so why don't people want to exercise?

[Deborajen]

It's so true that exercise makes you "bad" tired after you've been sedentary for a long time; and then after you've exercised more regularly, it makes you "good" tired. But one more thing that goes into the mix, maybe not as much but it still has an effect, is goals. When I first started becoming more active in my late 30's, I wanted to train for a 5K fun run and also bike a century. At the time, I told myself I didn't care how I did, I just wanted to finish somewhere in the middle. After training awhile and looking at people's finish times for events on websites, I saw that I wasn't going to be in the middle - I'd be behind that - towards the back. It was discouraging to think that after lots of training and hard work, I'd still be in the back.

Now, after being more active for awhile, it's fun and it feels good. The endorphins feel good, having energy feels good, and being tired after exercising feels good. Most importantly, it's a habit and a long-term change. But when first getting started, "why bother if I don't get ______ result?" can be a big obstacle.

Deb

[IntenseRide]

Here's a great excuse.

I have a sweet friend (I really do love her) who said she would have to get a whole new wardrobe to exercise! She also doesn't want to appear like she needs to exercise (which blows my mind)! I've mentioned exchanging the word 'exercise' with 'sport' because here in Minnesota winter provides so many options. I have snowshoes, cross-country skiis and I still bike in the winter, even when the temperature drops to zero (off-road in the snow with spiked tires and lights). Personally, I also think that people like to cocoon and nest when it gets dark and cold out and that turns into a lifelong habit.

[Pax]

Then there are those of us who are/were life-long hard core athletes who have sustained enough cumulative injuries that exercise is an elusive thing that hinges on what injury has flared up that day (4 knee surgeries/torn rotator cuffs/assorted other broken bones and torn ligaments).

[mimitabby]

I know someone else who has to take antidepressants if they don't exercise.
I think a fully active body is one of the best cures for depression. Further,
i think depression is by and large a by product of our non-movement lifestyle.

[run it, ride it]

It's true that excercise and depression are often tied together, but do remember that excercise is not a cure-all.

I suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder--while excercise makes me feel good in the summer when my moods are functioning 'normally,' it does nothing for my mood in the winter--and I am very active in the winter. I was in denial about my depression for years because I did not want to be pigeonholed as 'responsible' for my depression for not doing all the activities that used to give me pleasure. So I just kept up doing everything even though it did nothing for me. I was fit, always out of the house, got great grades in school--but underneath all that I was still a mess of paranoia, anxiety and depression.

Only medication and light therapy have made any sort of difference for my SAD.

[Jenn]

Not to be rude, but in my opinion they are just LAZY negating those who have valid medical issues. Both my parents were marathon runners and so I grew up around exercise. I gained ALOT of weight after my divorce when I was 24 and was about 250lbs of pure yech. After the divorce I moved in with my best friend and decided this is it, I'm getting my arse in shape!
I'd get up and be at the gym or out running EVERYDAY, (gotta look good when you are trolling for men) but really it was for me, I felt good.
But, EVERY morning, I'd try to get her to come with me but she just would rather sit on the couch, smoke her cigarette and drink her diet pepsi. To this day, she does the same, and now that she's had 2 children she's pushing 280lbs, and it's not muscle ladies. Anyway, her Dr took off her OBCP because of her weight and b/p and she was pissed. She said of course my b/p was up I had to WALK ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE parking lot. I love her, but it's pathetic to me. Take some pride in yourself, your body and your appearance.
Her 5 year old daughter asked when we were with them this weekend if she was going to have another baby and how come her tummy wasn't as flat as mine. I thought that might motivate her NOT, she said she'll just smoke more.
Sorry, to go on, but I have very little tolerance for people that will not even take a half an hour walk a day, ANYBODY can do at least that.
Even though my daughter is only 14 months old, she's in the jogger twice a day and as soon as we get the trailer she's gonna be biking with us so she knows exercise is a BIG part of life.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

There is no one single reason people don't exercise. And exercise is not a cure-all for depression.
Sometimes you just can't distill multi-level issues into a single neat and tidy solution.

[KnottedYet]

I don't exercise. I hate exercise. Don't ask me to exercise, cuz I won't.

But I will ride my bike and go for a walk and jog a little and kayak and play with triathlons and hike and geocache and...

Hand me some weights. Nope. Point me to the eliptical or the treadmill. Nope. I just can't sustain the interest. I don't feel the love.

I need to go kayaking so I can strenthen my shoulder, cuz I'm sure as shootin' not sticking to the exercises I need to do to fix it. (I've done 'em maybe twice. and I know better!)

Maybe it's a matter of finding the activity that someone can fall in love with?