How I Got Over My Hatred For Working Out

I’ll be 100% honest, I have never enjoyed exercise and I don’t know if I ever truly will. I know that for a lot of people, the endorphins, the “runner’s high” and all that other bs can make working out addicting but that’s just never been the case for me. I hate running. I hate being out of breath. I hate lifting heavy things. This body was meant for lounging on the couch not pumping iron, okay? The only thing I want to lift is a bowl of pasta.

BUT unfortunately, it’s kind of an unavoidable part of the whole health and fitness thing. Of course, eating right is the majority of the struggle and you don’t necessarily have to work out super hard to lose or maintain weight. But I don’t just care about the numbers on the scale, I care about how I feel. I have arthritis (very sexy) and am not at all flexible and just in general typically live with a mild level of pain. Exercise has made me more limber, relieved my chronic back pain and reduced inflammation in my feet (where I have my arthritis, again, super sexy). These benefits, along with losing what is now 15 pounds and gaining muscle, make working out worth it for me.

I may not be the girl who loves exercising or who craves a good sweat session (ew). I may not be the girl who’s addicted to moving my body and hitting the gym. But I AM the girl who is addicted to feeling strong, healthy and confident. I don’t particularly enjoy the actual workouts I do, but I LOVE the results. I use that as my main motivator.

I now go to the gym 5 days a week and see a personal trainer once a week. Sometimes it’s only for 30 minutes but I make it a priority. I experiment with different exercises and I try not to focus on how awkward I usually feel because I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing. #keepingitreal

And you know what? My body has thanked me over and over for it. With abs and strength and energy. And while I don’t love exercising (and probably never will) I do have the desire to workout every day because it’s now a part of my routine and makes me feel like the best version of myself.

So for those of you reading this who are like “I hate working out, it’s pure hell and I would literally rather be eaten alive by a baby sloth than step foot on a treadmill” I 100% feel you. I am the same way so believe me when I say, if my lazy ass can do it, you most certainly can.

I posted the first edition of this 3-part health series a few weeks ago where I talked about how making huge changes to my diet (including eliminating dairy) has changed my life. You can check out that post here! Today I’m sharing my guide to working out when you’re a girl who hates working out. I’m also sharing my first progress pic and I am both totally thrilled with the changes I get to share with you and so not excited about posting a not-so-flattering “before” picture on the internet. BUT, I have to remember that I am beautiful and funny and smart and my beer gut did not define me as a human! Enjoy!

EXERCISE

Stay accountable with a trainer

The first thing I did several months ago when I decided to take this whole exercise thing seriously was find a trainer.

I knew that one of the big reasons why I hated working out was because I just didn’t know how to. Sets? Reps? What language is that???

I didn’t know how much cardio I should be doing, I didn’t know if I should focus on just one body part each day, I didn’t know which exercises would work best for my arthritis. I had no idea what I was doing.

So I wanted to find someone who could both hold me accountable and also be my resource for all of my many dumb fitness related questions. I went onto Groupon and found a good deal for a trainer that had great reviews and booked a session.

I wanted to find someone who 1. wouldn’t yell at me and 2. would push me to improve and understand my goals. I got really lucky and found a trainer who’s nice and knowledgeable so I started seeing him once a week.

The workouts I do with him are significantly more difficult than anything I do on my own but it’s great because I learn new exercises I can apply to my gym workouts and learn how to do the form correctly first. I also ask him about protein powder recommendations, dieting tips and for feedback on what I’m doing on my own at the gym. It’s great because these are questions I would otherwise google and kind of try to figure out on my own but with him, I can get a straightforward answer from someone who knows me and my goals.

I know that a trainer isn’t an option for everyone but if you can find a good deal of Groupon you could always try it for just a session or two at the introductory or discounted price to get some ideas on what you can do on your own.

In terms of accountability, if getting a trainer isn’t something you want to do I would recommend finding a workout buddy! Use them to keep yourself on track with your goals so in moments of weakness you can get the encouragement (and the guilt trip) you need to push through and make the right decision. Just make sure you pick a friend who actually workouts out too or you might find your “accountability partner” letting you off the hook when you decide to drive past the gym and drive through In-N-Out instead.

Get over your fear of gyms

I’ve tried a lot of alternatives to working out in a gym over the years because they totally intimidate me. I feel like everyone is looking at me while I’m there and wondering what a weak baby like myself is doing in the weight room. I know, I know. No one cares about me or what I’m doing and I need to just get over myself. But it’s hard! I feel very out of my element. It reminds me of going to the library when I was in college and feeling this pressure to be super productive like everyone around me appeared to me. Ultimately I would just end up popping in headphones and watching Desperate Housewives with my textbooks open to the wrong chapter. Sometimes we get too into our own heads, what can I say?

I’ve tried yoga classes and following workout videos at home and taking runs around my neighborhood. None of it has ever stuck with me so I knew I needed to find a way to motivate myself at the gym.

The first step was getting over my irrational fear of being judged. I started by going to the gym with a friend who was way more comfortable in that setting and she taught me how to use a lot of the machines and also shared her workout routines with me. It made it so much more enjoyable to have a gym buddy and made me feel more at ease. Unfortunately, that friend moved away like a real traitor but her tips have stayed with me and now I feel way more comfortable in the gym.

Now I always put on a podcast I love (My Favorite Murder, Sex With Emily, The Skinny Confidential, etc.) and go through my routine. I still feel slightly out of place whenever I try anything new but I have to remind myself that I pay for this membership and I don’t need to waste time being a big baby about doing jumping jacks in front of other people.

I also remind myself that I am just a person trying to better myself and improve my quality of life. Just like everyone else at the gym. It doesn’t matter if I’m not as strong or fit as other people are. I’m still doing it. I just need to mind my own damn business and move on!

Once you have a routine down and find a way to distract yourself (music, podcasts, tv, etc.) you’ll find that going to the gym is just as mundane as any other thing you do in your day to day life. So not a big deal!

Make it a non-negotiable 

One of the major things that helped me shift my mindset when it comes to working out is realizing that I needed to make this new part of my life a non-negotiable. Exercise needed to become a priority and not an option.

I started with my schedule. I’m obsessed with google calendar and using my planner and all things organization. I leveraged this skill to my advantage when it came to working out by scheduling my workouts right after I scheduled work commitments. My priorities shifted exercise from my last priority to my second one right after work.

Then when things came up and changed my schedule I avoided the mentality of “oh well, guess I just can’t workout today” and started being more solution oriented. If this meant I met friends a little later because I squeezed in a quick 30-minute workout, then I did.

At first, this was hard and I really had to work up to the point I’m at now. I by no means was hitting the gym 6 days a week from the get-go. I started with 2-3 times a week. After a few weeks of going that often successfully, I pushed it to 3-4 days and continued with this pattern over the next 3 months until I reached where I am now. I eased into it and now 6 days a week doesn’t feel hard or crazy to me. It feels like just another part of my life. I work Monday-Friday, I grocery shop on Sundays and I workout 6 days a week. It just is what it is.

Of course, sometimes things come up. Like last weekend I was so busy with social/work stuff that I literally just didn’t have a second to spare. But because I’m so consistent with my exercise and diet, taking two days off from the gym does not impact me like it use to. And if I do have a day or two where I’m either not exercising or not eating great my body bounces back quickly. My body is used to being active, energized and healthy so I am able to indulge every now and then. I don’t beat myself up over it.

Find a workout that you don’t despise

This is a big one. Obviously, if you’re like me and no form of exercise really thrills you, you might not find the workout that changes everything. But, you can definitely find the workout(s) that don’t make you absolutely miserable.

Some of the stuff my trainer and I do makes me want to die. No exaggeration. Some of it I find tolerable and on occasion, even mildly fun. Those are the types of exercises I do at the gym.

I’m constantly trying new things because it’s also important that you keep your body on its toes, so the speak, otherwise it will get used to your workouts over time and they will essentially become ineffective. I ask my trainer for suggestions and I look up different workouts on Pinterest and Youtube all the time.

Because I am currently 6 pounds away from reaching my goal weight my focus right now is to lean out. This means I do a lot of cardio. Typically I run for 15-25 minutes on the treadmill (I follow different HIIT workouts I find online), do 10-15 minutes on the stairmaster (not trying to lose that booty) and then do a 15 minute ab workout and I end my workout with 15 minutes of arms/legs/back, depending on the day.

Some days I only have 30 minutes so I’ll either do just cardio or I’ll do 15 minutes of cardio and a 15-minute ab workout. I’m really into toning my tummy and getting those lower abs so I rarely leave out my ab workout. Even if it means I have to do it at home before bed.

I know that a lot of people focus on a different part of the body daily and I will probably do something similar once I’ve reached my goal weight and am ready to start putting on muscle and getting definition. But for now, this is what works for me and my goals. I’m obviously not a professional (lol) so I’m sure there are more effective ways to workout but I’m happy with my results, so that’s all that matters.

I think its important to push yourself to try new things but if you’re trying to force yourself to do a workout you hate then chances are you won’t be very motivated and might end up skipping it entirely. The goal here is to make this whole exercise thing as painless as possible. Experiment and try new things so you can find what works best for you and your body.

What are your workout goals? Tell me in the comments!

Xoxo, She