You know those people who spend hours at the gym every day and claim they LOVE to exercise? I don’t buy it. I’m convinced they’re faking—or aliens.
Me, on the other hand— I’m normal. When it comes to exercise, I’d put myself someplace in the middle of the bell curve between Madonna and Kirstie Alley.
I know it’s good for my health. But I’d rather go shopping eat a Dove bar do almost anything to avoid going to the gym.
Lately it’s gotten worse. I make excuses. It’s raining. It’s too nice out. I went yesterday last week last month. I’ll go tomorrow next week next month.
The truth is: I. Just. Don’t. Like. It.
Even worse– I’m surrounded by aliens people who claim to love it. People who shouldn’t wouldn’t lie to me. Like my husband V— who runs 7 miles a day. My sister— who’s a personal trainer. My son— who’s worked out faithfully for years. My daughter— who’s training to run a marathon.
I still think they’re faking. And they aren’t very sympathetic to my excuses.
Only now it turns out I don’t need excuses. Science is on my side.
Awhile back I wrote a post about a cover story in TIME magazine, titled Why Exercise Won’t Make You Thin. It was life-changing to read the conclusion: “Physical activity….doesn’t always melt pounds—in fact, it can add them.”
Well, now I’ve read something even better.
Scientific studies indicate that there’s a hereditary component— there are people who enjoy exercise and people who don’t:
A recent study suggests that some people are graced with a genetic advantage when it comes to benefiting from and sticking to a rigorous exercise regime. (Read it for yourself).
So: in addition to being genetically pre-disposed to cancer and Alzheimer’s, the good news is: I’m missing the exercise gene.
Which adds another item to the list making me the polar opposite of V. We’re not blood- related so that explains it. I’m not sure how to explain my children.
I thought that was very funny! I met a friend the other day and she was giving me all kinds of similar reasonings why sport is NOT good for you… I totally get where you’re coming from. I also dislike exercize but DO like sports (like tennis) so that is how I get my exercize. So how do you keep fit?
I managed to keep the Winter Five off until the past two weeks when, like an idiot (I do know better) I began walking like mad while listening to audiobooks. Badda-badda-boom, I gained five pounds. Exercise makes me hungry.
To hell with it.
I’m officially on a diet: no alcohol, no red meat, and NO EXERCISE.
We all exercise every day…..
running up and down stairs….
getting in and out of our cars…..
reaching and bending in the kitchen…..
walking around a grocery store (Ugh!)….
and doing a gazillion other chores (making beds, doing laundry….).
Frankly, I think it’s more important to exercise your mind…
Too many dolts walking around not knowing anything about everything and just waiting to hear the latest sound bite for information….
Thanks for letting me exercise my right to “vent”!!
Thank you—I thought it was funny too—
I used to like sports…… Does chocolate count as a sport?
As for how I keep fit, see Stephanie’s comment below.
Winter Five? That’s the problem with living in California—and having no winter.
IF you read that TIME article, you just proved the point. Exercise just makes you hungry.
Love your new strategy.
Love it! Now I can say I do have the gene for exercise—at least in my mind.
I too would rather do anything than exercise — to the point that I haven’t done any kind of exercise in YEARS. I’m not terribly coordinated, which rules out a lot of physical activities; I’m also not terribly competitive, which makes me not the best teammate for organized sports; finally, I hate to sweat. That settles that!
I am, however, blessed with a fairly efficient metabolism, which means that I can maintain a healthy body weight without having to deny myself too many treats. My doctor still scolds me every year, but I can’t be swayed.
What about Carla? You ARE blood-related to her so I guess the gene pool was drained when you were lining up for “Exercise DNA”. Join the club: I am quite sure I was short-changed when the “exercise genes” were allotted. I understand massive amounts of dark chocolate can be substituted for excercise in that the caffeine speeds you up and if you eat enough you will start sweating thus alleviating the need to sweat through boring exercise (and much more pleasurable). Good luck and let me know how that turns out for you.
Recently I started a rehab program that requires me to spend three days a week in a gym run by Cornell in Manhattan. On the admission form they asked when I was last in a gym. I answered, “High School”. The administrator I had just handed the form to said, “No, we meant to ask: ‘When was the last time you were in a gym voluntarily?’ “Oh”, I replied, “That’s simple. NEVER”. God, it’s boring. At least now they have giant flat screen TVs so you can watch the news to help the time pass a little quicker as you run, row and peddle to nowhere.
I thought people with the gene for enjoying exercise got lucky in the gene pool–sounds as if you got even luckier! I think most people with your metabolism are under 25. Thanks for commenting (and making me feel jealous!)
I always thought Carla was an aberration in the family—now I’m starting to think I am!
Love your theory on dark chocolate—just another way it’s good for your health.
Great story. It really IS boring, isn’t it? That’s one great thing about California—at least if you must exercise, you can do it outside all year. Although you’re lucky too—supposedly brisk walking is enough cardio and nothing beats Manhattan as the best place for that.
Well. I DO like Ron’s theory. The older I get the more I like DARK chocolate. There must be a good reason for that….
Speaking of all the machines in the gym, if the treadmill, stairmaster, etc. could be hooked up to a generator, all the people going nowhere fast could be the source of power for the entire gym. It just seems such a waste of energy to go around and around without producing something! I just know it would work…..
Of course there is—the older you get the wiser you get…yum.
This is a brilliant idea! Not only funny but seriously this could solve the world’s energy problems –as long as people have energy. Love it.
I agree, Darryle, so why don’t all the gyms have this capability. They could at least produce energy for each gym’s needs. I have never understood why this isn’t done. I am sure that I am not the only one who has suggested it….when you go to the Exploratorium at the Palace of Fine Arts, you can pedal a machine to make light bulbs illuminate. It’s the same theory!
Makes so much sense! You’d think if one person can light up a light bulb, imagine what a gym full of people could do. Especially the ones who LOVE to exercise. I think it’s such a great idea, I might even show up at the gym to do my part!