resistance to exercising- ADHD issues maybe?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Honestly you just sound like someone who doesn’t enjoy working out. That’s not ADHD, that’s actually just most people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Also have ADHD and I can totally relate to your post, OP. My hyperfocus for many other things has not made its way to exercise, unfortunately. In fact, I think the mindset that it has to be _a_WHOLE_thing with a routine and a program and resources makes me give up before I start.

Classes that have worked for me are Zumba (it's been several years, but I liked it - you might too given your dance experience) and now I do a HIIT class and a strength training class that are structured into sets/patterns of short increments. It goes quickly and keeps my brain occupied, and I like the structure and the social aspect of seeing the same people a few times a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It's actually not. Look, you got offended and you took the time to reply, now put that angry energy into exercise.

[Anonymous]

OP, I could have written this post! I’m in my 50s and have always hated exercising. My husband has worked out 3 days a week since we started dating in the 90s, my kids are all athletic and go to the gym. I have high cholesterol and desperately need to work out but I have always hated it. I’ve tried so many things (gyms, walking, yoga, Peloton, personal trainers, kayaking, etc,) but I just find it all SO BORING. I am also uncoordinated and an introvert. Finally, last year I decided to try Orange Theory which sounded like an absolute nightmare to me. Shockingly, I love it. I like that someone is bossing me around so I can’t be indecisive. I like the variety. It keeps me from getting bored. I like that it’s personal. No one is paying attention to you. It goes by SO fast and I know I’m getting a decent workout. If you haven’t tried it, maybe it would be a good option.

[Anonymous]

I have to listen to high school or undergrad playlist music if I'm using gym equipment. I also like taling long walks while I listen to audiobooks. Classes worked best but are hard to fit into my life post-kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Honestly you just sound like someone who doesn’t enjoy working out. That’s not ADHD, that’s actually just most people.

I’m wondering if the feelings I have five or ten minutes into a workout could be ADHD related. I also can’t meditate. I start feeling really bored and my mind starts wandering when I’m working out. I just can’t keep doing it. Yes I also just don’t enjoy it, that’s true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It's actually not. Look, you got offended and you took the time to reply, now put that angry energy into exercise.

It doesn’t work like that though. Thanks for your time I guess? It was worth every cent…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I could have written this post! I’m in my 50s and have always hated exercising. My husband has worked out 3 days a week since we started dating in the 90s, my kids are all athletic and go to the gym. I have high cholesterol and desperately need to work out but I have always hated it. I’ve tried so many things (gyms, walking, yoga, Peloton, personal trainers, kayaking, etc,) but I just find it all SO BORING. I am also uncoordinated and an introvert. Finally, last year I decided to try Orange Theory which sounded like an absolute nightmare to me. Shockingly, I love it. I like that someone is bossing me around so I can’t be indecisive. I like the variety. It keeps me from getting bored. I like that it’s personal. No one is paying attention to you. It goes by SO fast and I know I’m getting a decent workout. If you haven’t tried it, maybe it would be a good option.

Interesting, thanks PP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Honestly you just sound like someone who doesn’t enjoy working out. That’s not ADHD, that’s actually just most people.

I’m wondering if the feelings I have five or ten minutes into a workout could be ADHD related. I also can’t meditate. I start feeling really bored and my mind starts wandering when I’m working out. I just can’t keep doing it. Yes I also just don’t enjoy it, that’s true.

Well I can’t say that the way my ADHD works is how yours works but for me, it’s the initiating a non-preferred activity that I get hung up on. If you’re starting a workout and then just feeling bored 5-10 minutes in, that doesn’t sound like the ADHD - it sounds like you don’t like working out. I also can’t meditate but that doesn’t mean I’m bored in a workout when I’m focused. Try a circuit based class like OTF where’s there’s also an aspect of beating your time/reps/classmates. That might appeal to you and keep you from boredom. And you might just dislike working out.

[Anonymous]

I have ADHD, and I do Pure Barre. The studio is very close to my house and I can register for a class at the last moment. They won’t let you in, if you are late, so I make it in time (I am late to a lot of things). The playsets are fun, the classes are dynamic and short, so I don't get bored.
I could never work out at home.

[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.

If anything, you are ignorant.

[Anonymous]

Group exercise, if you can swing it.

Vinyasa yoga and power yoga have been lifesavers for me. If your mind wanders, you’ll fall over

Barre 3 also works for me. As does climbing (lots of ADHDers benefit from the focus climbing requires).

Biking is also good — I like to have a goal, e.g., bike to the bakery 6 miles away for coffee and a fruit bowl and then back home in time for everyone to wake up to fresh croissants. Sounds silly but it works for me.

Inattentive ADHD got in my way for years. You can do it. Just be willing to try things out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It's actually not. Look, you got offended and you took the time to reply, now put that angry energy into exercise.

It doesn’t work like that though. Thanks for your time I guess? It was worth every cent…

I guess you have enough time to post nonsense on dcum because you enjoy it. Nobody can help those who don't want help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It's actually not. Look, you got offended and you took the time to reply, now put that angry energy into exercise.

It doesn’t work like that though. Thanks for your time I guess? It was worth every cent…

I guess you have enough time to post nonsense on dcum because you enjoy it. Nobody can help those who don't want help.

I have plenty of time to, frankly, waste on DCUM, and yes, I do enjoy reading and posting here.

I never said the reason I don't exercise was that I lack the time to do so!

It's because when I start exercising, my mind wanders and I do not like it AT ALL. My thoughts start drifting immediately to all the things on my to do list, and then I start to feel very uncomfortable, anxious, even panicky. I do not get any pleasure or rewarding feeling while working out, at least not at the start, and I don't exercise long enough to get any kind of rewarding feeling.

Unlike sitting right now, for example, and scrolling on DCUM, or checking my Facebook or Instagram feeds, or watching a show, or doing something I enjoy like cooking. Or teaching. My mind doesn't wander doing those things, and I feel fine.

I feel good now, reading/writing on dcum. I am not thinking of everything I have to get done (which is sad - it is what allows me to waste time.)

I'm trying to figure out how I can make my thoughts not wander immediately when I start to exercise, or how I can get a rewarding feeling more quickly, so I will stick to it more and get the benefit of it. Several people had good ideas! I thank them.

You, PP, are just not very useful to me. I'm trying to be polite because I guess in your own way, you thought you were being helpful? I wonder why you thought that, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Group exercise, if you can swing it.

Vinyasa yoga and power yoga have been lifesavers for me. If your mind wanders, you’ll fall over

Barre 3 also works for me. As does climbing (lots of ADHDers benefit from the focus climbing requires).

Biking is also good — I like to have a goal, e.g., bike to the bakery 6 miles away for coffee and a fruit bowl and then back home in time for everyone to wake up to fresh croissants. Sounds silly but it works for me.

Inattentive ADHD got in my way for years. You can do it. Just be willing to try things out.

Thanks so much, these are all useful ideas. I will check them out.