Does Exercise Have to be Hateful and Unpleasant?
No, exercise does not have to be unpleasant. There are plenty of fun options.
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It’s a universal truth that we all need to exercise.
Bodies are not meant to be stagnant and unmoving. They are designed to change over time — but also require movement to draw in more oxygen and get the blood flowing.
I am not going to go into human physiology and such, here. That’s not my wheelhouse. But I do know, first-hand, the effect of exercise on the body.
People who don’t do at least some form of exercise tend to be unwell. They struggle, may or may not have weight issues, and no exercise doesn’t just impact us physically. It will also affect your mental, emotional, and spiritual health, too.
Some people see or hear the word “exercise” and immediately cringe. Thoughts of treadmills, elliptical machines, and barbells elicit painful, hateful images.
But the truth is that exercise doesn’t need to be hateful, painful, or unpleasant. And a little on a regular basis goes a long way.
The frustration of the gym
I’ve done the gym thing. For a few years, I was really good about spending an hour a day at the gym.
My favorite machine was the elliptical. It’s an amazing form of cardio exercise that gets the heart going but is less impactful on the knees and ankles than the treadmill.
I also liked basic weightlifting. There was a whole routine I’d put together for my arms, chest, back, and shoulders.
But the gym is a place where you share machines with other people. Some people are there to work out. Some are there to converse with people and possibly flirt. They can be obstacles to getting the work done.
There is a certain amount of pressure about being in a gym that can get to people. It can stir anxiety. Not to mention that some of those uber-attractive hardbodies can cause a sense of shame and distress to the doughier of us trying to be less flabby.
Lots of people find that a turn-off. Thus, the gym, for them, is all about frustration, pain, and hatefulness.
