I hate exercising. This is a comment made all the time around the world, but why?
First, you get hot, sweaty, and out of breath, like a sloth chasing a bus. It feels uncomfortable and unpleasant. However, this is not the reason you hate exercise; you hate it because it’s boring.
Going on a treadmill is a human version of a hamster wheel; it takes so much effort, but you are just staying in the same boring place. The treadmill dates back to Victorian times in England, where prisoners were punished by being placed on a treadmill or treadwheel, which would generate energy to make flour. So what are we doing, going to a gym and running on one of these things?
Why traditional ways of exercising don’t work
We’ve been programmed to believe that the best way to get fitter, be more toned, or lose weight is to join a gym. Although these places have everything you need to achieve your goals, the main problem is that not many people go regularly.
I once worked in an exclusive health and fitness club with the latest technology. I was responsible for 550 individual members. When I broke it down to what was described as an active member (someone who’s attended in the past 14 days), my numbers were only 100 or so members. That’s only 18% of my members who had attended the gym in the past 14 days.
When we think of the minimum requirement for someone to achieve their goals, it’s 2-3 times per week. Out of the 100 members who were classed as active, only 20 had used the gym 2-3 times each week. That’s only 3% of my members who attended the gym at a frequency that allowed them to achieve their goals.
I’m explaining these figures to you because they show that joining a gym isn’t sufficient. According to my statistics, only 3% of members attend the required number of times. If you don’t go, it won’t work. And it’s this reason why, in my opinion, from my own experiences, traditional ways of exercising don’t work.
Why you may not be attending the gym
Most of us are stuck inside for our work commitments due to the masses working in an office-type environment. We’re stuck inside all day, so when it comes to visiting the gym after work, we drive past it and venture home instead. Have you ever thought about why?
There are a variety of reasons why you’re not attending the gym.
It’s boring
You don’t have time
You don’t know what to do
It isn’t practical
It’s intimidating
These are just a few common reasons people don’t attend the gym. Is this the case for you? Suppose you can find what is fun instead of boring, eliminate the travel time so you have time, educate yourself so you know how to exercise, and gain confidence in your ability. In that case, you’re more likely to enjoy exercise rather than hate it.
What to do if you hate exercising
Gyms have many positive aspects; however, my advice is to stay away from them if you hate exercise. The 12-month membership you’ve just signed up for will be used about four times. So save your money, buy some decent running shoes, and get outdoors.
You are a caged hen, and you want to be free-range. You want your freedom, you want to find something that fits into your current lifestyle, and you want something that’s going to be fun. If you can find something that works for you, then this new habit will stick.
If you hate exercising, stay away from the general ways of training. Find something that you enjoy doing, as you are more likely to stick with it. There is so much out there that you can try, such as running in the countryside or parks, taking part in a sport, or attending a dance class.
If you are going to run, then run outside or run in the park. It feels so much better outside, taking in fresh air and discovering various landscapes. Your mind is elsewhere rather than watching the clock tick slowly on the treadmill.
If you enjoy music and dancing, clubs in the city have daytime raves that are exercise—or dancing-based. If you enjoy getting out in the countryside, cycling is an excellent way to exercise while venturing into a peaceful place.
I recently felt like a kid again after attending an indoor obstacle course. It felt like I was just clowning around at the time but once I got home I had realised that it was a very good workout for the whole body. Other visits to your childhood could be trampolining, or even ice skating. We all had fun when we were children right?
Find something fun
As a personal trainer, I always made sure my sessions were fun, creative, and interesting. Many of my clients hated exercise with a passion, but once they got into a routine doing something that they enjoyed, they were halfway to achieving their goals.
If you hate exercising, start by trying as many things as possible. Approach everything with an open mind, and you will soon discover what you like.
Exercise is like a career; there are so many careers out there, but not all are for you. There are office jobs, practical jobs, or jobs that require travel. There is something out there for everyone. It is your job to find your own way of exercising that’s fun, interesting, and effective.
If you find something fun, you will never look at exercise the same way again. You will want to do it, and when you want to do something, you will try harder. You will never make the comment, ‘I hate exercise’ again!