Why Don't You Exercise?

Several world class marathon runners train in my area. It's inspiring to see these women on a regular basis. One of the Tatiana's was at the gym today. She ran a marathon in the area about two weeks ago. She ran 2:33!! She also made a point of the fact that she finished 2nd in her catagory. These ladies make no excuses for ANYTHING!! The other Tatiana ran the Comrades Untra-Marathon in South Africa last year. That's 56 miles!! She finished 6th. This was the first time she ran it. I asked her how she felt, she replied," Next time I will be READY!" HaHa!! These guys are something else!

No one is perfect all the time with exercised but I can say that for the most part I do exercise.

I love exercise. I love the quickening of the blood, the body heating up, and the heightened mental state. You are most alive while you are active.

One word of advice, NEVER exercise if you have a fever going. Let your body recover and then if all is well, ease slowly back into a routine.

I love working out but there was a time when I was embarrassed to go out and try. Even now, I'm embarrassed to go to the gym because I don't look like I belong there... Work out at home.

When I started running, I started by taking my dog on walks, looking around to make sure no one was looking, and running as far as I could with no one seeing. Repeat. Then I started going really early in the morning to run further. I could run 6 miles before I wasn't embarrassed to let anyone see me. Then I decided, make fun of me all you want, I'll smoke you! ;)

My boyfriend uses the, "I don't enjoy it. I've never enjoyed it." Excuse. Yeah, well no one enjoys exercise when they first start... it comes eventually! Grr!

I'm going to agree with a lot of people here and say I'm missing the motivation!

I need either a work-out buddy or a goal.

In college I'd go just to hang out with friends. Afterwards, I wanted to keep down my weight for my wedding. It seems like staying healthy or losing weight on its own isn't motivation enough for me, which is sad.

I'm gonna go do my yoga....

I'm surprised by some of the comments - it seems most equate exercise with going to the gym or some type of exercise specifically for exercise sake. If that's the definition, then I don't exercise....but if the definition also includes being active, well then I do that without much fuss.

I don't think you have to make time for exercise or necessarily go to a gym, or whatever - one should be active IMO....find activities you like and do them because you like them. It's much easier to do that IMO than try to force a schedule of exercise at the gym or wherever into your day....if you're active, exercise happens and you enjoy it without thinking it's "exercise."

With a toddler it's pretty darn easy to be active each day...almost every day we're out running, kicking a ball around, learning how to throw and catch a ball, climbing things, exploring around the lake, going to the playground and doing things like jumping, skipping, running, playing tag, etc.

In warmer months we (my husband and I) also spend time together and swim, golf, scuba, take walks, play tennis, go hiking, etc. In colder months go skiing, skating, sledding, hiking etc. He also lifts weights. We also like to try to learn new things - like in January we did dog sledding (very cool)....in the spring we're hoping to get a scuba trip in.

Add going to the gym too?

I don't see the need to - we're active and constantly doing activities that keep us moving - and isn't moving and getting your heart rate up the point? So, I think if someone has trouble getting with a formal exercise program or going to the gym, being active is easier - and fun - you just have to find things you like to do and then make the time to do that!

Its too early. I'd have to be up at 5 to be out of the house by 5:30 to be at the gym by 6:30 to get a worthy workout and shower in to be to the office by 8.

Doing DDR in the evening means I take an hour away from time doing homework, and I need to do my homework.

I'm so lazy! I've thought about not tieing my workout to the gym, and just biking in in the morning , or adjusting my commute to build a 2 mile walk into it so that I am getting some exercise in.

Why do you guys care what other people think about you getting out of breath or sweating?

You can travel the world and look at every statue, look at every monument, and you will notice......Non of them were ever built to honor a critic.

Get out there and live your life.

Once you get over what other people think about you, the world becomes your playground.

Recite these lines to yourself anytime you need an extra push to go out and live YOUR life :-)

Hi Nic,

I couldn't agree more. It is sad that staying healthy and losing weight isn't a motivation. I feel the exact same way. I just don't exersize if I don't have a goal. But I managed to find my goal. I'm going to Italy for 6 weeks and I want to look good and be in shape. But now the difficult part is starting the exersize especially when you are not used to do it. Another reason why I don't exercise, I always have excuses.

Nic said:
I'm going to agree with a lot of people here and say I'm missing the motivation![...]

Two reasons:

(1) Tedium. Man, there is nothing more mind-numbingly unpleasant than exercise for the sake of exercise. When I lose a bit more weight, I'm buying a nice bicycle which will hopefully take the edge off (I'm walking now, and because of where I live, it's almost all uphill. It's gulag-like. I am a fat, sweaty beast, stalking through the night, crazy-eyed with hate.)

(2) Skin loss. Chafing. Man, the bottoms of my feet looked like they'd been napalmed. Blood, blisters, flaps of skin hanging off (sorry). This was solved - entirely - by buying Wrightsocks (which I recommend - they're two layer synthetic-material socks meant for walking or running so friction occurs between the layers; the synthetic material keeps friction-causing moisture away from the foot). Also I bought a pair of running shoes which fit better than the hiking shoes I normally wear. I also bomb my feet with Gold Bond foot powder. Those three things together mean that, while in the past I would get blisters after 2 miles or so, I can now walk 5 miles with no damage whatsoever.

As for people being embarrassed, I think that fat people are *most* socially acceptable when working hard. I think people see a sweaty, red faced exerciser and think, "Well, look, someone's finally taking their destiny into their own hands." Even people disgusted by fat people have to approve - the idea is to take the fat off. It's a moot point for me because I do most of my walking at 2 AM anyway.

I hate exercise, but I've been doing pretty well with it lately. I think when I can do some long day hikes or ride a bike around, it'll be more fun.

I recently started exercising and dieting for probably the 100th time in 3 years. But for some reason this time I had results. I was able to make good choices and I lost 23 pounds pretty fast. Life (injury to my shoulder) has got in the way a little and I have stopped my exercise routine. I still work out every once in a while but not as often as I like. I think my number one reason for not working out is I get board. I would like to vary my work out schedule to include more outside activity but I am stopped from doing this cause I grew up in an unsafe area and even though I have moved to a really good area my imagination keeps me from wanting to go out on my own out of fear. I did decide last night to really push myself to get back on the wagon and run my apartment complex last night. Exercise is not going to kill me.

As far as diet and exercise clicking for me and being able to stick to something I was never able to do before. I read tons of articles over the years, several books, and tried hundreds of diets. I took everything I learned and created something that works for me. There can be no success without creativity.

I am now "addicted" to eating less and walking more. For years my wife and children grumbled about my bad food choices and excess weight.

Well, since 3/1/07 I have dropped 30lbs. I do fast-walking on the treadmill an average of 5.5 miles per day. And I don't eat junky foods anymore.

I feel a lot more alive. And people that I've known for a long time just stare at me. Some ask me if "I am sick or something." Others mention that I look younger somehow.

I am now really noticing how many overwieght and out-of-shape people there really are. I just don't say anything, though.

And I am not going to quit. The payoffs are just too nice.

Regards.

Wow, I just googled why don't people exercise and found this blog. I have been pretty much a fitness nut for as long as I can remember, but my husband is completely sedentary. I have come to find out I am the odd one not him. I guess many more people don't exercise than do.
I have been an avid runner for years, just finished the Camp Pendleton Mud Run a couple weeks ago. I mix it up with a combination of outdoor runs, gym, and just started doing some spinning classes. Personally, I think exercising is part of a healthy lifestyle and just like eating, there is no such thing as I don't have time. I know why I do it, vanity for one and I like the way I feel when it's all over. I feel physically strong, like I can conquer the world. Exercising definitely spills into other areas of my life as well. I sleep better, eat better, and feel a lot more energy throughout the day becasue of it.

kim said:

I have been an avid runner for years, just finished the Camp Pendleton Mud Run a couple weeks ago.

The Camp Pendelton Mud Run? I've been wanting to try that myself. San Diego is a bit different from most of the country, though, in terms of fitness. I think we have the highest percentage of triathletes around... But, you're right, even here there are a lot of sedentary people.

I wish I were like you, though - I'm very active and reasonably fit, and like Roger above I enjoy the benefits, but if I don't watch it, life does get in the way. I have to keep making it a priority.

I don't live in San Diego county but it's only about an hour away, but I guess Socal in general might have more exercise nuts in general.
The mudrun was a blast, it's not your typical road race. It's like one big party that just happens to be running through the mud. This year my daughter and I ran it alone but next year we're going to have a team of maybe 5-6 people. And at least you make exercise a priority, I don't think everybody does.

I don't exercise... No that's a lie! :)

I feel stupid. That is one of two main reasons I don't exercise. That and lack of motivation, sometimes I think about doing it and then I just think of things that are worrying me and end up not doing it.
I don't like exercising because most of it makes me feel stupid and I don't feel like it is having any effect whatsoever. I don't want to exercise outside because I feel like people are watching and laughing at my pitiful attempts and the indoor ones don't seem like they are strenuous enough. I tried a beginner yoga and a beginner pilates tape but it was just dreadful. I felt I was getting better exercise typing! I need an exercise that I can do quietly in my house and that doesn't require a large area, but that is still strenuous enough to satisfy me. :)

I'm like so many other people - embarrassment. Not just that, but a lot of the time I feel like I'm not getting anywhere. I did pilates last semester in college, and it was tough, but I enjoyed it at first. After a number of weeks, I started doing even WORSE - not being able to bend in ways I could before. I spent so many of the classes in tears because of it. It's just not enjoyable for me. Most of the other PE classes were the same. I just don't do well and I dislike going to the gym by myself, running to nowhere, not having much of a way to gauge myself, especially when I get bored of running after five minutes whether or not I feel tired. So... yeah.

Thanks heavens I met my husband who is such a fitness fiend that there was absolutely no ways I could ever have remained the couch potato I was. After a while of watching him going out every morning rain or shine for a run, and never missing his 30 minute sit up etc... routine - I eventually go inspired to do it myself. Now I rarely go a day without going out for some body FUN and without doing my own 30 minutes on the carpet in front of the TV exercises. All I had to do was to change the company I was keeping and get inspired.

I have had the exact same feelings as you. In fact, a few months ago I did but it changed when i was watching a fashion show. I saw how skinny the models were and I felt like crying. I would probably be considered obese compared to them! So I printed off a picture of what I wanted to look like-yes, I know how pathetic that sounds-and wrote down my goals.
I am also very, very busy so finding time to exercise is nearly impossible, so everyday I write a schedule. I write down what it is I want to do and the time I am allowing for it. I sometimes don't keep this schedule and I wind up at 6:00 am exercising, but all these things do help. IMPORTANT:try to motivate YOURSELF by smiling while you exercise or thinking about what you plan to do tomorrow or... what you could look like in a few weeks of exercising. If you are out at a restaurant and you are about to order a food you know is high in calories then why order it? cause its good! But don't! think about what you "goal image" is and think about you a whole lot fatter. Pretend that food could alter how you look-fat or normal and healthy!!! good luck on your way to a healthier-more confident-lifestyle!!!! -check out the Jane Fonda video-workout collection. I hate going to gyms cause it feels like everyone is staring at me so I usually do home workouts!.

I don't exercise because it's a stupid, unnatural concept. I keep active.

I have always enjoyed physical activity, even when I was a toddler. Some of the excuses don't make much sense to me. Too cold? Wear extra clothing. No time? Make time somehow, either by cutting out TV, biking or walking to your destination if possible, or otherwise make exercise a priority. Too tired? Most of us don't know mental fatigue from physical fatigue, as they often feel the same. Poor nutrition and sleep deprivation could also make you more tired than would seem reasonable. Being sick will make you tired, and refraining from activity would be advisable then. The only way I could get hurt during a bike ride is if a drunk, distracted, or sleepy driver runs me down. I am at greater risk of this when it's raining (lose traction, driver may lose control), foggy or at night (reduced visibility), and on various holidays, when people drive drunk, and Friday evenings, when people's minds are on weekend plans and not on driving.