resistance to exercising- ADHD issues maybe?

[Anonymous]

I absolutely know I should workout, exercise, etc but I just can't make myself do it.

I start a workout of any kind, and I just find myself getting bored in the first five minutes, then anxiety starts creeping in. My mind starts thinking of Every. Single. Thing. I need to be doing and could be doing, to get it off my to-do list (ever growing) instead of this 30 minute workout.

I try to build habits by just doing 5 minutes every day and then extending the time... but it also doesn't work. I have tried listening to podcasts but again my mind wanders.

last year I started taking ADHD medication and it did seem I was able to focus better and stick to an exercise routine, but the effect was short lived.

Intellectually I know that my health and mental health would be so much better if I got good exercise every day. I'm in my mid 50s, not yet menopausal, and worried that lack of exericise will add even more pounds to my body once I hit menopause. I'm out of shape, but otherwise have no health problems right now, but I don't think that will continue if I don't stay active.

I have a pretty active job (elementary school resource teacher) I'm on my feet all day every thirty minutes walking back and forth in a long hallway, up and down flights of stairs, to get my small groups of students. So it's not like I sit at a desk all day, but I know that isn't really exercise.

Can you suggest some ways that I can commit to some exercise routines for 30 minutes? I really need a breakthrough. My lack of exercise is really making me unhappy, but I can't seem to make myself do it. I DO objectively feel better after I have done some kind of workout.

[Anonymous]

Go to a gym. Home exercise is boring and I can't make myself do it either. But I'm at the gym 5x a week--the music, the lights, the people, etc.

[Anonymous]

I also have ADHD, and while I love the idea of working out at home I lack the motivation to do so.

Workout classes work best for me, all you have to do is show up and the instructor tells you what to do and it's for a set time.

[Anonymous]

How is that adhd? If anything, ADHD people are more likely to exercise and overdo it.
You are just lazy and lack will power.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go to a gym. Home exercise is boring and I can't make myself do it either. But I'm at the gym 5x a week--the music, the lights, the people, etc.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is that adhd? If anything, ADHD people are more likely to exercise and overdo it.
You are just lazy and lack will power.

This is the inconvenient answer

[Anonymous]

Find an activity you enjoy, maybe some kind of class or team sport.

[Anonymous]

I am 53 and have severe neck pain issues and chronic Lyme. I am being treated for it now and improving.
I always worked out, but then pain was too much so I stopped for a few years. I am back on it and I now do fast walking on the tread mill every night for at least 30 minutes. It is helping me so much, with pain, with endurance. On the weekends I do an hour, often I do 45 even during the week, if I can.
I work over 9 hours per day with hour commute. I was just being lazy before and gave in to it. Now I am back to it feeling good.
Put something on the TV you like, put headphones on with loud exercise music, don't look at the minutes on the machine. The end.
Once you get over the lazy part, it will become addictive.

[Anonymous]

I go to a gym where the workout is pre-set for us and the music is blaring. I'm very consistent whereas I wouldn't work out at all if I had to at home.

My problem is cleaning up consistently at home. I basically have weekly company as an incentive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is that adhd? If anything, ADHD people are more likely to exercise and overdo it.
You are just lazy and lack will power.

OP here, I wish my AHDH hyperfocus extended itself to exercise, but it does not.

The second part about being lazy and lacking will power? Gee thanks. Yes, I do lack executive function, which is where you get willpower from. I'm looking for advice that will actually help me. "Get more willpower and stop being lazy" is a crap response.

[Anonymous]

I go for long hikes and walks with a friend and go the gym. Once I am at a gym, I’m going to do something.

[Anonymous]

See if you can walk with a friend (body doubling).

[Anonymous]

Go to classes. You won’t leave once you’re there and have paid for them. Or do long walks with friends—get coffee at the end.

[Anonymous]

Fellow ADHD saying go to a class. You need the structure. I’m 10 years in to making fitness a regular part of my life so I have the discipline to go to my basement and work out but I also do classes and you need the routine and structure of the classes.

[Anonymous]

OP here - The walks with a friend do help. I like to chat while I walk. So there's that.

What kind of classes do you like (those with ADHD or who find exercise boring?)

Looking back in my past, I don't think I ever had the experience of enjoying any exercise classes. I did really enjoy a dance class I took years ago, in college. I think having to pay attention to the different moves kept me more able to focus.

I also enjoyed contra dancing for the same reason.