# Eating right and exercising are joyless chores; is it any wonder some choose to die? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 17, 2013, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-right-and-exercising-are-joyless-chores-is-it-any-wonder-some-choose-to-die/658612 "2013-05-17T18:00:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-right-and-exercising-are-joyless-chores-is-it-any-wonder-some-choose-to-die/658612/21 "2013-05-17T19:43:02Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](#): > > You have an unbelievably mopey attitude about life. It’s not just that you’re wrong about eating right and exercising, it’s the bizarrely bleak point of view you’ve taken. Frankly you seem insincere. You even tried to ruin taking a walk on a sunny day. I find your POV on my POV rather puzzling, frankly. For instance, I wasn’t trying to “ruin” walking on a sunny day — just explaining why an activity I knew most people would find enjoyable was not enjoyable for me, and thus not an exception to my finding exercise not fun. Obviously, it’s a function of where I am, and maybe if I were somewhere else, that would change, but I’m not, so it won’t. I don’t find anything “deranged” about that. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-right-and-exercising-are-joyless-chores-is-it-any-wonder-some-choose-to-die/658612/22 "2013-05-17T19:44:30Z")
I’ve been on both sides of the scale and got there in different ways. At my lowest weight, I was 120 lbs. and a size 4. I was also eating 400 calories a day and excercizing for two or three hours daily. This past December I weighed in at 179 lbs. Not morbidly obese by any means, but certainly fat (I’m 5’7"). I had still been participating in spinning and TRX classes about three days a week, but didn’t pay any attention to my eating. In January I started to track what I ate and how much I exercised. I was shocked, SHOCKED, at how much I was eating without realizing it. I was eating nearly 3000 calories a day, and I thought I was eating pretty healthy! So I decided that in order to meet my goal of losing weight and getting stronger, I’d focus on what I enjoy, which is cycling. I’ve been an on again, off again cycling enthusiast, but this year I am IN. I also decided that I enjoy food, so I wasn’t going to seriously deprive myself. So I still eat a lot of what I used to, but I’ve increased my fruit, veggie and protien intake, and decreased my snacking or made modifications (but I don’t eat fat free or ‘diet’ crap - I eat real food). I never, ever feel deprived and I’m losing weight at a rate of about a pound a week. I know people that do not enjoy exercise (my sister), so do what they can and are more consistent and strict with their diet. But they eat similar to me - just smaller portions. If you hate exercise and really love food, and don’t have the motivation to try and change your diet or find something active that you enjoy, well, guess you’re screwed. Maybe they’ll invent a magic pill or something. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-right-and-exercising-are-joyless-chores-is-it-any-wonder-some-choose-to-die/658612/23 "2013-05-17T19:54:07Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > Why MUST there be one? You might be surprised. I too faced the “all exercise is a drag” thing, and the last thing I ever thought I’d become is a runner. But recently I took up running (couch to 5k) and I’m really enjoying it. My knees hate me now though. ---
**Author:** ![perfectparanoia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a5b964/32.png) [@perfectparanoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perfectparanoia)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-right-and-exercising-are-joyless-chores-is-it-any-wonder-some-choose-to-die/658612/24 "2013-05-17T20:05:34Z")
For me, I prefer exercise to be productive. So, I do odd jobs (or big jobs) around the house as exercise. My house is cleaner and tidier and I am more fit. Also, sex is exercise (or it is the way I do it). ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-right-and-exercising-are-joyless-chores-is-it-any-wonder-some-choose-to-die/658612/25 "2013-05-17T20:07:41Z")
> [@Blaster\_Master](#): > > HI also find that I generally need less sleep too. Now THIS is interesting. Is this a common thing? > [@](#): > > But here’s the thing, it’s not an all or nothing thing. It’s not eat a lot of bland or horrible tasting health food and maybe squeeze in a little bit of delicious but terribly unhealthy junk. Yeah, but the thing is, since diabetics need to cut out carbs, I feel like that would box me into a huge corner. I can’t count very many meals I have that doesn’t include some kind of starch, to the point where even though I haven’t been diagnosed with anything yet (though I haven’t been to the doctor in a long time; I should fix that), I feel really guilty for all the pasta I eat. It would be a completely different world. > [@](#): > > So you don’t enjoy walking, hiking, biking, swimming, dancing, basketball, or any sort of other sport? There’s literally nothing you enjoy more than just sitting in front of the TV or computer? Nope; at least, nothing that makes me want to get off the couch in the slightest (if that’s not the same thing, then that could be a significant point). Let’s just say I’ve always been the “last to be picked every single time” type and leave it at that. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-right-and-exercising-are-joyless-chores-is-it-any-wonder-some-choose-to-die/658612/26 "2013-05-17T20:13:15Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > Yeah, but the thing is, since diabetics need to cut out carbs, That is simply not true. At least in my case, I can have carbs, I just have to balance them with an equal amount of protein. And I have to portion control both. It’s really not the prison sentence that you’re making it out to be. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-right-and-exercising-are-joyless-chores-is-it-any-wonder-some-choose-to-die/658612/27 "2013-05-17T20:15:53Z")
I don’t remember reading a diabetes thread on the SDMB that didn’t have a majority of posts discussing the elimination of carbs from the diet. “I miss pasta.” “I miss pizza.” “I miss bread.” “Carbs make blood sugar skyrocket.” Just saying that this impression of mine, if mistaken, didn’t come out of thin air. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-right-and-exercising-are-joyless-chores-is-it-any-wonder-some-choose-to-die/658612/28 "2013-05-17T20:20:36Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > Soda is evil. Juice is evil. Coffee and tea are disgusting, and I don’t drink alcohol. What’s left besides water (I mean, for me; others can drink the coffee and tea, I freely admit)? Are you not familiar with the concept of moderation? ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-right-and-exercising-are-joyless-chores-is-it-any-wonder-some-choose-to-die/658612/29 "2013-05-17T20:24:08Z")
Of course I am. Tell that to all the posts and news stories that say “IT’S JUST SUGAR WATER! DO NOT DRINK!!!” Read an SDMB thread on fruit juice sometime. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-right-and-exercising-are-joyless-chores-is-it-any-wonder-some-choose-to-die/658612/30 "2013-05-17T20:35:58Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > Just saying that this impression of mine, if mistaken, didn’t come out of thin air. Oh, I know, I remember a lot of those threads. The thing is, I don’t get my diet advice from the SDMB, I get it from dieticians that I pay. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-right-and-exercising-are-joyless-chores-is-it-any-wonder-some-choose-to-die/658612/31 "2013-05-17T21:14:09Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > Why MUST there be one? > > Though I didn’t think of the “increase misery to save time” thing. That might be something to consider. If I’m going to be miserable doing whatever, I might as well go all the way. How did you come up with it? I’ve long thought that looking to be happy about anything is a sure way to never get anything done. Lower “makes me happy” on the list of life’s priorities and a lot of crap comes together easily, and you wind up happy anyway. You’re looking to enjoy exercise - I was looking for the best results. I keep up with it because as unhappy as the work makes me, I’m happy with the results. Note, this applies just as well to your food dilemma. It’s easier to make good choices when you’re not looking for a food-gasm with every bite/sip. You go from “I’m thirsty and all we’ve got is water?” to “I’m thirsty - eh, there’s water.” ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-right-and-exercising-are-joyless-chores-is-it-any-wonder-some-choose-to-die/658612/32 "2013-05-17T21:32:16Z")
> [@epbrown01](#): > > Note, this applies just as well to your food dilemma. It’s easier to make good choices when you’re not looking for a food-gasm with every bite/sip. You go from “I’m thirsty and all we’ve got is water?” to “I’m thirsty - eh, there’s water.” Good point. Food-gasm. I like it. When people train themselves to expect everything to be pleasurable, it’s no wonder they get overweight. When “I’m thirsty” is resolved with “drink colored water with 16 tsp of sugar added”, the body is trained to crave soda all the time. It complains about plain water because it doesn’t satisfy the artificially-created sugar craving. It’s like a kid who gets a cookie every time he screams. Pretty soon he’s screaming his head off all day long and won’t stop until he gets his cookie. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-right-and-exercising-are-joyless-chores-is-it-any-wonder-some-choose-to-die/658612/33 "2013-05-17T21:35:50Z")
“Suffering builds character!” - Calvin’s Dad 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-right-and-exercising-are-joyless-chores-is-it-any-wonder-some-choose-to-die/658612/34 "2013-05-17T21:41:23Z")
Friend, based on the OP, I think you should be more concerned about depression than diabetes. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-right-and-exercising-are-joyless-chores-is-it-any-wonder-some-choose-to-die/658612/35 "2013-05-17T21:43:15Z")
I have a feeling you haven’t even tried to do much of anything. You’re letting the idea of acting healthy generate all this anxiety and tension and letting this stop you. I don’t have the most healthy lifestyle, but I’m satisfied that I have found a good balance between living for the moment and living for tomorrow. I try to eat a healthy breakfast and lunch, and then let my belly expand at dinner. I avoid sweets during the day, but always have dessert at night. I eat conservatively Sunday through Thursday, and then do it up royal on Friday and Saturday. I walk every day and try to move intermittently at work. But you will never catch my ass working out in a gym. This is just too much exercise for me. Balance is key. Small adjustments can really add up. Switch to 1% low fat milk instead of 2%. Drop the soda and drink water occasionally when you get the value meal. Mustard instead of mayo. Cheerios instead of Lucky Charms. Chicken instead of beef. Wraps instead of rolls. Be honest. Do these substitutions sound _that_ horrible? After you get used to simply being more conscientious, it won’t feel so daunting to do something bigger. Psychologically, it helps to think that once you adopt a habit, it doesn’t mean you have to do it constantly for the rest of your life. If I deprived myself of sweets completely, I’d be totally crushed. So I don’t do this shit! I give myself one serving of dessert Sunday through Thursday, and then eat whatever I want Friday and Saturday. This routine may not sound “self-depriving” enough, but it works. I’m not nearly as much as a sugar-a-holic as I used to be. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-right-and-exercising-are-joyless-chores-is-it-any-wonder-some-choose-to-die/658612/36 "2013-05-17T21:43:53Z")
I think you’re taking a very a black-and-white view of things, Leaper. One can eat healthfully, monitor their carbohydrate intake, and avoid health problems, without living in misery on meat and water. All the healthy diabetics I know drink juice and eat rice, for instance. So do the majority of fit, lean people with no health problems. They also eat many other nutritious foods, and are active. As for exercise, the fitter you are, the more fun it is. Few people enjoy hours of mindless cardio (except marathoners, I don’t get them) but most if us like a thing or two like swimming, dancing, horseback riding, canoeing, or playing a friendly game of tennis or frisbee. If you just build up your basic fitness enough that you can run around a little without being winded and sore, you can find lots of enjoyable activities which are great exercise. You will have the suffer through acquiring basic fitness, but it’s amazing how quickly that can be accomplished. Honestly I think that if being sedentary and sitting inside and eating unlimited amounts of starchy, sugary foods are what bring you happiness in life, you probably have some depressive issues. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-right-and-exercising-are-joyless-chores-is-it-any-wonder-some-choose-to-die/658612/37 "2013-05-17T21:47:31Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > Of course I am. Tell that to all the posts and news stories that say “IT’S JUST SUGAR WATER! DO NOT DRINK!!!” Read an SDMB thread on fruit juice sometime. 🙂 I’m hearing you make a lot of pre-emptive excuses about why you think you can’t live a healthier lifestyle. If you’re determined not to change your eating and exercise habits (for the rest of your life) then I’m 100% percent in agreement with your OP. When you’re ready to make some changes, start another OP asking for suggestion/help. I promise you you’ll have a flood of good advice and support. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-right-and-exercising-are-joyless-chores-is-it-any-wonder-some-choose-to-die/658612/38 "2013-05-17T21:48:49Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > I don’t remember reading a diabetes thread on the SDMB that didn’t have a majority of posts discussing the elimination of carbs from the diet. “I miss pasta.” “I miss pizza.” “I miss bread.” “Carbs make blood sugar skyrocket.” > > Just saying that this impression of mine, if mistaken, didn’t come out of thin air. I went through a phase when I was first diagnosed where I _did_ cut carbs down to just about nothing. It does make blood sugar management easier, and I was a weird case that took several months to figure out what type I was. So I might have been in some of those threads, complaining. But it was temporary. Nowadays, sure, I don’t eat a super-carb-heavy diet. But if I want pasta, I eat pasta. I just don’t eat pasta every night; steak nights are good, too, as is roast-chicken night. You state that one of the reasons you fear eating healthy is the number of frozen meals you eat. I also eat frozen meals, mostly for lunches, when I’m busy. Plenty of them are low-carb enough to count as decently healthy for diabetics. And you know what? The yummier ones are the low-carb ones. Most Lean Cuisines and such are pretty carb heavy; Stouffers, on the other hand, tends to be tastier and lower carb. Salisbury steak with a mac-and-cheese side, for instance, is like 22 carbs. That’s less than a very healthy sandwich by a lot. > [@F.U.Shakespeare](#): > > Friend, based on the OP, I think you should be more concerned about depression than diabetes. I was thinking that exact thing. If the OP really has nothing in his life to be healthy for (friends/family/activities he wants to do/etc), that’s the real problem. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-right-and-exercising-are-joyless-chores-is-it-any-wonder-some-choose-to-die/658612/39 "2013-05-17T21:50:40Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > “Suffering builds character!” - Calvin’s Dad > > 🙂 +1 ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-right-and-exercising-are-joyless-chores-is-it-any-wonder-some-choose-to-die/658612/40 "2013-05-17T21:51:00Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > Very good point. I guess it’s that when I work, I actually get something tangible out of it. Being healthy just means I DON’T get diabetes, so it’s harder to be motivated when the goal is the _absence_ of something rather than the _getting_ of something (since I’ve never thought exercise ever made me feel any better in any way). Well, you have a much better chance of keeping your feet un-amputated from your legs. That’s something. > [@Leaper](#): > > I don’t remember reading a diabetes thread on the SDMB that didn’t have a majority of posts discussing the elimination of carbs from the diet. “I miss pasta.” “I miss pizza.” “I miss bread.” “Carbs make blood sugar skyrocket.” > > Just saying that this impression of mine, if mistaken, didn’t come out of thin air. Oh, no, not the thin air at all. It came from ~100 years of diabetes management before glucophage and insulin were invented. Old advice dies hard - really hard. I don’t know what the other thread was about, or if this is an actual diagnosis you’re facing or what, but if you ever are diagnosed with diabetes, please do ask for a consultation with a certified diabetes educator who’s learned something about diabetes nutrition since 1940. It’s really not as bad as you think. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-right-and-exercising-are-joyless-chores-is-it-any-wonder-some-choose-to-die/658612.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-right-and-exercising-are-joyless-chores-is-it-any-wonder-some-choose-to-die/658612.md?page=3)