Why Do People Put Off Exercise Even Though They Enjoy It?

Hard work pays off later while procrastination pays off now !!

I'll put off my ride or a swim for an hour or two but usually get it done.  I don't put off the workout per se, but the work in getting ready for the workout.

I stopped working out for 2 years after I did Ironman. 

I gained 50 pounds and couldn't bring myself to run, bike or swim.  You keep putting things off and then you start convincing yourself that you'll get around to it when the time is right.  One day you look in the mirror and hopefully realize you can't keep waiting for something to magically happen and give you the motivation to get up off you a$$.  That day in the mirror was about 5 weeks ago for me.  I'm just happy my brain finally clicked on.  45 more pounds to go to get back to race weight

Edited b/c I thought the OP said people that DO triathlon still put off exercise.  Wasn't sure where the OP was going with that.  My bad.

I vote inertia.  Even if I put off an aspect of tri for a while, I'm apprehensive and avoid getting back to it.

Edited by morey1 2009-08-19 3:43 PM

At first, I couldn't believe you would go from Ironman to nothing but in hindsight, I have to say that I actually do understand.  I have pictures of me when I was 190lbs, able to bench 380 with a pause, and muscles where people didn't have muscles documented.  For me, it was a career change that made my gym rat days a thing of the past.  Combine that with a girlfriend who loved to bake sweets and I grew in the wrong direction. 

I sometimes think that looking back makes it harder because you realize how far you slid.  Then I realize the slide took time so I may as well start climbing back.  I went from 190 to 255 before I got that wake-up call.  I'm back down to 218 right now.

You're wrong in your assumption that "They Enjoy It." Sure they love the after-effect, just not the exercise.

Winner!  I hate to run.  But I know I have an easier time managing weight when I do it regularly.  So I tend to put it off, even though I like "side effects".

this is it for me. it is hard to overcome inertia and "just do it". but, always glad i did when i do.

Perfect post to back up my sentiment in the TIME magazine article thread:  It's a lot easier to keep up with healthy eating choices than it is to keep up with exercise over time.  A lot of younger folks on BT who eat cr@p after workouts (because they've "earned" it) are very likely to find themselves middle-aged and sedentary and facing that same "wake-up call."  It happened to me:  Lost 57 lbs in my late 20s (214 down to 157) with diet and serious running.  By my mid-30s, the running was in the past...and the full-court hoops...then the beach volleyball...and finally the hiking.  Job changes, moves, divorce, re-marriage...and just plain ol' inertia and laziness...all dragged me from fit to fat.  Ended up with 75 lbs to lose instead of the original 55.  Now that I've done it, I'm much more disciplined about daily exercise...but even more disciplined about diet.

Edited by tcovert 2009-08-19 7:03 PM

Bingo!  I also HATE to run, but I make myself do it because it's effective at keeping my weight in check.  On the other hand, I LOVE to bike, swim, and lift weights & do cardio at the gym...so I never "put off" exercising.  Infact, I'm probably more on the "obsessive" side of the spectrum, when it comes to exercising.  I have to do something every single day, or I'll go nuts. 

Yeah, inertia is a big thing. I truly enjoy running (and many other forms of exercise), but I don't enjoy getting out there. I make a very conscious, overt, concerted effort to really feel how awesome it is to be out and running, and I draw on that memory when the Idon'twannas set in.

I also have trouble getting started. It takes me a long time to get in the groove, which is what i think about when I'm trying to get out the door. Plus, I know I'll be all twitchy afterwards, which is obnoxious. So I find all the niggling excuses to keep my butt on the couch. But, much like the poster above, if I can just get my gear ON, I'm good to go.