Discussion
Don't feel like exercising? Maybe it's the wrong time of day for you
etothet: https://archive.is/ngzri
mgh2: Also varies by gender: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-61636805
Fire-Dragon-DoL: For me the big deal was going 5 times a week with no possibility to skip during the week. My brain seed it as an extension of work, so it just goes.When I skip, I put together two session next time (e.g. cardio + weight lifting). 3 years in and the only days I really skipped are those I am parked in bed due to fever.But, I don't like it at all. I feel great afterwards, exhausted but great. I am now used to it, but I really appreciate going the smallest amount of time for maximum gain, so I do 2 times a week HIIT (30 minutes) and 3 times just 1 hour of weight lifting. Big results, minimum effort.
JumpCrisscross: When I was in my teens and twenties, 11pm to 2am were my workout hours. Consistently, productively and satisfyingly. I’ve since adapted it to early afternoon or late morning. But the idea of running yourself tired at the end of the day still carries unique appeal for me.
sublinear: I don't really agree with the whole "social jetlag" part they drop in at the end. Not only does it feel like an ad priming people to accept and seek out heavily monetized social trends, but it misses the bigger picture.Lots of people are stuck in some level of "fight-or-flight" from the moment they wake up because they're under pressure. Adding exercise shouldn't feel like another thing added to the pile of tasks.If we agree the problem is psychological then we should focus on the same things we do to treat anxiety. Rule out nutritional or medical problems and focus on the state of your nervous system. Check your bloodwork, get a pulse oximeter (not a watch), and get a journal going of your consumption habits.I did that and found prediabetes, vitamin deficiencies, and sleep apnea. Something like 75% of the population would find out the same, but these simple tests aren't taken seriously. Even when they are, people don't see or decide to ignore the connection.On paper I improved my resting heart rate, heart rate variability, insulin resistance, ODI events, etc. just from diet and slowing down my day. In reality it was so much more than numbers. I stopped feeling like shit all the time. Now that I can exercise comfortably, I don't see it as a chore and can enjoy it. I'm not even hung up on when exactly to do it anymore. It just happens anyway because it's fun.Now that I'm exercising more I can manage my health easier than when I had to push myself to do it. I think if we say people need to take the exercise itself at their own pace then we should also tell them to take their broader health more seriously before telling them to exercise. Otherwise it will be too overwhelming and the whole rhythm is lost.
qart: Another "maybe" to consider: maybe it's the wrong format for you. Years ago, I got yearly subscriptions at a gym that was right below my office, and showed up less than 10 times. This was followed by many more years of no subscription and no physical exertion. A few years ago, I got introduced to group classes at Cult Fit. This format fits me perfectly: just show up, and follow instructions just like everyone else. If I'm doing something wrong, the instructor comes to me and sets me right. I show up everyday. This brought about many changes - many serum biomarkers are under control, and I can do things that I couldn't do at half my age.
pjerem: I’m not sure about all of this. I’ve been sedentary for 34 years, and I somehow still am.But I discovered rollerblading at 34 and now I’m part of a rollerblading course in a skatepark at a fixed time in the week, just after my biggest day of work. And going to the skatepark is boring, I need to take a bus to nowhere land and then walk in nowhere land for 10 minutes.I’ve always been happy to go to it. And even the days I didn’t felt it, I never regretted going for it anyway.Because it’s FUN. I don’t feel like I’m exercising, I’m just having FUN.To me that was a revelation that felt more important than what this article says. Exercising shouldn’t be boring.Well I’m still sedentary because rollerblading is not the most practical sport to do everyday, especially on the countryside. But even then I’m loving it.I also like biking. Not as an exercise but just to evade. I think I will insist on going for some calm rides.
