I played softball for 16 years and I hated exercise then, and still hate it. The actual games for softball weren't very demanding, but conditioning and practices were killer. I vomited after every practice in the summer.
I played a lot of sports as a kid - soccer when I was very young, basketball for many years (mainly because my mom wanted me to play), tennis in high school, and softball up through college (I was terrible). For the most part I didn't enjoy it.
Now I do yoga, and I've dabbled with C25K a few times.
I was never into athletics when I was a kid. It wasn't my thing to start with and then I spent a fair amount of time on crutches so it just wasn't happening.
Now I do not enjoy exercise at all but I do it because I have to. If I could maintain a normal weight by just staying active during the day I would never run again. Biking with MH is somewhat enjoyable but I really just do it for him.
I guess I should answer my own poll. I was a swimmer for 9 years and hated it because the workouts were time-consuming and excruciating. I now exercise regularly and love it. The mental benefits are at least as important as the physical for me.
I'm answering yes and yes, but I wasn't like a star athlete or anything as a child. I played multiple sports and was okay at tennis in HS, but I don't know that I would label my child self as an "athlete"
I was the only non athlete in a very athletic family, which made things really hard for me. I was genuinely terrible at sports. It was a major source of anxiety and bullying for me because my team often accused me of losing the game for them. But my mom didn't let me not do sports since teamwork and exercise are important. I really wanted to try dance, but my mom couldn't afford it so that was off the table (rec sports in our town are ridiculously cheap; right now it's $40-50/season). I did cheerleading in middle school and was awful but at least enjoyed it and the girls were nicer to me than in other sports.
As an adult I walk/run almost daily because I know that cardio is really important, especially since we have family history of cardiac problems. I hate it and grit my teeth through it and find it boring as hell and never really felt the endorphin rush after that everyone talks about, but I do it anyway.
I feel like I wouldn't say I was an athlete. That implies some sort of talent and drive. I did summer rec. softball, swimming, tennis and did JV cheering. I had no talent for any of it and no particular drive to train, improve, change diet, do conditioning...
but I had fun and it was something to do all summer rather than sleep til noon and watch 10 hours of TV. Same reason I teach summer school now.
Post by charminglife on Aug 4, 2015 8:10:33 GMT -5
I started competitively swimming when I was six and didn't stop until after college. When I was young I did it year round with maybe a two week break between winter/summer seasons. I loved it as a kid and in high school but was burnt out in college. Now, I dislike exercising and never swim for fitness. I did commit to (fully) running a 5k in 2015 as my new years resolution hoping that I'd start to like running, but no such luck.
I wouldn't call myself an athlete, but I was pretty active. I played (badly) on the volleyball team through Sophomore year. I also swam and threw dirt and rocks around at a garden center. So physically speaking I was in really good shape.
Now I'm struggling to get back to something resembling active, but I'm never going to be that fit again unless I committed to it full time.
I'm answering yes and yes, but I wasn't like a star athlete or anything as a child. I played multiple sports and was okay at tennis in HS, but I don't know that I would label my child self as an "athlete"
NO NO NO this totally counts! By "athlete," I mean you engaged in some form of organized sports activity on a regular basis during your childhood, even if it was a thousand different sports and even if you came in dead last every single time or were terrible.
I hope this distinction makes sense but, if not, just opt for "it's complicated" and explain below.
I was NOT an athlete as a child. LOL, OMG. I did summer swim team as a kid and hated it. I ran track in junior high and it was okay. I was a middling-okay sprinter and sucked at high jump.
After junior high, I did not do any more organized sports. I took long walks with my mom and rollerbladed with my dog, and that was about it. I started working out regularly in my early 20s, doing yoga and eventually adding weight lifting when I met DH.
I love lifting. I've done step classes, pilates chair, yoga, C25K and ran my first 5K when I was 33. I still don't much care for running, and TBH I hate doing anything to the point of total exhaustion -- that kind of aggressive conditioning approach that coaches took when I was a kid where you basically swim or run until you can't any more, and then do it again and again until you can go longer. That turned me off to exercise for a very long time because it doesn't feel positive or good to me to work my body until I'm ready to puke.
I don't do easy workouts, but I aim for steady progress and a level of exertion that I am comfortable with maintaining over the long haul. I've really stepped up my consistency in the past 18 months and I'm happy with my progress. The more that my baseline expands, the more I can push myself and still feel good, and I like feeling strong.
I hated sports. I'm not coordinated, can't hit a ball to save my life (the kids in the outfield would literally sit down when I'd get up to bat because my stupid gym teacher had a "swing till you hit it!" rule, the jackass), and have no athletic talent whatsoever. I swam like a fish in our pool when we had one, but never competitively. That being said, now I love hiking, biking, swimming, and all kids of non-sporty but active things. I also workout at the gym because it's good for me, but I don't think I'd say I "enjoy" it.
I did softball for two years in 5th and 6th grade, but my family was never into exercise and I was always overweight, so growing up, exercise was always what thin people did. Not people like me and my family.
Now, I try to exercise, but it's hard to get into any kind of habit.
I did soccer for a few years in middle school and high school, but I SUCKED. When the coach told us to go for a run, I would run out of sight, walk to the country store, get a slushy and drink it until everyone else ran back and then I would get in at the end of the group and run back into view.
Now I workout at least 4 days a week: run (6 half marathons), crossfit, hike, paddle board, kickball, whatever. I love it. In no means am I bad ass like wambam, but I cannot imagine my life without some sort of exercise most days of the week.
The closest I came to physical activity as a kid was flag squad during my sophomore and junior years in HS.
I started running after DS was born , and now I run between 20 & 25 miles a week when I'm not training for a race. I also try to do light weights and yoga a few times a week.
Post by eponinepontmercy on Aug 4, 2015 8:20:17 GMT -5
I played softball when I was younger and soccer until my sophomore year of high school. (My school was really small and my freshman year was the first year for the soccer team. I never would have made the team at a bigger school.) I was never very good, but liked playing. I'm just not a natural athlete at all. I've always been slow and sort of out of shape and clumsy.
I'm still not a good athlete, but I really enjoy strength training and running. If you had told me in high school that I would eventually run 13 miles for fun, I would have laughed in your face.
I was a competitive swimmer. Starting in middle school, we had 1 hr workouts 3 times a week in the morning and 2 hrs every day after school plus 3 hrs on sat morning. Looking back on it now, I think that is overkill and I wonder what my parents were thinking to agree to this. I hate working out now. I do like to go on long walks though. Not sure if that really counts
I played volleyball and basketball in grade school. That is the extent of my organized sports. I played on a few rec teams in college, but not regularly.
I guess I enjoy exercise now. Certainly I enjoy the benefits of it. I love cycling. I've grown to tolerate running.
Post by Skyesthelimit1212 on Aug 4, 2015 8:25:05 GMT -5
I've never been athletic, I hated gym when I was school, so much so that when I was a Sr in high school I choose to weight lifting with all boys instead of regular gym class.
I don't like working-out now, but I enjoy the time I get to myself in the mornings before work and the talking to my gym friends after.
I would not consider my self an athlete as a child. I took dance lessons for 10+ years but that was mostly just because my aunt owned the dance studio. I played badminton in HS and did cross country and track in Jr. High. I enjoyed those things mainly because of the social aspect.
Now, when I work out, I enjoy it. But I admit I don't work out with any kid of consistency (unless I take a class like I'm currently doing).
I was a gymnast competing at the elite level until I had a forced retirement due to injury my freshman year of college. I regrouped, and finished my college career as a D1 diver.
Now I do triathlons. I don't love running, but I like it well enough. I love to swim and bike. I'm joined a masters team for swimming. I'm about to join a tri club. I love being able to compete again in something. I've also picked up yoga, which I love and do about 4 times a week.
Being able to be athletic and loving to work out makes me a better person on a lot of levels.
Heres a thing - I hate team sports, am not interested in medals or prizes or goals or teams. At school, I did the best I could to be farthest away from the ball no matter what game it was. When a small red ball of wood was whacked toward me in Cricket, I would watch it sail by and make no effort to catch it. Seemed simple to me - get a "point" and risk hurting my fingers? All the nope. This did not make me popular at school lol. But I skateboarded to a professional level - I don't mind pain or hurting myself, but only if I want to. I have been doing Kung Fu for nearly 2 decades now, and my weight has always been around 210lb - so slim as I am 6ft 5. I lost 20lbs in the last 2 months, as I completely renovated a house from top to bottom. I am the fittest I have ever been, at 42 years old. So if you are struggling with weight, I say, bollocks to exercise and diet. Just renovate a house for 18 hours a day in 90 degrees of heat with no air conditioning. Works a treat!
I answered yes and no. I was a ballet dancer for years growing up (ages 5-18). I would go to ballet class 3-4 days during the week and then all day saturday and Sunday. that went on through middle school and then I picked up lacrosse and field hockey. I enjoyed the creative aspects of dance but it got very frustrating when I was constantly criticized for my body shape and size.
I answered "yes and yes" though I was not in an athletic sport in the common usage. I danced ballet folklorico as well as classical ballet and contemporary dance. I started at age 10 and danced through high school. By high school, I was dancing 3-4 hours a day (ballet folklorico) and was in a performance and competition troupe.
I love to exercise still. I don't dance, but I do hike, swim, and run.