A theory about people who don't like to or find it difficult to exercise:

[NoSheep]

I'm 42 now. I've NEVER liked to exercise other than walking on a cool day. When I was a child, in elementary school and Jr high when we were forced to have PE, I always hated it. I was not overweight or sickly, I just never was comfortable exercising. Running left me terribly winded and with pounding headaches. The sun seemed to me like a killer. Any type game where I was chased gave me a great deal of anxiety and the running was excruciating. My face would be red as a beet and I'd have to stop. My theory is that it could have been due to the fact that I grew up with 2 heavy smokers! My lungs were always encountering second hand smoke. 3 pack a day times 2!!!! Inside the house.
I smoke now (I know, I know) and have regularly since I was about 16. I think it is obvious that growing up with smoking led me to smoke.
But do you think it is possible that I would have enjoyed PE/exercise more if I had not been gasping for air? I'm wondering if there are others who find exercising to have been a life-long discomfort who grew up with a heavy smoker household? Are there others who don't like exercise who grew up in a smoke free house? Should I make a poll?

[dajoki]

1. i smoke...

and i exercise. go figure.:shrug:

[goddess40]

2. my brother was an athlete and my sister wasn't

and I fall in the middle. My dad was a heavy smoker. But I think you may be on to something for some people. You were probably born addicted to nicotine and your parents nursed your habit with the second hand smoke until you could buy your own.

I have to add that I hate to run, it has always made my legs ache. I knew better to say anything to the teachers because they weren't about to believe any kid.

[MissMillie]

3. it's not just the smoking

though that is hard enough on your breathing

As we grew up we were told we had to be winded in order for the activity to actually be exercise.

Now, when talking to trainers they emphasize that you should be able to carry on a conversation. So whatever it is you're doing, do it slower, and more controlled.

If you're having trouble getting air, then you're defeating the whole purpose of exercise.

[sui generis]

7. two kinds of exercise

fat burning - regular exercise you should be just barely winded, i.e., brisk walk for 30 minutes, etc. But if you only ever do fat burning it will take longer to burn fat than if you alternate cardio with fat burning. Cardio increases your metabolism and oxygen efficiency, and actually tones muscle and helps "balance".

cardio - you should be moderately winded, not gasping for air. As you grow more "fit" your "moderately" winded will take quite a bit more activity to accomplish, so you'll be able to put the machine on higher/harder settings if indoors or push yourself a little harder if outdoors.

[LSparkle]

4. I grew up with 2 moderate smokers and like you I hate to exercise

The only time I enjoyed it was several years ago when I took up ice skating (as an adult), something I'd wanted to do since I was a kid. Other than that (and a teenage flirtation with tennis), I've hated to exercise my entire life. (OK, take it back -- swimming was always fun!)

[NoSheep]

5. I also like to ice skate! And go sledding! I'll compromise for both.

I live in NC so we don't have a big ice skating culture here, but I do like it. And I love to sled when conditions allow.

[Jackpine Radical]

6. Speaking as the product of a smoking home, and as an ex-smoker

myself, I think your notion may have some merit. As a kid I hated PE, was always slower on my feet and less athletic than other kids, etc. When I finally quit smoking 20 years ago, I deliberately made myself exercise & actually got to like it. I did a lot of bike riding, walking, X-C skiing etc. & probly never got to even average levels of competence in any of those things, but made sure to stay in non-competitive situations. Then I developed heart trouble, got fat & slowed way down on exercise. I'm still struggling to get it back together & regain some fitness, but I wonder if my battle might not be all the harder because of my early histrory of smoking parents.

[Squeech]

8. Makes sense to me

My mother smoked, and I was never much for exercise. But I don't remember shortness of breath as a distinct condition, just never had any stamina and was basically lazy.

[sui generis]

9. not to be mean - but you have to stick with it for months

and the most important thing if you want to benefit from exercise:

NO EXCUSES.

you are clever monkey - you will manage to find a million reasons not to do it if you let yourself.

[deadparrot]

10. I have a similar reaction to running.

Growing up, I was a dancer, and that was okay. I never had a problem. But running was always hellish...within moments, I was winded, my mind was a blur, I couldn't think clearly and couldn't catch my breath. I wasn't in a heavy-smoking household, though--my dad had a couple of cigars on the weekends and my mom smokes maybe one or two a day, but it's always while she was alone in her bathroom (didn't want us kids to know--we did :)).

But it is a worthwhile theory.