For those who hate to exercise...

Okay I will be honest. I hated exercise when I started my weightloss a year ago and I still hate it today lol. I started on the treadmill and to be honest I have always "wanted" to be a runner but it was like torture. Eventually my husband decided he wanted to start riding bike. Now that I enjoy (most of the time) it is hard as heck but I don't dread it like I did running. I think you have to find something you enjoy and it will make all the difference.

My thing that I really want to do is play tennis. Great exercise but I need a partner.

I hate the "going" part. After all these years of being a regular exerciser, I still have to pretty much make myself go. But I'm always glad once I get there and never regret that I've gone.

In your case, maybe you just need to try some other options to find an exercise activity that you don't hate as much. Maybe group classes? At any rate, if you do go and put the time in, do something challenging with that time. If you can read on the recumbent, you're right... you probably are't getting much out of it.

I hate traditional exercise. Going to the gym, lifting weights, doing cardio, doing any kind of that "traditional" exercise shit is a complete waste of my time. It's so boring and tedious and pointless, there is no reward or benefit from working out that way. So I dance. I take ballet, tap and (occasionally) hip hop. I get a way better workout than I ever did in a stupid gym or typical exercise class. Zumba is okay, but it's too much like aerobics to be really fun. I prefer real dance classes, particularly ballet. But only the real ballet classes, none of this "adult ballet" that doesn't focus on proper positioning or movement. I currently have a Vagonova trained teacher who kicks my ass every week, that's what does it for me. None of this stupid gym shit that has you moving for no reason. Dance kicks ass and has a purpose unlike exercise. So my suggestion is try something non-traditional.

I hated exercise and never thought I'd be someone who would even consider jogging or using weights etc, but when I decided on my career field, I had to get fit. I started jogging, mostly walking at first. Still didn't like it but did it anyway. I increased the jogging and reduced the walking after a few days and started a free-weights class at the gym. Bought a bench and worked out at home on that.

The more I jogged and did weights, the more I loved it. It took a bit, but I really did get to the point where I had to go out running, and doing free weights. I ended up getting to 90lbs on the bench, my goal was 100. My regret is stopping the routines when we moved. I have to start all over again now lol!

As for the bike you don't have to get expensive!  My local bike shop sells used bikes too.  At the end of summer they start seeing lots of bikes come in for sale so you might try that or even craigslist.  It is a start anyway. 

I thought you mentioned walking your dog.  Walking is exercise.  Drive to a nearby park and walk him/her for a change in scenery.  Take him/her to the dog park and walk the perimeter.  Bonding time with your dog, exercise for you.  Win-win.

I used to totally hate and NEVER do it. I joined WW in August 2012, and didn't start exercising until February 2013. I started with videos I got from the library to try them out. I did a lot of different ones-Dancing with the Stars dance workouts (loved them), So you think you can dance dance workouts (loved them) The Firm (loved them) Pilates (hated) Yoga (don't like doing on DVD, like classes.) I loved using the library because there was no $$ investment, if it was a bad video, I just returned it and moved on. If it was good, I bought it.

I got brave enough to join the gym last summer and went and just did the treadmill or elliptical, gradually building up my time. I can read on either machine, so that's what makes it doable. I sometimes listen to podcasts, but I need the upbeat music to keep my pace up, so reading works better. I didn't know how to do anything else there, so I didn't.

I am close to my goal weight now, so in May, I signed up for 3 months with a trainer, and that's when I really started to like exercise. I had lost a lot of weight, so I was a lot smaller than when I started, but the results I got from the trainer, I could really see-muscles where I didn't have them before, smaller clothes without big weight loss etc. She taught me lots of things I didn't know how to do before-how to use a few machines, lots of free weight exercises and body-weight exercises.

My 3 months were up at the end of July, so I started going to the group classes at the gym. I have 3 that I LOVE-2 are strength and conditioning classes, sort of boot camps, and one is a Werq dance fitness class, similar to Zumba, but more intense IMHO.

In just 4 weeks of these classes, I can tell I have gotten so much stronger, I can almost do a "guy" push up all the way down now, and I couldn't do that 4 weeks ago, even after 3 months with a trainer working on them.

So for me, the thing that really made me enjoy exercise was physically seeing the results of it. It's made me a bit obsessive about it and I make sure to fit something in most days of the week.

It's different for everyone, but the answer for me was yoga. Now it's such a key part of my existence. Some people assume yoga is for relaxing or easy, if you take the more intense classes, it is not. I have lost more weight, inches and been in the best shape of my life doing yoga, only 3 times a week for 45 min. I would recommend starting with a beginner course until you understand the poses, but once you get to the power level, it gets very addicting. It's not just about physical, as breathing and mental is key part to it as well. It has helped me cope with everyday life thru its teachings. I recommend finding a studio versus a class at a gym.

I also have done zumba and jazzercise in the past which is fun just to get out and move a bit. Going to the gym and doing machines and free weights never really worked for me and def lost my interest.

Hope you find something! good luck

You said that you rode the bike so you could read. Have you tried audiobooks? I'm a chronic reader and I love that I can "read" while exercising and cleaning house. I'm about to head out now for an hour walk. That'll get me pretty close to the end of "After I'm Gone" by Laura Lippman. By the time I'm done with my cleaning, I'll be ready to move on to my next audiobook.

I am 57 and have tried all kinds of exercise and still haven't found one I really like.  I have run, walked, hiked, biked, used the elliptical, lifted weights, played on a softball team, taken classes in yoga, pilates, several types of aerobics, tai chi, ballroom dancing, etc.  I don't really enjoy any of it.  The truth is I would rather be sitting on the sofa with a good book.

The best I can do is to do the things I dislike the least - or as you say do the things I can tolerate.  Right now I run (very slowly) 3 days a week, lift 2 days a week and take a long walk the other 2 days.  I am also starting a yoga class next month.