Exercise makes me miserable

My friend was prescribed a walking group. It's an NHS thing apparently. They do a shortish walk followed by coffee and chat and it seems to be very therapeutic. I can see why. I got v fed up doing my route marches during COVID. I found it boring and repetitive. A walk in company or for a point eg a dog walk would be much more enjoyable.

I love going to the gym but stopped because of the pandemic and no longer go. Am planning to go again, though. I used to go five nights a week followed by a sauna. I used to love walking but because my knee hurts I have to make myself go for a walk and can’t wait to get home. I look back on the times when I could have gone for a walk but didn’t bother . I now have to get into a rhythm and use my walking poles but that means I can’t walk with my dog so my partner has to walk her.

But my whole point is that you do not do Exercise, (with a capital E) which in my mind is that forced exercise we are always being hectored about by government and doctors and which we are not meant to enjoy. This is what the OP is is doing. Instead we need to replace this miserable enforced exercise with activities that we enjoy doing.

This applies to everyone regardless of how fit or unfit they are. It may include classes, I do Tai Chi and did do pilates for a couple of years, but these are all activities I do because I enjoy them, or it may be.

The OP should stop the classesthe physiotherapist insists she does and look around and see what else is about that she might enjoy, perhaps a bit of gentle swimming, perhaps a walk, perhaps there are workouts on You tube that she might enjoy. I am sure if she looked around for some form of exercise she enjoys, she will find something.

The most important thing about exercise, is that whatever you choose to do, you choose it and you do it because you enjoy it.

When DH had a heart attack, he hated the rehailitation exercise and stopped doing them, but we were having an extension built and he was project managing it, so he was soon climbing ladders inspecting the work, doing the electrics under qualified supervision, and installing the guttering. All excellent exercise, which met all the rehabilitation requirement and which he enjoyed doing and did for pleasure

Trouble is Monica if you have always been active, staying active is much easier but it's not for people who have led sedentary lives, got overweight or who have suffered illnesses or accidents that have limited their mobility and who are seeing the consequences with high BP, high cholesterol and lots of visceral fat around their internal organs and in their arteries. Following my accident in 2024 aged 75 I was shocked with how much fitness and balance I had lost in four months of either being in a hospital bed or sitting in a chair. I had lost muscle, lost weight and lost confidence. I was also waiting for a heart procedure and the drugs I needed to take sapped my energy and because they lowered my heart rate they also lowered my metabolism and I started to put on weight even though I was eating less.
Once I'd had my procedure in July of this year I was able to drop most of the drugs and with more energy I began to increase my exercise, initially with walking faster and further and increasing the challenge of hills but that does little to help build muscle in my upper body, hence I now do weights classes. It's also not effective at improving flexibility, hence the pilates which I've done for years but had to drop for nearly a year. I'm fortunate that I've always exercised, played several sports and I rode fit horses until I stopped early last year so my muscle memory is good but at times I've had to be really determined. I sympathise with anyone trying to get into exercise later in life, it's a challenge for them and they need support and understanding and reassurance that the effort will be worthwhile.

I do swim 3 times a week... better (to me) than the gym and easier as have had a dodgy hip for years...
Now my hip is done I'm rethinking what to do... ☹️🤔😬

I walk and garden, my one class a week is stretch for an hour, it incorporates balance.
I try and do the 6 physio recommended exercises each day and as others, squats and push ups using the kitchen work surfaces.
I’ve lost my swimming confidence, the nearest pool is a pain to get to and park anyway.

Well, if you do not like it do not do it. just find something you do like and incorprate it into ordinary life.

I have been reading the late michael Moseleys book. 'Just one thing', all about making minor changes in life and incorporating them into daily life.

I alsways say that I have not taken a seconds Exercise since I left school. Exercise is something force on you by doctors, other medical people and its purpose is to make you feel miserable psychological punishment for perceived physical sins.

However I am a physically active person, who does all kinds of active things I enjoy walking, swimming, Tai Chi and I do a few self-chosen exercises to keep my body fairly supple.

But I do nothing I do not want to do.

The dea of “exercise” as a separate thing to everyday life only really emerged when life became more automated. Before that people got plenty of exercise just living.

So I do pretty much the same as lixy really.

Physio for injuries is a bit different though. It’s very hard to push through the boredom but I try.

I just make myself exercise because I know it's something I can do for myself. However, the best thing I do is Aquafit classes. I go three times a week. It's a bit of a palaver packing my swimming bag and all that going to the sports club entails. But, I've made friends there and often have prolonged coffee and chat sessions afterwards. Social interaction is healthy and I feel virtuous after the class and I'm very clean!

I completely understand your pov, you won't be alone. I am a member of a gym, I force myself to go, I can't say I really enjoy it but it's a case of getting everything moving. Of course a walk in the outdoors is preferable, weather permitting, since I tripped over a a tree stump and broke an arm I've been super cautious and sometimes I feel safer on a treadmill, as boring as that is. Ear pods are a must, at least listening to something makes it more bearable. I must get back into swimming again, there's a 25 metre pool at my club so no excuses, I have got out of the habit lately.

cabbie no, you are not weird.

It’s a question of finding the exercise that’s right for you.

A session in the gym leaves me feeling bored to tears, so I try to take my body by surprise by building ‘exercise’ into everyday things.

I love walking so do that;

Sweeping up leaves in the garden, and gardening generally uses so many muscles I didn’t know I had.

I have to do the housework, so I build stretches and squats into that.

I don’t use electric appliances when cooking, so, for example, making a cake involves arm strength, as does beating eggs for an omelette.

For extras - swimming when I’m in the mood, cycling around town, choosing the stairs rather than a lift, practising balancing while cleaning teeth and washing up.

Every little helps as they say!

Unfortunately it doesn’t make any difference if you love or hate exercise, it’s not optional, it’s just something you know you have to do if you are going to retain your strength and mobility. What’s best for me is just to get up and get moving first thing, I engage brain neutral and don’t allow myself to debate, or even think about it. I have a soundtrack, and don’t stop until it’s finished, then reward myself with a coffee and breakfast - slow starts in the morning are fatal, if I don’t get up and get on I can slump for hours.

I think it's important to find something you enjoy and much more enjoyable if you do it with others, particularly if there are others who struggle. I've also found that the fitter I get, the more I enjoy it so the early weeks can be really challenging to stay motivated but honestly it's really worth the effort!
I didn't do much between the ages of 40 and 60, put on some weight and got very unfit, high BP and definitely drinking too much. I've done regular exercise since then except for a period of nearly two years following an accident and some illness. I've recently got back into it aged 76. I'm now doing weights classes and pilates with the occasional gym session and I'm starting to see and feel the difference and can handle heavier weights. I don't enjoy the gym as its pretty soul destroying IMO but sometimes I use it if I miss one of my classes. Tbh I think it's helpful to build exercise into your day as a regular activity. Please try to keep going, once you start to feel the benefit you start to enjoy it. Good luck!

I've always hated exercise - even at school I detested PE. I'm hopelessly uncoordinated, so anything to music was a nightmare - I was always doing the opposite to everyone else. The only form of exercise I think I've ever enjoyed was horse riding, which I loved.

Thanks for the encouraging comments.

I don’t fancy anything involving music as I really struggle if ever in choirs we are asked to move whilst singing. It’s a left brain v right brain thing, I’m told.

I try to get out for a half hour walk each day, live in a house with multiple floors so am forced to go up and down stairs. Also, walking up and down hills is supposed to be good for you and also outdoor steps.

I decided to exercise more to increase my fitness and improve my balance. I walked outside but feel weird walking on my own through residential streets so bought a step machine. Now I am going nowhere, am hobbling and in pain when I walk because I have damaged my Achilles tendon. My own fault but totally counter productive. Apparently I am actually much older than I think I am.

I sympathise with so many here, I’m not a natural when it comes to exercise or a joiner (of classes) as I’m rather uncoordinated, always a step or two behind even newbies!

My answer to this sorry state of affairs is to move! Simply walk as much as I can, often. I do 15 squats and worktop pushups whilst waiting for the kettle to boil (that’s 5 times most days) and just hope that’s going to be enough…

I do enjoy exercise. The most enjoyable for me is zumba gold. It's dancing to music and the music is uplifting but 3/4 of an hour exercising. I think you need to find something you do enjoy. As you enjoy singing, maybe something to music would suit you too.

I force myself to do the prescribed exercises. You aren't alone.
It helps my mobility and builds core strength so I have less pain.

I don't enjoy most exercise, but I do Tai Chi twice a week and I do enjoy that. I've made some nice friends, we have fun for an hour, and I do actually feel better for doing it.

No you are not weird. I hate having to do exercises and they remind me of terrible PE classes as well.

I haven't had endorphin moments either!
☹️

Go for a walk….keep telling yourself if I don’t do this I have to go the gym. I agree with you, the GYM is depressing, and I have never ever felt any endorphin? moments! 🤭

I am also trying to force myself to attend exercise classes. I hate it too. Last time I went the machines weren't working, so I came home (it was during the Amazon outage, so they were disconnected, apparently). I'd got changed and trekked to the gym just to come back again. What a waste of a day.

I will persevere for a while to see if I see the light, but I can't see it happening, I'm afraid.
Yours in solidarity
DD