I walk my 2 beagles in the park every day. We have been trudging in the accumulated snow the last week. Walking through 8 inches of snow and going through snow banks is tough. I would not walk if it were not for them. During the afternoon, it is all they think about. So about 360 days a year, I walk.
I hate exercising too - there is no question that I will stop exercising after a while if we are talking about machines at a gym. In fact, that has been my experience multiple times over.
The way I got around that is to join a competitive team sport. Right now I part of a rowing club that practices three times a week. It is a vigorous workout both on the water and on the rowing machines. It is challenging for more reasons than simple physical endurance - we do a lot of technique work as well. In addition, there is the social aspect (very useful to us as we were new in town) of being part of team. Not only is this enjoyable for social reasons, but lots of people part of a team is very supportive, and also creates almost an obligation - I sure don’t want to be the guy who sleeps in through half the practices!
Basically the exercise has become part of something bigger and more enjoyable than just the exercise. This strategy has worked for me twice now (the first time was Dragon Boating for a few years until I left that country).
Thanks, everyone, for the responses. 
The nice thing about our Rec center is that all the machines are wired for cable tv, so I can watch shows that I like. I have also been taking my mp3 player when I use the circuit room. Boredom doesn’t seem to be the problem.
I don’t think I’m bored so much as I am beset by anxiety. I’m currently on medication for anxiety and depression, and I talk weekly with a therapist, so I’m working on it. It’s just that whenever I walk in there, I don’t (at first) see anyone who *needs *to be there. Everyone I see is perfectly toned. And as a straight male, looking at the well-toned females there subconsciously makes me feel like a much bigger fatass than I probably am. Once I’m there, I begin to see that there are, indeed, other people in my situation and even worse, so I begin to calm down after that.
Everyone needs to be there - you’re just seeing people at different places in their personal fitness spectrum. For all you know, some of those hardbodies used to be softbodies like us.
(By the way, exercise is very good for anxiety. You’d benefit even more by exercising outside in fresh air and sunshine as well.)
How about doing some other sort of exercise, like swimming?
Totally agree! Everyone started somewhere, and no one was born totally fit and muscular!
I also agree that you should consider doing more outside. It’s the middle of winter here in Calgary and I still run outside at least once a week just to get out and get fresh air and enjoy nature. I also take my Personal Training client out for walks on Saturdays just so she will get the fresh air and she has said that it always makes her feel better afterwards, even if she didn’t want to go in the first place.
Problem is, I’d have to learn to swim first.:smack:
She’s right, you know-- I feel a lot better exercising outside, especially with something like riding my bike around. There’s something to be said about the feeling of the air rushing past you and the sunlight hitting your face while actually feeling the resistance of your own weight while you propel yourself along.
Keep on trying-- it may never get to the point where you love it, but you may get to the point where you feel better and miss it when it doesn’t happen. As for those who are in better shape than you, remember that most of them probably started out at the same place that you’re at. If you can find it at your gym, see if you can schedule a few sessions with someone who’s good at motivating you-- it makes a world of difference in the first few months.
Yes, where oh where would you find classes… at a university…?
When I use the ellipticals I literally want to stab myself in the face from boredom. I am also, frankly, a slacker who will do the bare minimum, then scamper out the door. Since starting karate I work twice as hard and enjoy it more.
If you are doing this for anxiety and depression, you’re doing one of the most effective possible things. However, what no one may tell you–no one told me–is that you may have to push yourself pretty hard to get any effect. I’d take fast walks and rollerblade and end up no more relaxed than when I started. Then I picked a few things that regularly had me truly panting–running and the stair-stepper. I had some good short-term effects: really, I was too worn out at the end to be tense. I’ve also had excellent long-term effects. I don’t exactly enjoy exercise–to get what I need out of it, I always have to push past what is comfortable, but I know it makes me a much less tense and more effective person. I’ve ended up looking for things not that I enjoy, but for things that I can push myself at without injury. Right now, I’m doing 40 minutes, 4 times a week, on a Stairmaster at level 12 of 20. My legs burn, I end up forced to use my arms, and they get tired, I drip. I couldn’t do this on faith that it will make me feel better 20 years from now; I feel better now. This of course, is a YMMV thing, but, health permitting, don’t give up if moderate exercise doesn’t do it for you.
In my experience exercise works a lot better for anxiety than for depression. It requires a much greater force of will to work off excess energy than to begin exerting yourself from a low point; it also provides feedback more quickly. I personally almost need a psychic beatdown before I will exercise my way out of a low state.
No one will tell you how hard you have to push; for one thing, we’re all different; for another, people who have been through to the other side will never really respect the feelings they had before - or the people that still feel that way. To them, the answer is obvious. Why isn’t it to everybody?
I used to totally hate exercising when I’d go to a gym. I hooked up with Team in Training though, a group that trains you for a marathon or half marathon, while raising money for the luekemia and lymphoma society. Changed my view on everyhing. Training for something is what keeps me motivated, like someone was posting about upthread. When you’ve got a goal you’re working towards, and are surrounded with supportive people who have that same goal, suddenly exercising becomes a lot more enjoyable. There’s running groups everywhere, you can find them online. They’ve also got groups for swimming and bicycling. I just signed up for a half marathon training group that i’m really looking forward to. If it’s any consolation, about a year ago I could barely run two minutes and hated all 120 seconds of it.
It’s amazing what finding something you enjoy can do for your motivation. Best of luck to you.
I couldn’t disagree with this more. I very vividly remember what it was like before, it’s the same feeling I get whenever I do anything other than what I enjoy doing. Put me on an elliptical and I will want to punch you in the face.
This is the same mentality that was displayed in the fat acceptance thread. People assuming those of us who have lost weight have no clue what it’s like to be heavy and struggling. Just because some of us have been there and pushed through, doesn’t mean we have no clue what it’s like. That kind of attitude is insulting to everyone who has suffered their way to a goal.
Maybe yes and no. I’ve encountered a few zealous and successful converts to whatever health regimen who have worn on those around them who, for whatever reason, weren’t as blithely able to “just do it.” And I have a friend whose solution to pretty much every physical, mental, and emotional problem is “you need to lift more.” Needless to say, he’s not the first person most in our circle turn to in times of trouble.
The only two things I’ve ever liked were running and cycling. I can only run about 2 weeks now before my knee hurts too bad to walk (only 26 years old!), so that leaves cycling. I hate cold weather, so I don’t even do that in the winter.
As for your knee hurting, have you had an assessment done on it at all? That could be caused by a huge number of easily fixable issues. Too much mileage too fast (that might be the likeliest), incorrect form, running on a slant, pronation issues, poor shoes, etc., etc. I had knee pain at one point last year and it was caused by increasing my mileage too much and poor running form. I’ve fixed those two issues and haven’t had a problem since.
As far as anxiety, it helps me to walk in with a plan.
Like if you’re just starting out, try something similar to the couch to 5k deal and a plan for which weights you want to do and know how to do it.
I used to walk in and just sort of go as long and hard as I thought I could and that just wasn’t good. It’s hard to decide when you really can’t go any longer and I always felt like a failure.
But if I go in and know how long or how far I plan to go and what I plan to get done, exactly, it helps. That means I’m never competing with the girl on the treadmill next to mine or anything because I know what I’m going to do already.
It also helps to keep a log- write down how much you lift and how many reps each time so that you can keep track and see your progress in writing. That way you can really see yourself getting stronger- in a matter of weeks, put your weight back to the weight it is today and see how much easier it is to lift.
Good luck. Pounding away at the gym really isn’t much fun, but it gets easier.
Cardio doesn’t do much for me. I’ve never gotten ‘the runner’s high’ and many other people never do either. Of course, it obviously does me some good because running a couple hours per week will decrease my heart rate by quite a bit in a couple months. But since it’s not fun, I don’t do it that often or stick to a schedule.
Find a form of exercise you enjoy and that makes you feel good. I love swimming, biking, and yoga, and weight training is more fun than running and doesn’t make me feel worn out afterwards. I try to focus on the things I like in particular about each of them, rather than just slogging through my allotted time and pushing my body. I don’t like being uncomfortable, and being uncomfortable isn’t necessary to benefit from exercise.
Statman
You may be overdoing it. I don’t know how long you have been working out for. I finish each strength training workout with 30 minutes or 3 miles on the elliptical. I’m over four months into this routine and I’m not ready for a heavy resitance elliptical workout like the one it seems like you may be partaking in.
Take it easy. Set realistic goals and don’t push yourself.
I know many people in the gym have great bodies and it can be intimidating. Some of these people are naturally gifted with great figures and come to the gym to show them off. But remember, many people entered the gym under or overweight and through hard work and consistency now look the way you want to look. Try to use it as motivation.
Don’t be punching me. It’s not my attitude. Was I unclear?