New to working out - how long does it take before you stop hating it?

[Anonymous]

I have started trying to work out again regularly for the past two weeks (I know, not long, it feels like an eternity). I dread going and then when I get there it is even worse than I imagined. I just hate working out.. HOWEVER- when I leave, I feel great and am so thankful I went, and that is what keeps me going back. How long will it take before I don't hate the act of working out while I'm doing it? Or does that never stop?

[Anonymous]

I've been going to the gym regularly for 4 months and I still hate it, although not as much as I did at first. I think it will always be something that I do because I should, not because I want to.

[Anonymous]

Can you switch your workout activity to one you hate less?

[Anonymous]

I never stop hating it, but it does become a habit you don't question.

[Anonymous]

What are you doing? If it's the elliptical or treadmill, yes, those suck big time. Try doing something else. Take a class. Nothing is a better motivator than being in a class with others. Even if you want to stop, you won't because you don't want to be the weak one in class. Also, just trying lifting weights every once in a while. Women need to do more of that anyway.

You will start getting addicted to it once you start seeing progress and feeling better. Then you will feel off when you DON'T go to the gym.

[Anonymous]

I HATE cardio.
I HATE leaving my house and kids to go to the gym (I stay home).

So I work out at home - a few yoga poses, then weight lifting and targeted exercises on glutes and abs, then "my" kind of cardio: skipping rope!

I don't have a treadmill or elliptical at home, and hate jogging outside, so I took out my kids' jumprope and use that! I can burn 300 calories in 30 minutes at my target heart rate. If done with correct form, it impacts joints less than running.

Above all, since skipping rope is high intensity, it is NOT boring.

Try it, OP.

[Anonymous]

I've been working out daily for years. I don't always love it but it is a habit and I feel off if I skip a day (or more). One thing is I don't have TV at home but my gym has TV - so I get to watch trashy tv on cardio machines and that is something to look forward to!

[Anonymous]

Do you listen to good music? I found listening to good music and avoiding the rush hours were key for me to like working out.

[Anonymous]

I hate running on a treadmill but feel very zen running outside. Try different things until you find one you don't hate.

[Anonymous]

It's been a long time since I got out of shape and then got in shape again so this is what I remember but YMMV. I recall that at the six week point, I felt fabulous! Because it was no longer a struggle to work out and the effects of exercise were still so new I could recall how bad I used to feel and this feeling was so much better. So hang in there for at least six weeks is my advice.

Or better yet, hang in forever. You'll thank yourself when you get older and you feel good. But I know how hard it is to keep going, especially when it's a struggle right now. I've heard that it takes 90 days to make something a habit. Can you try committing to do 90 days and then deciding what you want to do about exercise?

Good luck, OP and hang in there!

[Anonymous]

If I've let myself get terribly out of shape, it usually takes me about a month to not hate it.

Those first four weeks are always awful. Everything is hard. But then it gets more enjoyable as my body starts to kick back in.

I find that great music helps -- create a mix on Spotify or Pandora. Or a group cardio class. Zumba is surprisingly fun and a real cardio workout.

Also, if I go to a class, I keep going for a full hour until the class is over vs. stopping after 30 minutes because I'm sick of the treadmill.

Just take it day by day. Every day you go brings you a day closer to it not sucking. (How's that for an awful slogan?!) Hang in there. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

If it ever got better, people wouldn't gain all their weight back.

[Anonymous]

I actually enjoy outdoor cardio. I really don't enjoy the gym but I do like the results I get when I do go (which is not as frequently as I should be going).

[Anonymous]

Do you have a friend that you could workout with? Make it a social thing!

Stick with it, OP!

[Anonymous]

I try to focus on the benefits -- not just a better looking body, but better cardio health, stress relief, and being able to sleep better. I also try to cast the things I don't like to do (like the bodyweight matrix, as challenges.

But you should also explore whether there's a different type of activity you would enjoy more. Anything is better than nothing.