EXERC I S E
Torture Time WHY SOME PEOPLE HATE EXERCISE & what THEY can do about it
Written by Michael Richardson
Some people like doing math, while others loathe it. Some people like a trip to the mall, while others would rather eat tree bark. Exercise is the same way: there are haters and lovers. But the hard part about this is that while we don’t all need to do calculus, we’re all supposed to exercise. Researchers keep saying that if we don’t become more active, we are going to die of cardiovascular disease, cancer, or some other horrible problem. Understand Your Body All human bodies are built a little differently. Some are built with a natural athleticism and capacity for physical exertion. Some people have a great lung capacity, or a great ability to transport oxygen through the body, even if they don’t exercise regularly. Those not endowed with these physical gifts might step onto the treadmill as if it were some kind of horrendous torture device. It may more painful than when a gifted person does a workout, causing the ungifted to hate exercise.
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HEALTHY IDAHO SEPTEMBER 2013
Genes may be a factor in determining one’s inclination to exercise, but researchers don’t agree on just how big of a factor genetics are. Some say it may carry a weight of about 10 percent, others say 50 percent, when people are deciding to hit the gym. But there are plenty of other factors that can make you hate exercise, or even the prospect of exercising: ›› Past experiences: Memories of being forced to try a pull-up in gym class is enough to make anyone shy away from the gym in the future. ›› Looking stupid: There will always be that ripped guy and cut girl in the gym who make everyone else look bad. There will always be someone with an effortless running stride, which makes your own stride look like a chicken’s strut. ›› Pressure: The media, peers, your doctor and yourself provide a mountain of pressure to maintain a healthy weight. This can steal the enjoyment out of exercise, making it drab and painful.
Healthy-Idaho.com