Why You Hate Exercise—And How You Can Change That

For many people (and you might count yourself as one of them), exercise is a chore.

But here’s the truth: it doesn’t have to be.

I used to feel the same way. I’d go to the gym, waste an hour or so on the treadmill or elliptical machine… use a resistance machine or two… maybe do a few crunches.

Not only did it make me gloomy, my body never transformed the way I wanted it to.

But once I found something I loved, it completely transformed my idea of exercise.

Because here’s the thing…

Exercise doesn’t have to be torture

In fact, for many people (and I now include myself as one of them, after years of dreading it), exercise is a release. It makes people happy. It changes their lives and bodies for the better.

The key is to find something you enjoy.

Everybody can like some form of exercise. Our bodies were made to move. We were not designed to be couch potatoes.

And yes, I completely understand if that means you don’t actually like these quick workouts I put together for you. Not all people will. Most people think I look like a maniac when I’m doing them (including my husband).

I do these workouts and share them with you because for me, they’re my solace. When I’m doing them, my worries fade away into the background. I stop thinking about my work, my future, the argument I had with a family member earlier in the day. I get completely absorbed in the moment and the physical challenge I’m presenting myself with.

I hope you find a similar release. Because if you push yourself as hard as you can during your workouts, you’ll reap so many wonderful benefits. And even though it may feel agonizing at the time… if you stick with it, you may just find it becomes a form of comfort for you.

Go hard and then bam… before you know it, the workout is over.

(Unlike going to a gym, where you’ll spend hours getting a fraction of the results.)

Find something you like to do

Of course, I’m not saying you have to fall in love with high intensity interval training. If you’re like most people, HIIT will always be torture (but I hope you’ll still do it). But you should be able to find some form of exercise you actually like to do.

Here are some ideas to get you started….

• Try a new sport. Take up boxing, tennis, golf (just don’t ride in the cart), biking, Krav Maga, join an adult indoor soccer team… whatever sounds fun to you.
• Get your friends to exercise with you. Everything is more fun when your friends are doing it too.
• Play with your kids or dog. You’re guaranteed to have fun, and move a little while you’re at it.
• Walk more. I love taking long walks. They clear my head, and the exercise rejuvenates me.
• Get outside. Enjoy the great outdoors! Go hiking, swim in your nearby lake, take up trail running. Even biking around your neighborhood counts.

The list is endless.

The point is, you can learn to love exercise. Just find something you love to do…

And soon enough, exercise will stop feeling like a chore, and you just might even start looking forward to it.