Guys, I hate the gym so much

[Anonymous]

I’m not convinced you have to work out to be fit. I log 15,000k steps a day with 3 kids. I play in the pool with them for 1 hour x 3 days per week, hike on Friday. I pick up my youngest all the time and my arms are decently toned. I hate working out, but I’m very healthy.

[Anonymous]

Walking and joint mobility.

Sit on the floor, squat a lot, do things the hard way.

Take stairs.

Our ancestors didn’t go to gyms and they were in shape. They walked and carried things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do something with a friend. More fun and keeps you accountable. Could be walking, biking, running, some sort of boot camp, or mix it up every day

This. Having a friend you really like, showing up and doing the same, will feel less like a chore.

[Anonymous]

Find a boot camp you can join. Many are outdoors, and perhaps a group where you can chat and exercise will help motivate you to stick it out

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think we need to know if you're a workout introvert or extrovert. I am extremely introverted about working out. I was trying to do yoga classes, barre, gyms, walking with friends, etc., and covid taught me that I really prefer working out alone.

Now I do a mix of fitness blender strength workouts at home (I have weights and a bench), walking outdoors alone, and online yoga.

I do sit down at the beginning of each week and plan out realistically which I'll have time for and when. Then those workouts are part of my schedule and I tend to stick to it.

Could you share how you access online yoga?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you like to dance or do aerobics exercise? I have elliptical and bike machines at home, but I get tired of those. I found watching Zumba on big screen and dancing with it more fun lately. It motivates me seeing a group of people dancing on tv.

Also would love to know where you find online Zumba classes.

[Anonymous]

I joined Club Pilates and really like it. And I walk the dog—my neighborhood is VERY hilly (we live on the side of a mountain) and those two things make me feel good. There’s an Orange Theory across the parking lot from the Club Pilates I’d like to join because having to sign up and show up or be penalized plus the group activity is motivating for me, but I can’t justify spending the money on that.

[Anonymous]

I do a class that's stupid early in the morning (5:30am) a couple of times a week. It's brutal to get up then, but we have a community of people who I like to see and it's great to be done and home before my kids get up. I struggle with motivating myself, so this commitment helps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think we need to know if you're a workout introvert or extrovert. I am extremely introverted about working out. I was trying to do yoga classes, barre, gyms, walking with friends, etc., and covid taught me that I really prefer working out alone.

Now I do a mix of fitness blender strength workouts at home (I have weights and a bench), walking outdoors alone, and online yoga.

I do sit down at the beginning of each week and plan out realistically which I'll have time for and when. Then those workouts are part of my schedule and I tend to stick to it.

Could you share how you access online yoga?

I love "yoga with Kassandra" on youtube. She has a ton of free yoga classes including lots of full length ones (45-60 minutes).

[Anonymous]

I also hate the gym and intense exercise. At my fittest, I took dance classes like four times a week and walked everywhere. I’m also pretty fit (now in late thirties with three kids) by eating mainly plant-based, drinking a lot of water, walking a lot, and doing yoga.

There are many ways to get and stay fit that do not involve gyms.

[Anonymous]

I haven’t read all the replies, but from what I read, OP, the issue is not the physical workout per se but your own mental willingness to work out. So unless you are actually able to find a fitness regime that ticks all your check boxes, whatever they may be (convenient, fun, quick results…) you’ll need to find a way to be ok with not being totally ok.

Not to say you should despise the time you spend working out, just to say it’s not always going to be easy. I love working out - the way my body feels during and after, the mental affects. But…the hardest part is always and will always be, showing up to actually do the workout, even thou I love it.

There’s always going to be an excuse not to - time, fatigue…. But I do. Consistently. So you have to get your mindset “set” on that to be able to get into a routine you won’t jump out of.

Personally, I have recently found sometime called, Lululemon studio. It is an at home “mirror” that holds a universe of workouts. You ca do live or on demand. And it is fantastic for a busy working person to be able to get in fitness goals on the regular. The trainers are inspirational. One of my favorites always says, the hardest part of working out is just showing up. Truth.

[Anonymous]

I hate exercising in front of other people, so team sports, jogging outside, gyms and pools are out. I have a climber, bar and weights at home, and use them. I also do yoga videos.

[Anonymous]

Have you tried going in the other direction? Like Crossfit, or FitBodyBootCamp, or SoliderFit?

It'll be mostly the same people in the classes and you become friends. And it becomes a weird mix of social time & exercising togehter