Why do you hate the word 'exercise'? What about it brings up all those negative emotions and thoughts in you? Why do you avoid it whenever you can?

For me, it's the thought of how boring standing in a gym doing millions of boring repetitions on those stupid machines. I just hate the idea so I avoid going and look for other things to do instead.

I hate being all sweaty and smelly and out of breath and red in the face. That's the bit I try to avoid, so I keep my exercise to walking my dogs and gentle pilates instead.

Ashlyn:

I hate being all sweaty and smelly and out of breath and red in the face. That's the bit I try to avoid,

unless, of course you are doing some 'adult excercises' later on at night =)

 I think that everybody has there own reasons for disliking exercise.  I would image most people do not like the discomfort of burning muscles, being out of breath and haveing to take time out of their day, but like anything that is worth having, it is worth working for.

 Gee, I guess I'm the only one. I really enjoy exercise.  Maybe it's all the endorphines...or maybe it's the fact that I sleep like the dead after a really intense workout; I'm not sure.  What I do know for sure is that if I could find the time to work out everyday then I would in a heartbeat.

unless, of course you are doing some 'adult excercises' later on at night =)

 LOL - okay you got me there. THAT kind of exercise aside, the regular kind simply makes me feel uncomfortable. It doesn't feel natural to damage your muscles and tendons and 'feel the burn'. I prefer the more gentle forms of stretching and toning.

I don't like really rigorous aerobic or cardio sessions at all because I'm asthmatic and I end up with no breath at all, puffing away on my inhaler just to draw breath. I have to keep to controlled-breathing exercises like swimming and yoga.

I really think that for most people, the word exercise conjures images of doing many boring repetitions by rote.  Most people will naturally avoid anything that feels boring to us.  People need to think exercise in a different way and remember that playing a sport is exercise, too.  There are many physical games that do qualify as exercise.

That's a good point, nurturer. When people say the word 'exercise' the image of boring repetitions comes into my head, or really bad 80's lycra gym outfits and crazy aerobic routines. But we don't tend to think about the alternatives, like sport or games.

 I really don't know, everything about exercising is good.  I really don't know what causes people to think that exercise is a dirty word, it really is not.  Maybe if more people did it, they would know that exercising is really fun and rewarding, like we do.

I'd love to exercise, but I can't afford to lose more than an hour to work out. Going to the gym is the last thing in my priority list or maybe it is lack of motivation that keeps me from exercising =)

 When I'm in the process of making excuses not to do it, its normally because I am too tired to do it, just don't want to give up doing whatever I am doing at the time. But once I get started I feel so good, it makes me regret putting it off to begin with.

Yes, some people do hate to exercise. To them, exercise meant jogging or joining health clubs with membership they couldn't afford.

For me, execise doesn't mean I have to jog. Neither does exercise  have to be boring. I can do variety of activities that I enjoy and they don't have to cost a lot of money.