing just that. Maybe if you danced for a long period of time? I would love to take dance classes, but I think I would just embarass myself. LOL

You don't have to go to a gym to workout. You could walk, that's how I lost the first 30lbs. You can lose weight without working out and just eating right, but then you could lose muscle mass and not be tone when you reach the end of your journey, so figure out something you do like to do!

I am hoping the hubs will let me get a treadmill here soon. He never would in the past. He said what do we need that for when we have a closet to hang clothes in. (implying it would just hold clothes) hes such a smart ***! But I honestly think I would use it now. I did join a gym about a year ago and even got a trainer that was awesome. Went regularly for about a month and then just stopped going. I hated it!!

Do you live near a park or in a neighborhood? I like taking my dog out for long walks around my neighborhood. ExerciseTV is also available On Demand and online (click the link) and you can use Leslie Sansone's Walk At Home Program, it's great!

Exercise will eventually become your friend I think. It makes you feel good, builds muscle, lets you eat a little more, just overall makes a person feel better, but hey, go easy on yourself. You are just starting out, no need to go from 0-90 in a week. Get your food plan ingrained in you head, make sure you could do it in your sleep, and then, start something you enjoy. Living where you do, outdoor activities, (except scooping snow) are probably out for now, but come spring, you'll be well on your way to start some great excercise. No need to spend money...(if you don't want to!) I lost 190 pounds by mowing, walking, hoeing, pulling weeds, vacuuming, scrubbing, cutting down trees...

For *ME*, every time I tried to do everything thing all at once...I got burned out quickly and failed. When I realized that I had the rest of my life to get good at being healthy it all came together.

I personally feel that you should try to find exercise you enjoy. I love weight lifting so I tend to focus on that. I also do mix in things I don't enjoy as much just for variety but I do try to find ways to enjoy them. Right now, I'm actually doing exercise DVDs and I found a set I really like so I think it is a good fit. Once the weather warms up a little bit, we'll go walking/hiking more outside and once it starts getting closer to summer, I'll start using my trike outside. If I lose enough weight by summer, I'll also enroll in rock climbing classes.

I also do karate at least one day per week.

Exercise doesn't just mean going to a gym and getting on a cardio machine for 45 minutes.

Find something you enjoy. Take a class, start martial arts, join a sports league of something you'd like to play, walk your neighborhood.

Also, try to make it fit into your normal, every day routine - just like brushing your teeth. Wake up 30 minutes early and get it over with each day. Or, like me, hit the gym on the way home from work. I know if I get home from work I will not leave the house again to go to they gym so I go straight there from my office.

So just try some different things and find what works for you.

Thank you for all your advice. Once spring/summer hits it will be a lot easier. We do a lot of camping and usually get plenty of exercise then. I do need to remember that I am just starting out and need to take it one day at a time.

I don't like it, either. It's very painful for me. I'm very inspired by mark on marksdailyapple.com. He's in his 50s and has a great physique. He recommends moving like cave men did. Lots of slow moving, like walking and hiking. Some heavy lifting and sprints once in a while. You don't have to be in a gym every day. When the weather warms up, I'll start wearing my pedometer more and challenge myself to get more and more steps. Right now, I jog on a mini trampoline and do squats and pushups or other things that I can do indoors.

I bought a pedometer because I hate going to the gym. So I started wearing it every day and then I found a website called walkertracker where you could put your steps in..then my mom joined so we kinda compete against each other. I hate the gym too and this was one of the only things I enjoyed doing. Before I knew it, I was finding ways to get extra steps in and although it may not be as rigorous as the gym, it certainly was some exercise.

WALK WALK WALK! Stairs are great as well like you said you take...keep it up! Every calorie counts in and out. I definitely don't get up every morning dying to push myself and break a sweat...sometimes I try to leave earlier than I plan...but I remember how great I feel after I push myself and really know I gave it my all...or at least enough for a maintainable lifestyle. If you do not want to hit the gym yet, just be sure to keep out and about instead of on the computer (I have that problem!). Even if you just go to the gym and cycle in front of the tv for an hour it would be better than doing that at home on the couch...you know? any little thing that you can incorporate in will start getting your body burning.

You really need a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise at least 6 days a week for health, an hour for weight loss. If you don't exercise while losing weight, you lose muscle along with fat and that is not a good thing. Your heart is a muscle!

I looove working out! It makes me feel SO good. I could watch tv for an hour instead, but when I do that I just feel lazy. After working out for an hour, however, I feel alive, healthy, and confident.

Since starting my journey, I have not set foot in a gym. In previous attempts I would start going to the gym 3 or 4 times a week, then I'd make excuses until I would stop going all together. For *me* the gym thing just doesn't work out. I find it boring to do the elliptical for an hour. Also, I hated the idea of driving to the gym, as ridiculous as that sounds. I would feel motivated to work out, and by the time I was halfway there, I would talk myself out of it.

Since I started September 1st, I have worked out for at least 1 hour every single day. I have a huge (and growing) collection of workout dvds, I do the on demand workouts since we just FINALLY got cable (haven't had it in 6 yrs), I do some weight training with dumbbells and resistance bands, and I do running/walking outside and other outdoor activities (snowshoeing etc).

For me, it helps to have a goal. My goal is 1 hr a day, for you it could be 30 min 4 times a week. Many people will say "find something you love." However, not everyone loves working out. I think you should find something that you don't hate. If you're ok with a little running, try the couch to 5k program. If you enjoy dancing, as you've mentioned, get a great dance dvd!

Exercise is really important for health, and for your appearance. Assuming these are two factors that have made you decide to lose weight, I would say exercise should be your second priority, right behind eating well. Good luck, just get out there and try something, don't make excuses about waiting until the time is right (I've been there/done that! :) )

I struggled with exercise, but I figured that if I just kept trying different things eventually I would stumble across something I could at least tolerate. I tried exercise equipment but I would get bored. I tried exercise videos, and they are ok but they get repetitive. Then I found a great place to go walking outdoors, and I became hooked. I love being outside. I love watching the seasons change and seeing the familiar faces of others that walk the same time I do. I even found myself buying a bird book to help me identify the birds I was seeing during my walks. I've started incorporating some jogging and while it's progressing rather slowly I am finding that I am enjoying that too. I am glad I found this for myself, because I look forward to doing this everyday instead of dreading dragging myself upstairs and making myself get on my treadmill (which I do still use for rainy or especially cold days). I really do think a lot of sticking with exercise is finding something you really enjoy doing. Don't give up on finding something that is perfect for you!

If you hate the gym then don't go- find something else you like to do. Exercise doesn't mean you have to go to the gym.

I joined a gym, hated it, and dragged my feet there and couldn't wait to leave. I was like WHY am I torturing myself like this?

I went home- got a treadmill on craigslist for $100 (a really good one that probably sold for $600 when it was new) and bought a bike from walmart for $100 (and a helmet for like $20). And I workout MORE now than with the gym- and even though the upfront costs were high they have more than paid for themselves. Hubby and I go bike riding on the weekend at the beach for 1-2 hours (and we have so much fun), and I go on my treadmill a few times a week.

Maybe if you find a good quality used one your hubby will be more willing for you to buy one?

For those of you who like to dance but are concerned you aren't getting enough exercise from it, try some dance videos. Someone mentioned the Exercise TV website. Netflix also has exercise videos under their Watch Instantly tab and they are free if you already have a Netflix subscription.

And, of course, there's DVDs. Learning a new dance form can be a lot of fun and the exercise is bonus. I'm really appreciating dance forms that can be done without shoes. I love the Island Girl DVDs (hula and Tahitian dance) -- and they are always cheap on Amazon. I'm also liking my Nia DVD (Integrative Conditioning) and I've just tried a DVD by Ellen Barrett that I liked.

Once you've done dance DVDs, you get a pretty good idea what a dance workout entails, so now I feel like I can free-dance and count that as a workout, too.

Dance is a great winter workout. I walk more when the weather is nice, but I've been dancing up a storm the last few weeks.

I think balance balls are great for exercise haters. Just sitting on it engages your core muscles and bouncing on it is cardio! I wore my heart rate monitor while bouncing up and down on mine the other day and was really surprised to see that my heart rate did go up!

I'm glad I found this thread! There are lots of great ideas here.

I have a treadmill set up in my living room, and it still doesn't motivate me or bug me to see it go unused. LOL. I do walk slowly on it when I work from home and have teleconferences, just so I'm moving even though it's not cardio.

I don't care for gyms, but I do like exercise classes. I've taken cardio-salsa with a former coworker, and water aerobics with my aunt. It's WAY more fun to do it when you incorporate a social element.

Dance classes. I've done them in the past and LOVE them! Belly dance, ballroom dance, swing, and hula. Whoever said they'd feel like they'd embarrass themselves - I hope that doesn't prevent you from joining a class. Everyone makes mistakes and nobody bats an eye about it.

Cleaning my garage can be both cardio and weight lifting. Today's "exercise" so far was scrubbing my kitchen floor.

I agree! WALK, WALK, WALK! Last time I got down to 220, I did it by walking everywhere I could. I live about 2 mi. from downtown, so anywhere I need to go, I just hoofed it. When I tried to go lower than 220, I found I had to up the exercise, and at that point, joined a gym, but by then, it wasn't a chore, it was fun!

Now, thanks to my pain pills, I am back to walking everywhere, and I am seeing a similar increase in weight-loss. It really does seem to be the answer.

I would love to tell you that all you have to do is take the stairs, park farther , etc. and your life would be complete. Especially since you have committed to "counting calories for a week". I think it's a place to start. It's an awareness. You have to start somewhere. Actually, counting calories will work for a while. You will lose some weight and you won't have to sweat for it. :) Truth is , it's devastating to get that wake up call in the first place. It's unpleasant. I'm glad you see that you see a need to make a change. You know what you need to do. If you are a person who is totally unfamiliar with exercise, the gym is a good place to start. It's unpleasant for the first week or two or three or four. Then something amazing happens. You owe it to yourself to own that experience.

I don't like to workout either, in the general way it's thought of. I definitely do not go to the gym.

I play DDR (dance dance revolution), hula hoop, use exercise dvds, Leslie Sansone's walk dvd is very good, I have a recumbent stationary bike that I love, in the non winter months my husband and I walk outdoors too. If you have NetFlix you can stream dance dvds off there too. Sometimes I just march in place quickly while watching tv.

I hate exercise, and I like TV. So I do both at the same time. I have an iTouch (iPod) with TV shows on it, and I am only "allowed" to watch TV when I am on the elliptical in the gym. Which makes me pretty motivated, and I hardly even notice my heart rate going up to 85%. Yes, a lot of people would argue that's a very limited form of cardio, but I'm motivated to get off my butt and go to the gym to do it five days a week for 30-60 minutes, after a day of work, which I KNOW I would not do otherwise.

I am also working right now in a climate/country where it's not really feasible or appealing to walk outside in my neighborhood; but I participate in a hiking group that gets me out on the weekends in the outdoors and adds socializing.

And now because of my increased fitness level, I even added some exercise videos for variety, on days when my schedule doesn't let me go to the gym, because my elliptical and hiking gives me fantastic lower body tone and I was thinking maybe I could get my top half to look like that. Even though I don't, um, like exercise and would never do it voluntarily. Wait, how did that happen??

The best advice I can give on exercise is to Find something you like and simply stick to that! Start by walking and just experiment until you find something that make you want to do it. I get ragged on alot for ONLY running. I hardly EVER lift weights but hey I rather run 10 miles then do nothing at all simply because I loathe weight lifting. I like running so i run. Do you what you find appealing and you will totally stick with it and lose weight while doing it.

Eh. Who needs the gym! I haven't stepped foot in a gym in over 4 years.

I swing dance recreationally so I get a lot of cardio that way. But, I've been swing dancing for 3 years and I only lost weight when I changed my food intake last year.

I also lift weights at home. I bought a little weight bench at Walmart and I bought a set of free weights at a sporting goods store. I am working on getting more arm and abdominal muscle definition.

In addition to the aforementioned, I do workout videos at home (Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred and No More Trouble Zones). And my ultimate favorite thing to do is to run/jog around my neighborhood when the weather is nice. I love, love, love this! All I need are my running shoes and my iPod and I am golden.

The only thing I miss at the gym are the aerobics classes. But I don't have a real need to ever go to the gym again.

I started up with Kinetic (PlayStation 2 game with a camera that puts you on the screen) - -it is more fun than the stair climber, and I work up a sweat -- and if you do the personal trainer, it starts you out slow :-)

I agree with other advice, find something you like -- it doesn't have to be the hamster machines (where you go nowhere) :-)

Also, please don't listen to anyone who tells you a certain exercise is "no use". (There are many people out there with their pet exercise theories, who you will eventually hear from if you haven't already.) If I had listened to the people who were trying to persuade me that only HIIT or whatever had any point, I would still be sitting on the couch.

I read somewhere, I think on the Cranky Fitness web site, The only useless exercise is the one you don't end up doing. ANYTHING that raises your heart rate is better than NOT doing anything that raises your heart rate. That is now my mantra.

They also have a great exercise motivation/excuse flow chart that includes the direction "learn how to hum", which I actually remembered on the day that I forgot my headphones.

do what you like
 

the only aerobic exercise I like is cross country skiing, but I need to be in shape to do it.
I did curves for a while, then a regular gym, but since we moved to the country I am too far away for them and didn't love it, tho I got into the habit of more regular exercise.
I now do yoga and pilates classes in the small town about 15 min away, once a week each, and go for hot yoga in a nearby city when I can do a drop in.
I get on the treadmill to watch tv, ramping up during the commercials, so I work harder. I walk the dog. I love having a dog and walking her gets me going. I just did a week of cross country for my vacation, and really enjoyed it.
yes, I planned an exercise holiday not a holiday from exercise. And enjoyed it.
I had to stop thinking about exercise for weight loss and thinking that I like to be fit to be able to enjoy the skiing or the dog walking etc.
PS, I also had a real problem with overheating and wanting to stop as soon as I got hot and sweaty. I keep LOTS of cool water with me (have a camel pack for skiing) and just put up with the sweat, have gotten more used to it now. But that was a barrier.
You can and will find something you like (or at least can manage, like treadmill for a favourite show) and that will help. I agree, don't overdo it to begin with, just doing a little to start is helpful. Thats what I liked with curves to start, from zero to 30 minutes 3 or 4 times a week did make a difference. Was easier to keep on when it doesn't feel like its killing you!

I HATE EXERCISE AND I HATE GYMS!!! Whew! That felt good. Thanks for the opportunity to share. In my previous weight loss successes, I started out much like you said; just doing more and walking and dancing. Then, as someone else said, the more weight I lost, the more I felt like exercising. Give it time; it will come. You will probably lose some at first if your body is not used to exercise, but then you'll plateau and will have to kick it up a notch. But, by then, you'll be in better shape and feel more like exercising.

One suggestion on the dance videos - they all sound great. But, if you don't like the music they play, try putting the sound on mute and dancing to your own music with your headphones on. Makes the time go by faster.

Good luck!