Asklemmy

Depends. In the past when life was easier, a little more yes. Now that life has become more complicated with responsibilities it's different. I still enjoy a bit of time away from everything but sometimes it's exhausting to manage it all. I wouldn't stop though.

Working out is pain and suffering, but you can get so used to it you don't notice/mind the pain.

I've been an athlete since a child so in some weird way I guess I've been raised to just enjoy the discomfort of working out because I know the reward is tenfold of whatever discomfort I'm feeling while working out. So basically don't raise sedentary kids, give them a love of working out so they can live a healthy and happy life.

Yes, I do actually enjoy working out. I am a sotfware developer, but at the end of the work day, I am tired of developing, I am tired of computers, and I just want to go outside. Both cycling and hiking is my therapy and I clear my head when I do it. I like fresh air, nature and views from mountains. Also, I feel really happy when I finish working out, because I know I did something for myself. But it was not always like that. It was hard from the start, but step after step, it became easier and easier for me. Don't start with too long walks/hikes/rides. Starts with smaller ones, and every few days add more and more. Start with 1km walk for example. Next week add maybe 0,5km more. Next week maybe add some hill or something. Just don't overdo it. And find some motivation to do it. Do you like nature? Go walking into nature. Do you like dogs? Get a dog and go walking with a dog.

How did I start hiking and why? When I was hiking with my friends, I was always last, and I couldn't keep up with my friends. Also, it was really hard for me. I was also overweight. So I had to do something about myself. I started walking, but with short walks. Really short ones (like 0,5km only). But every few walks I added more and more. Now I can do really long walks and hikes without any problem.

How did I start cycling and why? Well that's another story. I really liked one girl, and she was cyclist. I was thinking it would be easier for me to hang out with her if I also start cycling. I would also have something to talk about with her. So I started cycling and cycling and cycling. Of course I was also talking with her, showing my results, etc. She was really big motivation for me. Unfortunately, it didn't work out with her, we went on a lot of dates, but eventually, we stopped dating. But at the end of the day, she helped me becoming good cyclist and now I can do really long rides, without any problem.

So, moral of the story: I think the main key here is motivation. Find something that will motivate you. And it doesn't need to be about walking or hiking or cycling. It can be totally different. This worked for me, but something else will work for some other people.

It depends. Running and lifting I enjoy the results but the activity is boring, I never got runners high.

Jazzercise was fun fun fun though, any sort of dance aerobics like that is perfect because have to pay just the right amount of attention to it - enough that I can't think about other things, but not so much that I really have to think hard about the movements. I wish there were still classes by me.

Yoga is fun too, in a different way. It takes concentration, always adjustments to posture, and it's very empowering to be able to do handstands or other arm balances, it's challenging in a good way and the reminders to coordinate your breath with movement is helpful.

So for me it depends on what the workout is but sure, I like moving physically, enjoy it and don't do it only for results.

I love lifting weights/using machines at the gym but absolutely despise doing the exact same things at home alone (or at an empty gym for that matter).

There is something about being surrounded by others that also workout that really motivates me at the moment, gets me into the mood of working out and giving it my best.

Then, while lifting/using a machine, it becomes a game of how much i can manage today, how much have i progressed, how much i lift compared to some other random person. There is also thr good natural feeling you get while working out, and when i give it my all, i can really feel it.

I still heavily dislike cardio at the gym, such as using a treadmill. I try to turn it into a game though - manage to run exactly 1 kilometer in exactly 5 minutes etc. It somewhat helps for short runs.

I have a love hate relationship with it. I absolutely love it when I'm consistent with it. When I fall off the wagon, I hate trying to get back into it. Its hard and I could easily just go and do anything else.

It’s worth pointing out that you don’t need to go overboard with exercise. A brisk 20-minute morning walk and a few minutes of body-weight exercises (push ups, squats) is all you really need to do for physical health. To lose weight, eating healthier is the only effective option — no fad diets, just more whole foods and less junk.

It’s a few things. It’s the positive feedback loop of seeing and feeling yourself get bigger and stronger. It’s the rush of good chemicals/hormones/whatever the body releases. It’s the feeling/thought that there is nothing you could be doing that could be more beneficial for your health, and knowing the knock-on effects that has for you long term. Its the pump.

I absolutely love lifting heavy shit and I can't imagine my life without it at this point. The feeling you get when hitting a new PR is incredible. Knowing that you actually pushed yourself feels great to me.

The rest period are also weirdly meditative for me.

I can definitely lose myself in the flow of accomplishing a workout the same as I used to playing sports.

I also usually like the feeling of being a little sore/achy knowing I did something worth doing that day.

I like the feeling of not being winded walking up stairs and feeling like I can carry all the weight without much effort.

I like eating a pile of food knowing my body needs to eat because it had to work.

Somedays though, working out and all the rest of it just sucks.

For me, it's the feeling of knowing that I can do something that I know for a fact I wouldn't have been able to do before. I've been lifting dumbbells since January and one thing that I've loved about doing so is feeling my arms exert effort without being tired, at least for awhile. Focusing on that is one of the highlights of my day.

And it translates to my everyday life too! Whenever I lift something heavy, I surprise myself when the part of my body that holds me back is something else completely, my arms don't complain at all.

Back at February, my uncle gave us an elliptical that no one uses at his house. I've been using that 15 minutes a day, and about 2 weeks into doing that routine, I've noticed that my stamina has become noticably better. The one change that stuck out to me the most is that I can run up the stairs at my school without needing to gasp for air. Imagine that, a big fat guy being able to run up and down three storeys without wheezing a sound like that of a creaky door. No way I could have done that a month prior.

I don't know how well you or the other folks here can relate to that, but to me, it's what makes me continue my routine even if I don't end up losing as much weight as I'd like, nor looking for fit as most would assume from doing this type of stuff.

Pardon for the little story I've typed up, just felt passionate at the moment and really wanted to get my thoughts out. and just to clarify, I havent gone to the gym so my workout is only composed of just me, what I've got in my house and some advice that I've heard from friends, family, and tidbits I read off the internet.

I started working out at a park nearby in the morning. I kinda hate it on the moment, but I reward myself for the last 15 minutes or so, with some creativity.
Freestyle dance (??!), kicking around, doing the cartwheel, random moves. All the while listening to old school hip hop and pretending I'm a hot shot, haha.
Those last minutes are amazing.

I lift weights a few days in the week and it's just routine now. I don't find working out to be fun, but seeing friends at the gym and and chatting is fun.

It's not fun, I do it cause it gives me euphoric feelings similar to opiates and it makes my brain shut up for a few hours. Plus I sleep like a champ after a good workout

Aside from the fact that you are literally developing yourself, I really enjoy doing fitness because it doesn't have any flow or competitiveness to it.

I'm someone who constantly thinks of projects and side projects and things to do and improve, but I've seen that when I am doing weight lifting, my mind is completely there and empty of all the worries

I'd rather hang upside down under water and smack my face with fast moving rocks than work out in a gym

Cuz I kinda do that

Yes, I love running. I also go hiking and do body weight exercises.

To answer your question, the only way to cultivate the habit is to start something and sticking to some plan. I know it’s easy so say but it’s the only thing that works.

I do follow some runners on Instagram and YouTube for motivation.

I actively enjoy climbing. It's just fun and kind of an exercise. For lifting, I don't mind it but it's definitely an effort some days.

I need to change my sports up periodically but yes I do enjoy working out in the moment. It gives me a lot of time to myself to think through things going on in my life. Last year I was mainly cycling, this year I've been swimming on a Masters team, competing in Nationals and exploring open water swim competitions. I get really cranky when I don't have a physical activity to keep me preoccupied. I'm very aware of my body image so it helps to ensure I'm feeling good about myself. That and I get to eat all the unhealthy things with less consequences of gaining the weight (although salt is a weakness for me and my blood pressure).

I, for one, am disappointed in our evolution. We should be able to control every cell in our body by now and not have to exercise. But I guess this is the end of the road for our evolution lol. This is as good as it gets, folks.

I love lifting on certain days/splits. I dread leg day, but I love push day. Progress feels good, and even if I don't meet my goal, I usually feel good pushing myself.

I used to hate running. I did a Couch to 5k program that got me 5k ready in a month and dreaded every day of it. And I didn't even do well on the 5k.

But! I went on to train for a 10k, and that actually felt great! After a certain point, I entered some kind of zen and started enjoying it. Is that runner's high? Anyway, I kept up with running, and now each run is almost meditative.

No. Working out sucks. But after smoking for 15 years and finally quitting, getting too fat over the past 4, now I'm trying to be healthier. I do actually feel kind of better, even more than when I quit smoking.

So the working out part sucks but the other parts are better because of it in my experience.