My health has been … less than ideal lately. Fibro flares. Migraines. Adrenal fatigue. My priority is usually getting 6 hours of sleep. Getting to places on time is the most working out I have done in recent memory. It’s just not okay.
It’s not like I don’t talk about fitness. I talk about it all of the time. FitFluential, remember? (Have you joined? I would really like it if you did. You don’t have to be a blogger. Go. Make Danielle happy in 2012.) I want to walk the walk, not just talk the talk. After being unreasonably sick for days last week, I decided that it was time to take action. It was time to start moving again.
On the same day, a package arrived. I received Working Out Sucks.
Let me tell you a secret: I hate working out. I have fibromyalgia and working out hurts. It does horrific things to my tender little tendons. I am CRAZY and competitive and I go overboard and always end up hurting myself. But, I am supposed to like it. FitFluential! Me! Singing it!
So after my heath ordeal seemed to be over, I gathered my beloved Polar HRM, a not beloved sports bra, socks and I piled them right next to my glasses and thyroid pills. They were going to taunt me when I woke up on Saturday morning. And I was going to put on all of the items and get on the treadmill. (FYI – treadmill would be at least 78% more awesome with this. Passport Player. So cool.)
I got up on Saturday, added my gear, grabbed the book and began walking. I read and walked for about 1.5 miles. Then I walked fast for the last .5 so the book had to be set aside. I repeated the process today. I will repeat it tomorrow. I will make it a habit. (Although I am pretty far into the book. Don’t worry. There will be multiple reviews because I have a lot to say, like usual.) I also started doing a plank a day. Ouch. That’s all I am doing so that I don’t cause a fibro flare.
You’ve heard me embrace a new fitness routine so many times. And then you’ve heard me make so many excuses as to why I didn’t stick to it. I don’t have time. So much stuff going on! Busy! Very important lady with cats to pet! Such bullshit.
I am Chuck Runyon’s ideal reader because a) I read on the treadmill, b) my cats are really fat (but are dieting successfully – involuntarily) and c) I am highly dependent on sugar as I cannot have caffeine. (Don’t worry, Runyon and I have some differences of opinion, which I’ll get to in a different post.)
Do you really think that the CEO of Anytime Fitness would say that working out sucks if he wasn’t trying to get your attention? That’s his goal throughout the entire first section. Runyon says some things that may piss you off. Guess what? That’s what he is trying to do. Just like every lawyer I know is a zealous advocate for their cause, so is Runyon. You have to use some vivid imagery to move people and Runyon is trying to literally MOVE people. Regardless of whether I thought, geez, he just made me feel like crap because I like to order the fried _____ when we go out to eat, he is still right. At the end of each section, he gives a short synopsis. I agreed with each of them.
I spend an assload of money on healthy food. But I supplement my diet with more “corn sugar” than I should because I am overtired and need a quick boost of energy. I need to take my high fructose corn syrup money and invest in some new sports bras. (The jiggle is not okay. Again, we’ll talk in another post.) I am now working with a new doctor who will help me stop investing in pills and find the nutritional allergies that are underlying my illnesses. (See the things I’ve been up to?) If I can’t take 45 minutes to accessorize properly, walk two miles and plank, what is the rest of it for? Am I really being FitFluential?
This book is here to get you over the excuses. Cut the crap. If you don’t like working out, guess what? A whole lot of people don’t. They suck it up and do it anyway. Get over yourself and get moving. Now get on the floor and show me your plank. And, for your sake, I hope a cat doesn’t climb on top of you.
Book Giveaway!!
I have three copies of Working Out Sucks to give away.
Disclosure: I am the Chief Marketing Officer of FitFluential LLC. Anytime Fitness is a client of FitFluential. The book I reviewed and the copies I am giving to readers were provided by the client. All thoughts and opinions in the post are my own.
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Looking forward to reading the rest of your reviews of the book…you’ve definitely peaked my interest already =)
Pets always want to know why we’re on the floor. I think working out sucks so would love to find out why it doesn’t have to!
I looooove working out – if my body could handle it, I’d do it 24/7.
{insert pure sarcasm}
I really do love working out – but when I’m busy and struggle to find the time, I’d rather just relax on the couch!
Great review Danielle, and I love how you incorporated your own personal reflections into it! I agree with a lot of what you said about the book. Readers may get mad at him for how crappy he makes them feel about their excuses, but they feel crappy for a reason – excuses are excuses.
I like working out for how it makes me feel. Sometimes I’d rather just veg out, but I know I NEVER regret a workout. I try and remind myself of that
Even a little something is better than nothing.
I have a love/hate relationship with working out. If I have a schedule with a fun workout then I love it. But eventually even the fun workouts get boring after I do them over and over. Now I’m looking for something new and struggling with moving to a new schedule. Maybe this book would give me the kick in the tush I need?
I love running. I love reading. I dislike working out.
Liz makes me do planks. I used to hate them. Thing is I’m quickly getting better at them so the hatred is abating.
I like running, cycling and swimming. But most of all I LOVE the way 70.3 training forces me to live. That’s why I do it.
I do not like working out or feeling sweaty, However, I do need to get healthier and I need to deal with it. The rewards in the end will be worth it.
i dont like feeling sweaty but i feel unless im sweaty i dont get a great workout; like i have to do some cardio before i even do yoga or else i feel like yoga doesnt give me a workout, even though i know it does.
Great review, Danielle! As usual you crack me up! I need the motivation more than anything these days. The ideas are there but the get up and go is the hard part. I might have to consider reading while on the treadmill as well. My feet need to stop hurting from NYE festivities first though.
By the way, working out sucks because I hate being in pain (who doesn’t?). If I work out too much or too hard, my ankle knocks me out for days. Ugh.
God I hate working out. Not only do I dislike being sweaty but I dislike the lightheadedness that goes with it at the end and the feeling of exhaustion for the first couple of weeks when you start. I’ve started doing Zumba classes and they actually make it kind of fun. I look forward to the classes.
I have so much trouble with working out. I would love to play roller derby, and be fit, and thin, but I’m right with you. It hurts.
I was just diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my knees (and suspect that I also have it in my ankles, hips, and lower back, but the knees are the worst). I’m still trying to figure out how to exercise, but still be able to walk up the stairs the next day. It sucks.
I would love this book to help me change my thinking that Working Out Sucks!
Ooops, I did not say why. I dislike working out because it is a lot of work, but I know it is work I need to do.
I actually love to work out most of the time but there are times I think working out sucks but do it anyway.
LOVE working out…running…being active! Looking forward to reading the reviews to get giggles!
I love working out, though I don’t love fitting it into my schedule. Blah. Would love to read this book!
I hate working out because I’d rather just watch tv or lay in bed, but the afterwords always makes me want to keep doing it.
Working out sucks because I hate how out of shape I am. However, that will never improve unless I workout more.
working out is really a good idea to maintain yourself in shape but it is really very tiring and involves a great piece of determination.
I’m lazy so I hate working out, but I hate being flabby even more. I need a good kick in the pants.
I think working out sucks because it is time consuming, although I do like it! It is just getting the motivation to DO IT that can be the challenge!
Great post, by the way!
I can totally relate! It takes a lot more discipline (for me, anyway) to work out than it does to eat healthy.
Hang in there!!
~ Tiffany
Transfer of Health
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