How to make exercise happen

amother

OP ↓

Mon, Jun 03 2024, 9:47 pm

I hate exercise. Like I'm basically allergic to it. Tried a gym membership, it was a waste of money because I never went. I'm thinking to try some sort of home setup but would not want to invest too much because again, high chance that things will sit around unused. I just don't really know what to do. I hate it so much, but my health is not great and I need to do something about it. I actually eat ok. Could do better, but I'm not terrible about it. But I can't get myself moving. The couch always wins.

amother

Maroon

Mon, Jun 03 2024, 9:52 pm

Get a personal trainer or a workout buddy.

lamplighter

Mon, Jun 03 2024, 11:24 pm

Do it first.

DrMom

Mon, Jun 03 2024, 11:31 pm

How about something simple like walking?

Do it early in the morning or, with a workout buddy to help keep you on schedule.

tichellady

Mon, Jun 03 2024, 11:42 pm

Walking with a friend

monseymom25

Mon, Jun 03 2024, 11:44 pm

Get a dog. You will need to take walks every day.

mamawfh

Mon, Jun 03 2024, 11:47 pm

Get a good motivated partner

amother

Grape ↓

Tue, Jun 04 2024, 2:35 am

Question is really, what do you hate about it?

Is it the amount of time you have to put into it?
Is it the types of excersizes you've been doing?
you only doing workouts that you don't enjoy?
Or something else?
Getting to the route of the issue is the first step of solving the problem.

Then, find something that gets you to move without you hating it (be that walking, dancing, swimming, strength training, etc... )
Do it for a doable amount of time per day (10 - 20 minutes is also fine).
If you don't have that much time, you can do "excersize snacks" which is 2-3 minute intervals throughout the day of whatever it is that you enjoy.

The best type of excersize, is the one you'll stick with.

amother

Quince

Tue, Jun 04 2024, 7:26 am

Nothing can make you but YOU!
The first few days are hardest, day 1 being the hardest of all.
You look through videos on YouTube. Get inspired and then put one and and get up and do it.
Choose a 20 minute workout for day 1-4 then you’ll likely want to test yourself in doing a 25 minute one. Once it’s a daily thing or almost daily thing it’ll be much easier to keep going…

UQT

Tue, Jun 04 2024, 7:47 am

When I get up I put on workout clothes. Even though I still need to daven and get the kids out if I’m dresssd for a workout I won’t skip doing it.

mummiedearest

Tue, Jun 04 2024, 8:03 am

Spend the money and put the gym equipment where you will see it regularly. Allow yourself to ignore it until it makes you feel too guilty. Then do small, easy workouts (stop each exercise when you get uncomfortable) and repeat daily, increasing intensity slightly every week or so. You will be addicted to exercise in a couple of months.

EstyEF

Tue, Jun 04 2024, 8:06 am

My best tips:
I exercise first thing in the morning, before I can talk myself out of it

Alternatively- if you have access to a treadmill or elliptical- save all your scrolling (hi imamother) for when you are walking on it. You could also do online shopping, check emails, text friends, whatever. The key to this is I will ONLY let myself scroll when exercising so I look forward to the treat.

-people have already suggested walking with a friend.

amother

Cobalt

Tue, Jun 04 2024, 8:24 am

Nice workout clothes!
Good sneakers ASICS, Brooks or Hoka
Search 10 -30 min workouts on YouTube

amother

↑ OP ↓

Tue, Jun 04 2024, 8:29 am

Morning exercise is not an option for me, but people I've asked to be buddies don't want to do it in the evening. Walking is the only thing that's tolerable for me, but my doctor says that it's not really enough. I just hate moving, and I hate the feeling that my muscles are burning or that I can't catch my breath. And I hate dancing, hate yoga, never learned to ride a bike. Swimming is ok, but is difficult to coordinate. I think best I can do is maybe hold myself to doing something 10 or 15 minutes at a time. Not sure where to start or what would be best to get for home to get started.

Golde ↓

Tue, Jun 04 2024, 8:38 am

I'm a bit like you. But I've started thinking of exercise as a chore: I don't have to like it, I just have to do it non the less. Same as doing dishes or mopping the floor. I can hate it, but I have to do it.
Easy access is the most important for me. While I enjoy swimming (to a certain extent) I never get to it because it takes to much time and planning. Look up home workout on YouTube and follow along to a short programme. Or go for a short jog just outside your house. Set aside a couple of time slots a week for exercise, and don't skip it. Hate it but do it! 💪

↑ Golde

Tue, Jun 04 2024, 8:45 am

It actually helped me a lot when I started validating that I don't like it (but do it as a chore for my health.)
And also not to set the bar too high for myself: Short and easy sessions, planned in advance.
There's lots of programmes on YouTube where you don't need any equipment and just go along with what they show you. I found that was doable to start with.

amother

↑ OP

Tue, Jun 04 2024, 8:57 am

Golde, do you have in videos you suggest in particular? I feel like something geared specifically towards those of us for whom it IS a chore are more likely to be helpful than just rah-rah fitness rocks!

amother

↑ Grape

Tue, Jun 04 2024, 9:23 am

10 min playlist from my favorite creator
https://www.youtube.com/playli.....gXMA1

If you're competitive with yourself, then maybe completing one of her 2-week programs is an option, start with this:
https://www.youtube.com/playli.....plRj0

BmoreBubby

Tue, Jun 04 2024, 1:43 pm

There are many great suggestions here. My 4 suggestions: 1, accept upon yourself that it's a mitzvah - it's an obligation, just as much as davening or other mitzvahs you do. 2, make your commitment very small and doable - for example, 3 minutes of walking a day. Make it your religious duty to do those 3 minutes no matter what. Then you'll see what you can build from there over time. 3, experts say that exercising for an hour and then sitting the rest of the day is actually worse than not exercising but not sitting more than 20-30 min at a time. So if you can keep yourself active and not let yourself sit too long, you're doing wonders for your health. 4, my DH calls strength training "nursing home insurance" - many people end up in nursing homes or wheelchairs or using walkers simply because their muscles slowly but surely weaken after age 40 - unless you strengthen them. So for me this is a big motivator - to be able to be active for however many years Hashem gives me.

PrairieFairy

Tue, Jun 04 2024, 2:00 pm

Lots of great suggestions here.

Just going to second what someone else said that the best one is the one you will do.

Swimming is also ideal for me but difficult to coordinate.

At one point I got a desk bike as it's easier on the knees and I gave myself that timing for watching YouTube or documentaries.

It made it more enjoyable to pedal with my laptop there and I looked forward to it.

I hate the sweaty clothes and changing so would not wear specific workout clothes per say and do it right before a shower. I'd stop the documentary at the 2 mile mark (digital odometer on the bike) and feel really motivated to continue next time because there was an automatic "reward".

Slow and steady is better than pushing yourself and making it more unenjoyable (and therefore even more difficult).

Before I invested in that bike (I knew it would be a good fit for me), I tried videos and if I didn't like it, stopped it and noticed why not and then used that as information for what I looked for in a workout video next.

I do find scrolling for the "right" video can be overwhelming and when in doubt, counting reps of exercises I like gets the job done.

At one point I was doing 100 jumping Jack's followed by 100 clapping forward jumping Jack's followed by 100 twist jumps followed by 100 butt kickers 100 hi knees etc

Start off with 5 or something realistic but I know for me counting made it easier and I could switch up the movements to something that worked for me (on a video if the movement was one that didn't work for me or made me feel overwhelmed, I jogged in place, did a boxer shuffle, or did jumping jacks).

The app workout women feels great for me. I don't have to scroll to find something and it feels similar enough to my counting, quick, shows the movement, counts with the timer, no extra talking person, and each movement is between 15 and 60 seconds so it switches up.

Jumping Jack's is my go to. You can set an alarm every hour and do 5. Or some other timeframe. 15 seconds vs a whole workout makes it easier to ease into.

You can add these into your walks as well. Set a timer and jog for 5 seconds ever 5 (or 10) minutes and up the time as you get stronger or feel able to.

What feels realistic and workable for you?

Good luck!