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I went from pretty much never exercising in my life until I was 37 years old to working out 3 times/week missing only about 10 workouts in 3 years. I was comple

I went from pretty much never exercising in my life until I was 37 years old to working out 3 times/week missing only about 10 workouts in 3 years. I was completely sedentary, never played a competitive sport, was last place in my high schools "presidential fitness test". I still do not actually "enjoy" it, but I made it a habit and kept motivation to go because of two things: progress and goals. As a beginning lifter, you make ridiculous progress that seems absurd (adding weight and becoming stronger every other day) which to me was really an amazing sort of "hack". I plan to write more on how motivating this kind of linear progress is and how to form a habit around it. Now, even though I do not actually enjoy exercise, it has become a habit similar to brushing/flossing my teeth. Not particularly enjoyable, but something I just know I have to do.

WalterBright 6y ago
I don't enjoy lifting, but it's palatable if I put a movie on during the routine. I do enjoy running. It's the highlight of my day. Took about a year of 3x a week before it started becoming enjoyable. I'm no athlete, but I like the results.
- ubertoop 6y ago
  I'm similar - really don't enjoy lifting (but still do it), but absolutely look forward to and enjoy running. I've noticed a trend / correlation between people who are naturally thick / muscular tend to have that opposite disposition- they love lifting, and hate running.
throwaway201103 6y ago
Pretty much the same for me. I'm mid-50s. Never played sports, never exercised. Wasn't terribly overweight but very "soft." Started lifting weights about 18 months ago. Only exercise I've ever been able to stick with longer than a week or two.
greeneggs 6y ago
What will you do when you stop making progress? Once you get beyond the beginner level, progress will flatten out, and as you age it will go backward. As a runner, just slightly older than you, I am getting dramatically slower, and certainly haven't made positive progress in ~6 years.
- boatsie 6y ago
  That will possibly be demotivating, yes. However now that the habit has stuck with me and progress is more like weekly, I have integrated it into my identity. As in, I am the guy who always goes to the gym on these days and does these exercises. I am now someone who "goes to the gym". Once something is part of your identity, the ability to maintain it is surprisingly easy. For example some people have ingrained preferences that are identity-based, eg vegetarian, non-drinkers, non-smokers, non-soda drinkers, etc. It's easy for those people to avoid those things as it is part of their identity. Or habits that are part of someone's identity like "the person who always makes the coffee" or "the person who always takes the stairs". For you, it might just be "I'm a runner, so I run." I will also say that while it was never an initial goal of mine, the vanity/esteem aspect of feeling stronger/in better shape than others my age still is motivating.

WalterBright 6y ago

I don't enjoy lifting, but it's palatable if I put a movie on during the routine. I do enjoy running. It's the highlight of my day. Took about a year of 3x a week before it started becoming enjoyable. I'm no athlete, but I like the results.

ubertoop 6y ago
I'm similar - really don't enjoy lifting (but still do it), but absolutely look forward to and enjoy running. I've noticed a trend / correlation between people who are naturally thick / muscular tend to have that opposite disposition- they love lifting, and hate running.

throwaway201103 6y ago

Pretty much the same for me. I'm mid-50s. Never played sports, never exercised. Wasn't terribly overweight but very "soft." Started lifting weights about 18 months ago. Only exercise I've ever been able to stick with longer than a week or two.

greeneggs 6y ago

What will you do when you stop making progress? Once you get beyond the beginner level, progress will flatten out, and as you age it will go backward. As a runner, just slightly older than you, I am getting dramatically slower, and certainly haven't made positive progress in ~6 years.

boatsie 6y ago
That will possibly be demotivating, yes. However now that the habit has stuck with me and progress is more like weekly, I have integrated it into my identity. As in, I am the guy who always goes to the gym on these days and does these exercises. I am now someone who "goes to the gym". Once something is part of your identity, the ability to maintain it is surprisingly easy. For example some people have ingrained preferences that are identity-based, eg vegetarian, non-drinkers, non-smokers, non-soda drinkers, etc. It's easy for those people to avoid those things as it is part of their identity. Or habits that are part of someone's identity like "the person who always makes the coffee" or "the person who always takes the stairs". For you, it might just be "I'm a runner, so I run." I will also say that while it was never an initial goal of mine, the vanity/esteem aspect of feeling stronger/in better shape than others my age still is motivating.