I hate exercising. There are no two ways about it. I don't aspire to exercise. I don't get an adrenaline rush when I exercise. I don't get all of the wonderful feelings that athletes do when they exercise. That's the honest truth.
Exercising is enjoyable for some people. People who like exercising are fortunate in my opinion. Our bodies need exercise. Our bodies crave exercise. For the percentage of the population who don't like to exercise, it's a real problem. Motivation is a problem.
The following are the reasons I don't like to exercise:
- I don't like to exercise. I don't get any excitement or positive feelings from exercising.
- I like brain work and internet work more than exercising.
- I don't always feel like exercising, especially after having a long day at the office.
- My energy level isn't what it used to be. After I turned 40 my natural energy level dropped significantly.
- My knees won't allow for running or jogging.
- I have a foot spur which makes it painful when I try to walk.
- My peer group are not exercisers.
- I don't feel that I need to be in 100% muscled up shape to sit and write articles all day.
- I am overweight, and have the worst time losing weight, even with exercise.
I EXERCISE ANYWAYS!
Even though I can give many more reasons not to exercise, I still go to the YMCA on a regular basis and exercise. Although I don't naturally aspire to exercise, the benefits far outweigh the negatives as far as creating and maintaining stamina to keep up with my lifestyle.
I enjoy working on the computer, writing and brain-driven, not manual type work or physical sports type activities. This means that I sit all day and don't move around much. The problem with this is that not exercising tends to seize the body up and reduces mobility.
Over the last 4 years I have learned to exercise. I've gone through cycles where I exercise consistently and then slack off. The slacking off time is when work gets a little too demanding. Ultimately it's important to exercise on a consistent basis and just the minimum if you don't have the energy to do the full work out.
It takes time to learn how to exercise. It takes time to learn the benefits of exercise. For people like myself who hate exercising, it might even take a year or two to see the benefits of working out, on a physical and mental basis. The times that I have learned the most about the benefits of exercising is when I have stopped exercising for a matter of a month or so. My energy level drops, my muscles don't work as well, my back hurts, and so on. At that point, I kick myself in the butt and get back to it.
HIRE A PERSONAL TRAINER
I try to go to the YMCA three times per week, and have a personal trainer for some of that time. A personal trainer motivates me to come in when I make the appointment, and also encourages me to work out more than I would by myself. The reason I started with a personal trainer was that I kept promising myself that I would go to the gym. Knowing that I like to keep my appointments, I thought that a personal trainer would help me to keep my appointments. So far, it's worked really well. I feel horrible if I have to miss my appointment with my personal trainer these days. If you're not motivated to exercise by yourself and can afford the personal trainer, I would recommend hiring a personal trainer to help you exercise.
I can easily justify the personal trainer financially. If I'm not working at maximum productivity, I'm not making as much money as I could. I know that in the past I have lost a great deal of income from being out of shape. I look at the personal trainer as a cost of doing business.
My two favorite exercises with machinery at the moment are:
1) The Elliptical Trainer
2) The Rowing Machine
THE ELLIPTICAL TRAINER
The exercise that I do each time is the elliptical trainer. This is great for people who are a little overweight and can't take much strain on their knees. It's a wonderful cardio workout which doesn't leave me gasping for breath when I'm finished. As well, I can still walk with my knees and sore foot afterwards. I try to go for at least 15 minutes on the elliptical trainer or as long as it takes to build up a sweat and keep the sweat going for 5 or so minutes.
THE ROWING MACHINE
I like the rowing machine because it is 0 impact on my knees, but gives me a good work out cardio wise, and gives me a good stomach and arm work out. Rowing as hard as possible for about 5 minutes usually is a good way to keep my heart beating at a good pace and as well strengthen my arms and stomach muscles.
Even though I hate to exercise, I still do it. I know that I have to. It's important for me to keep up my lifestyle as I like it. I will write some more as I go along in the I love It - I hate it series. If you're like me and hate to exercise, I have included a book and some of my favorite exercise equipment for you to look at.
Author: Monty Loree
Article Title: I Hate Exercise.
