I didn’t become a personal trainer for the huge amount of money I could make. Not for the fame and glory that I could achieve. Nope, I became a personal trainer because I believe in fitness and how much better our lives are if we exercise.
Which is good because there hasn’t been a whole lot of money, fame, or glory involved. But I do know I’ve changed a few lives, so that’s a pretty good trade-off.
There is one thing I’ve grown pretty tired of hearing though, not just from (a few) of my clients, but from non-exercisers in general. The random people who come to the gym, friends of clients, even other bloggers (!). They will walk in, look disdainfully around at the equipment, the members sweating, the trainers demonstrating, and say, often haughtily (like this makes them special in some way), “I hate exercise.”
So You Say You Hate Exercise
I used to consider this a challenge. I could take this person, create a program for them, find something that they do enjoy, and they would become lifelong exercisers. Barring that, I could at least make them like me enough to enjoy the time we spent together training.
The problem with the former goal is that it rarely happens. They stick to a program for a while, complain a lot, start to find excuses, then disappear from the face of the earth the gym forever. Or at least until next New Years.
The latter solution isn’t perfect either. There is a large segment of the population who won’t hire a personal trainer, so I’m missing a large part of the target audience. And while I do have a few clients who train with me because they enjoy my company, they would rather chat than work out, and they are terrible at adhering to the other parts of a fitness program normally done on one’s own, like cardio and proper nutrition.
Time for a little tough love.
I’m tired of sugarcoating exercise, of trying to make everyone happy, of spending my valuable time convincing you to enjoy doing something that will make you feel better, live longer, play stronger, and generally have a better life. So, to that end my new mantra is…
Suck it Up, Buttercup
Whoever said that everything that you do in life had to be fun? We, all of us, do many things daily that we don’t really enjoy. Do you like brushing your teeth? Cleaning the litter box? Scrubbing the toilet? Do you do it? Yes, because not to do it would leave you in a stinky place.
Even if you enjoy your job, you don’t always like it. But you do it because, you know, money. You clean your house, mow your lawn, help your kid with homework you may not understand yourself. Fun? Not really.
You do all of these things because, well, you have to, need to, are compelled to, whatever. For the most part, you don’t do them because you like them. You may even hate them.
If you spend a half hour three days a week lifting weights, or some other form of strength building exercise, and take a little time for a walk most days of the week, you can receive benefits way beyond having a clean litter box. You can lower your blood pressure and cholesterol. You can reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, cancer, and osteoporosis. You can avoid the pain of many joint diseases, improve your balance and posture, and general overall health. You will feel better. You will look better.
All of this for only two or three hours a week. Many people spend that much time a night watching television.
So suck it up, buttercup. Just get out there and do it. It doesn’t matter if you don’t like it. You need it. It’s important. There are many resources available if you are new to exercise and need a little help getting started. You can contact me if you have a question, either in the comments or on my contact page.
Who knows. You might even begin to like it. A little.
To all my regular readers. You probably realize that I’m not speaking to you. I know that most of you either love to work out or have come to terms with its importance. But, you may have, as I do, friends, acquaintances, family, that sprinkle the “I hate exercise” line into your regular conversations. Now you have something to answer with.
Originally published in 2013.
What do you reply when someone says, “I hate exercise?”
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I don’t get it when people say they hate exercise. I’ve done exercises that I hated, but I found something I love. A few things, actually. In my opinion, the bigger problem is people trying to do something they hate because they think they have to do x, y, or z to be healthy. whether yo run, lift, do yoga, or something else, the best exercise it the one you LIKE… that’s the one you’ll stick with!
Actually Laura, I totally agree. That is what I’ve spent a good portion of my career telling people. And it works, if you have people who really want to make a change. This is for those who just don’t get it.
Say it loud and proud girlfriend! You are in the ranks of Chuck Runyon, CEO of Anytime Fitness and author of “Working Out Sucks.” I personally like to move especially since I know the extreme range of benefits exercise offers. And the bottom line is exactly as you call it. Want the rewards? The work for it! A seminal post that I hope goes viral!
Thank you! This was actually inspired by a client, not who hated exercise herself, but who was talking about a friend. That started me off on a rant, which of course made me think, “perfect blog post!”
Spot on my friend!……or, (exercise on!)
Ha! Thanks Rebecca.
Go get ’em. I always wish people could see their future selves. Then they would want to exercise.
Yes! Or maybe not.
My most loathed comments ever when meeting with new patients or clients – I hate exercise or I don’t have time. Really???? Preach it, Coach Debbie. Preach it!
It’s like they don’t realize that we’ve heard it all before. Yeah, I get that it can be hard. So are a lot of things, many of them quite worthwhile.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS.
(whispers) you’re speaking to my older sister.
There is always someone in our life who seems to think this way.
So true! Usually even if you don’t want to exercise you are glad when you have, so hopefully you can build on that and realize that it’s way better than cleaning the litter box!
That’s one of the nice things about exercise. Once you’re done you feel so good! Unlike washing the dishes, which has no tangible reward (except clean dishes).
Well said! I hate doing the dishes but I still get them done. And I’m usually happier when it’s over. 🙂
See! There are so many things, none of which have the same benefits of exercise.
Free endorphins and a more aweseom butt, how can you hate that?
I certainly can’t disagree!
And if you tell yourself you hate something or that it’s hard, the body listens too…
Ain’t that the truth. You set yourself up to make it even harder (and more miserable).
I think a lot of it comes down to people not willing to put in the work when they desire a certain look, and being frustrated by that. I often tell clients to find something they actually enjoy doing for fitness, but to understand that if they want to look a certain way or gain X benefit, they’re going to have to follow the program I give them. If someone hates strength training, then fine, don’t do it — but don’t expect to have visible muscles!
You get back what you put into it. I get frustrated with those who won’t give even the slightest effort, even though they know what a huge difference it could make.
This is great. Suck it up buttercup. I think it’s so true. Sometimes we just have to do things we don’t want to do.
Thanks. I tried the nice approach first 🙂
No kidding! I’m not around too many people like this anymore, but a few people I’ve coached have done this and I’m thinking to myself, “why are you even out here, if everyday you hate it so much?” of course, it’s my job to motivate them, but there are certain people who are afraid to let go of the negative nelly in their mind. I don’t totally understand this.
I really do try the nice approach first. But I do get tired of that statement “I hate exercise.”
I can’t imagine anyone hating all forms of exercise!! I always tell them that they just need to give it a chance. It’s like kids with food – you can’t say you don’t like it without giving it a chance or 10!!!
Great post!
Thanks Kim. I think it is a wall that people put up. They just don’t want to try to like it.
PREACH!! Love love love this!! Definitely sharing in my next round of finds 🙂
Thanks Nicole!
I love this! Because even if I hate working out, I LOVE the way I feel when I’m done! Just like I don’t love paying bills, but I do love electricity. 😉
Now there’s a good analogy!
AMEN! there are a million and one things that you can do to be considered exercise!!!
That’s so true. It doesn’t have to be a gym, it doesn’t have to be running, it just really has to be some kind of movement.
Preach! Love this. My husband is in the “I hate exercise” group and it drives me insane. Total opposites, we are.
It’s tough when it is someone so close to you. You have to have a little more patience 😛
YES! I tell people all the time & you have read it on my blog, I am not a fan of cardio but I do it. There are many ways to do things, find ways that you can live with OR that you love even. I love the weights & I tolerate the cardio. 🙂 It all comes down to choices & how mach it means to you… does your health & life mean enough to you! 🙂
You were talking to the me of about 8 years ago. I just couldn’t find anything that I was able to keep up motivation for. I did personal training for awhile in my 20s, circuit training in my 30s, didn’t feel great in my 40s and a friend invited me to a yoga class. I’d been to yoga classes before, but timing must be everything because by then I was ready to make a change. I guess you can say I buttercupped it.
Feeling good is soooo worth it.
Exercise and flossing your teeth… two simple things that need to be done (and you feel so great afterwards!).
That and unloading the dishwasher. Time to suck it up – gonna start with the dishes. 🙂
I hate unloading the dishwasher! Not sure why, but I prefer to fill it up. Gotta do both though!
You are absolutely talking to ME. I am totally one of those “I hate to exercise” people, one of those people who shows up at the gym now and then, and follows a diet now and then and the results absolutely show up on my body and in my health. Discipline has always been a weak point for me, but I do try and I am showing improvements, though small ones. Thanks for the wakeup call. #SITSSharefest
You’re welcome! I’m glad you found this helpful. And thanks for stopping by!
When someone tells me that they hate exercise, I tell then that they just haven’t found what works for them yet. When I first started exercising years ago, I was really into Zumba. I did it at least 4 times a week. Eventually I didn’t enjoy it as much and got more into running, spinning and strength training. It’s all about finding what works for you.
Oh I agree that there should be something for everybody out there. So many choices, right. Though there are some people who would rather sit and read a book. Those are the ones it’s hard to get to.
Over the years, so many people have said things like, “oh I wish I liked exercise”. I don’t get it either. Eating well and exercising are the 2 things that can dramatically alter your health. If you find a way to change the mind of these people, let me know!
I will! It’s hard to understand for those of us who love to move our bodies.
I hear that a lot with my patients, so I try to work with them to find activities they enjoy that involve movement of some kind and then work from there–baby steps are better than no steps at all!
That’s really what my goal is. Just get them moving a little.
To me saying you hate exercise is taking the easy/lazy way out. I usually remain silent when I hear it. I have coaching clients who regularly do a disappearing act on me only to reappear at a later date then fade again. Truly it’s all about discipline.
It really is. Sadly, those are the people who are always buying to the latest fad diet, pill, or other gimmick promising to help them lose weight quickly and easily. Not even realizing that exercise is about way more than weight loss.
I guess I can understand hating exercise. For me personally, I just want to run and I hate anything that I have to do to keep running (aka strength training) but its necessary and I am doing it. So, if people are signing up for a trainer I guess I would want to know what their goals are..why are they there? Can’t have the payoff without doing the work. That would be so frustrating and very hard to keep positive with these kinds of attitudes.