Maybe I’m one of the lucky ones, but I’ve always enjoyed getting in a good workout.
But despite the well-known benefits, both physical and mental, of exercise, many people would rather avoid it altogether.
A recent poll of 2,000 people who frequently exercise, conducted by OnePoll on behalf of AI-based fitness and lifestyle coaching app Freeletics, found some surprising results about what people would do to avoid working out for the rest of their lives:
- 25 percent would be willing to text their ex
- 25 percent would cancel Netflix for a year
- 29 percent would reconnect with their high school bully
- 33 percent would spend a long weekend with the in-laws
- 34 percent say they’d be willing to hand wash all their dishes
One of the first thoughts I had when looking at the list is that many people do these things voluntarily, perhaps even happily.
If I were asked this question, it would have to be something dramatic to make me give up exercise.
Off the top of my head, that might be things like:
- if I never had to make a mortgage payment again, I might give up exercise
- if I could retire early, I might give up exercise
- if I never had to explain FIFO vs. LIFO again, I might give up exercise
- if I could spend half the year traveling around the globe, I might give up exercise
But as I thought about it, if I do keep exercising, eventually I’ll retire, which means I won’t have to explain FIFO vs LIFO, my mortgage will eventually be paid off, and at that point, I’ll be able to do lots of travel.
And as a result of all that exercise, I’ll be better able to enjoy my retirement and all of my travel.
Seems like a small price to pay to work up a bit of sweat each day.
So forget about texting your ex, calling up an old bully, or canceling Netflix, just get out there and do it.
But do the dishes too, perhaps while staying at your in-laws…
*image from ABC Everyday
Oh gosh, kind of crazy. They would rather contact a bully than exercise?? Hand wash all their dishes?? That’s real crazy! I mean now, if I was living alone I wouldn’t mind hand washing my dishes, but the dishes that my family accumulates, No thanks!
I am like you, I don’t mind exercise, though I should stress that I don’t exactly do strenuous exercise. I like walking, that’s my exercise. 🙂
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My hope if I were to contact a bully is that he would have completely forgotten who I was back then. And walking is the perfect exercise!
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especially when walking on the beach! 🙂
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yes, especially at sunrise…
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Yes!
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I can’t imagine how your would travel Europe without doing any exercise, Jim, you walk your legs to short stubs in Europe and the UK. As for FIFO and LIFO, come on, Jim, it’s so interesting I thing you should do a blog post about it [haha].
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good point, Robbie. It would be nearly impossible to travel through Europe with out doing a good deal of walking. That’s one of my favorite things about Europe. And as for a post about LIFE/FIFO, it’s bad enough that I put my students to sleep, I don’t want to do that to my blog readers 🙂
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Haha! I agree that accounting concepts make good reading material for insomniacs. I do have to confess, however, that I really enjoy reading accounting opinions for transactions.
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how nice that you enjoy what you do for a living!
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I nap to get out of exercise. And it works very well, because after a nap I feel refreshed and renewed, just the same way people feel after exercise.
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I find that exercise helps me nap even better…
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This is reminding me of the chicken and the egg.
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well if the chicken exercises, then she has earned her reward of having eggs for breakfast…
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Makes sense. But if the chicken doesn’t exercise, yet eats eggs, then the chicken must exercise to work off the eggs.
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simple solution: no exercise, no eggs
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It’s fine by me if you like that sort of thing.
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🙂
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I like to eat, so exercise is my saving grace. Unfortunately, the body parts are starting to show their wear and tear. One of my hips started bothering me for the first time, which is a bit concerning. I’ve already got arthritis, a bad back, and a knee that has undergone two operations. Lots of ailments, depending on what decides to trouble me each day. Active mind and body are still the only way to go for me.
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it is annoying when we start to get these aches and pains, despite our best efforts. And yes, exercise is great for balancing out some of my poor food choices 🙂
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I don’t mind exercise, and would actually like having to do more… There isn’t much opportunity to do exercise for me recently…
Though not having to pay any more mortgage seems like a nice incentive to stop exercising…
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I wish I could spend a bit more time exercising as well. Hope allis well, jomz!
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But surely the point of the question is that we’d get all the benefits without having to do the exercise? Otherwise why do it anyway? If that’s the deal, I’m in!
(Apart from the dogs still wanting their walk – I can’t see them agreeing to my pact with the devil.)
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I think I’d still exercise even if there was a magic pill that gave me all the benefits.
and you are right, your dogs would not be happy with such a choice… 🙂
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Since it appears I may be the only person here who washes their dishes by hand, I am going to consider that to be my exercise.
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as long as you are walking around the kitchen and doing squats while you are drying them… 🙂
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i love to walk so i don’t even think of it as a forced march, and like brad, i wash my dishes by hand, so hope i’m covered. and no, i won’t give up my flamin’ hot cheetos for anything. who would?
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and your walking is what allows you to eat those flamin’ hot cheetos! I make the same tradeoff with my snack foods…
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It works for me
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Exercise and I have never been good friends. I’m not sure what incentive I need to take it up. I’ve tried a few times and might last a week or two or even more, but then I revert to my old sedentary ways. I know I’ll probably regret it one day, but, why do something I don’t enjoy?
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maybe if every day you exercise meant a day you didn’t have to read my blog – that could be a powerful incentive 🙂
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That would be a reverse incentive!
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🙂
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I exercise every morning for about 20 minutes… sit ups, push ups, a couple of weight exercises and some stretching. I pretty much hate it. The only way I’d give that up is if I could get the benefits of the exercise without doing it. Then there are my activities which include running, biking, mountain biking and hiking. I don’t think of these as exercises, the are the primary activity I want to do. I wouldn’t give them up for anything. I feel bad for people who make comments like “my favorite part of the run is when I stop”. For me, the best part of the run is deep in the middle.
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I would definitely consider all of your running, biking, etc., as exercise. It helps you stay fit, and you have the added bonus that you enjoy doing it…
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Love your attitude Jim❣️
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thanks, Val!
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Real quick: could you explain FIFO vs. LIFO?
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don’t worry, it’s not on the test…
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Ok. That makes me feel better.
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I hand wash my dishes all the time. Does that give me a pass?
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as long as run around the house while doing them 🙂
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Oh. I guess I’m out of luck.
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you can start a new exercise fad!
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What a sight that would be!
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🙂
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I reached the same conclusions as you 🙂
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👍
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I can’t help but wonder whether those answers came from people like me who are sarcastic and like to mess with surveys.
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I guess that’s the problem with surveys. there are always those sarcastic people out there 🙂
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I need to make friends with exercising… after a full day with preschoolers, I don’t really relish exercise.
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I am guessing yo are getting plenty of exercise while working with the preschoolers…
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Yes! 🙂
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👍
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Well said…I’m off to the gym now.
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I hope you had a good workout!
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Anything is better than washing dishes! I’ve realised that as I get older (I’m 67) and my knees get stiffer, if I don’t exercise, I seize up. I just about tolerate the gym but actually enjoy heavy gardening. It’s the best exercise and enjoyable! Also 3 grandkids give me a good workout.
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I’m glad you find the exercise helps with your stiffness, and that you have found a form of exercise that you enjoy with the gardening. And I am sure keeping up with three kids is a fun way to get in some exercise…
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I love the feeling exercise gives me after a workout. Nevertheless, it usually requires a lot of will power to to start a workout. Covid wrecked my gym routine and its really tough to start again.
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yes, it’s so easy to stop exercising, and so hard to get going again…
and yes, that feeling is one of the perks of working out…
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Yes, I already do most of the things on that list. But I also quit working out! The knees won’t allow it!! And even when they did, I hated most exercise that wasn’t “circus based” or burlesque!!
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so maybe if you are doing all those things, maybe you don’t need to exercise…
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I train at least 4 days a week and cannot see myself ever giving it up. It’s habit, and enjoyable.
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I’m with you…
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Wow you really are a lucky one. I myself tend to despise the moments before and during exercise. Post-exercise is always great though.
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I enjoy exercise when I’m focused and in it.. I have to be “in” that phase otherwise if I know I’m not going to stick with it then I’m not motivated to start…. Now… To get back in said phase.. That’s the issue!
And you’re right, I already do most of those things listed (wash dishes by hand, don’t have Netflix, happy to spend time with my in-laws) ❤️🤣
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well at least you like it sometimes; perhaps you should see if there is anything you do different on those days when you are so focused that might help you to exercise more often…
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Why don’t I continue my exercise routine on a regular basis? Why is it so hard to start again? I really need to put a plan into motion again? Perhaps on Monday . . .
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I think exercise is hard because the alternative uses of our time seem so much more enjoyable…
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Ditto! Exercise keeps both my body and mind healthy. It also gives me some moments freed from the other details of the day . . . just me and my nature walk or an indoor bike tour. Hopefully in your eventual retirement, you will finally be freed from the perpetual discussion of LIFO vs. FIFO.
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I am a big fan of exercise; nice to meet a fellow enthusiast. I much prefer the periodic discussion of LIFO and FIFO…
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When I was teaching in western Montana many years ago, the high school librarian was a LIFO type of guy. Last in during the morning before school and first out after school . . . sometimes he beat the students out the door.
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clever 🙂 I’ve run across a few people like that over the years.
maybe he was trying to save the school district some taxes…
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Ha ha, enjoyed this. I always wash dishes by hand anyway….
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sometimes we do the dishes by hand, sometimes by using the dishwasher…
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Never had a dishwasher, but pals say once you do you never go back….. bit like govanhilll…cheers jim!
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I don’t use our dishwasher too much, but it is nice to have just in case… cheers!
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So many different forms of torture! As a proverbial sloth who has only participated sporadically in any kind of physical exercise throughout my life until finally settling on walking as a form of mindfulness meditation (as endorsed by Tippy Gnu), I have been able to justify my usual exercise non habit as follows.
One of several physical therapists I have employed, and probably the only one who was also a Baby Boomer, told the story of how one of his trainers told him in his youth that all the inadvertent and generally unfelt damage he was doing to his body (especially his joints) then would more likely and almost certainly not be felt until much later in his life. So, if I had been more active in my youth, I would probably be in more pain with more limited mobility now.
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walking is a great form of exercise!
and yes, my knees are probably in worse shape as a result of my running at a younger age, but I like to think my heart is in better shape as a result…
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My friends are now in their early seventies and though not ‘work out’ types they have no car and have walked every single day since the first lock down, walk to do shopping and appointments etc. Throughout my late husband’s illness and our Covid isolation ( front garden visits only ) and my chemotherapy she has loyally visited every week. I am so glad to get out gardening and walking in third good week of chemo sessions. The only time until this past year or so that I have been stuck indoors was my three caesareans ten days in hospital each time. As soon as I was out leaning on the pram to go for a walk! Sea swimming and aquarobics are favourites of mine also and I would not want to do anything to avoid exercise. Ps Though my husband’s cancer diagnosis was never going to have a good outcome, after chemotherapy and even during he had a good year of walking and up and down cliff tops; you would never know anything was wrong till things eventually went downhill quickly.
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thank you for sharing that inpsirational message. It’s so wonderful to hear that have been able to get out walking and gardening. And impressive that you were walking so soon after your caesareans. And that must have been hard to reconcile your husband’s cancer with his ability to go out and walk and appear healthy…
Have a great day!
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Yes Jim, when you are diagnosed with cancer you have a very thorough check up before treatment and compared with lots of people in their sixties it was sadly ironic that his heart and lungs were in excellent order, no diabetes or high blood pressure.
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wow, that is sadly ironic. it sounds like your husband took good care of himself…
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