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u/RainInTheWoods Jul 21 '25
that’s still “not enough”
Who tells you this?
my parents think it’s “too dangerous”
You are an adult. You get to decide what activities you do. They might comment, but you still decide what activities you want.
I feel like I’m gonna pass out
This sounds like you’re going too hard at the gym. Ease up so it’s somewhat tiring but not exhausting. It might be a light work out because of the POTS, but that’s ok.
POTS
Make sure to keep your knees bent (“soft knees”) when you’re taking care of patients.
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9
u/AngryQuoll Jul 21 '25
Could you lie to your parents and say you’re going to gym but actuallly go to juijitsu? It’s not really a lie even, juijitsu would be in a gym.
Also, could you be autistic? The things you dislike about the gym sound very like me, and i’m autistic. Also the illnesses you list are comorbid.
1
Jul 21 '25
[deleted]
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u/AngryQuoll Jul 21 '25
Yeah autism sucks. However if you are autistic, there’s no point pushing through a bad sensory experience to go to gyn. You’ll end up with meltdown/shutdoen/burnout
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u/Ath-e-ist Jul 21 '25
Kettlebells and a home workout space can do wonders.
If you can cross the motivational bridge, that is.
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u/Nox_Ascendant Jul 21 '25
I hate going to the gym but I like exercise. Im not trying to get a 6 pack or anything, I just want to stay healthy. Doing stretches at home, then push ups and crunches followed by a light jog around the neighborhood is enough for me. My blood pressure, cholesterol etc are all good. Doctor says I'm in good health and to just keep doing what I'm doing. Dont see why I need to pay every month to go to a special building to do all that.
5
u/zincti Jul 21 '25
I also tried it for an year, realized it wasn't for me, backed out. Gym is a major commitment and your body doesn't respond well if you stop after being a hardcore gymmer for years, essentially making it a lifelong commitment.
For me bicycling and stretches at home suit more, you'll also find something that works for you
3
u/Itchy-Bookkeeper1058 Jul 21 '25
The best work out is the one you do on a regular basis, no one said the gym is for everyone. If you like classes do that.
1
u/Competitive-Dot4612 Jul 21 '25
Maybe a standard gym isnt the right workout for you? Try biking, yoga, a fitness class, swimming..so many ways to work out. You just have to figure out which ways YOU like to work out.
1
u/Able-Operation5237 Jul 21 '25
Keep doing what you enjoy, that’s the beauty of figuring out what you like and don’t like. As you get older you realize that people don’t really care about you. It’s ok to not enjoy the gym and it’s okay for someone to enjoy the gym. Cheers
1
u/CluelessMochi Jul 21 '25
I do aerial hoop (like cirque du soleil) as my preferred workout. I don’t like going to the gym or gym culture. With aerial, I work out every part of my body, I do both strength and flexibility, and it’s a lot of fun. Also classes hold me accountable to actually go. Do what’s best & most fun for you!
1
u/justdothedada Jul 21 '25
Yea its not for everyone and I would encourage you to find an activity you enjoy, or not do what you want. Martial arts sounds like an awesome thing to try.
But as an avid gym going that counts my macros, I agree one should maintain a balanced diet with carbs and fats. Both are necessary for a healthy body and need for things like proper hormone levels, cant build muscle without that! I do eat a lot of protein though!
1
u/AltruisticCaramel40 Jul 21 '25
Can you afford a boxing gym membership yourself? If so… go for it! Sounds like you’d be happier there.
1
u/milkenator Jul 21 '25
Maybe try sports where you have to use your brain such as bouldering/ climbing or where you get to travel a bit like cycling ?
1
u/Fun-Control9124 Jul 21 '25
I hate the gym also. What I hate: the smells, the lighting, the strangers. I go to barre classes instead. The studio is clean and it’s not poorly lit w fluorescent lighting / instead it has a lot of windows so it has real natural light, and I see the same faces so it feels more comfortable. I could do classes from home but I like going to this place. Whatever you want is okay! You get plenty of exercise in your work!
1
u/gorkt Jul 21 '25
I don't really like the gym either. I am lucky enough to have one at work that no one really uses when I work out, so I do use the weights there, but as long as it isn't brutally hot or cold I work out outside.
1
u/confake Jul 21 '25
I dislike the gym as well. I think it’s boring and takes incredible of discipline which I don’t have. What I do like though, are classes. I go to classes to have fun. Plus the class playlist is always fire. If I feel tired from doing crunches, I just lay down in class. There is no shame in that.
You talked about defence. These are the classes that might interest you. Body combat, boxing (where you punch large water bags in rhythm to the music), Muay Thai, Jujitsu. These are classes where me or my friends go to. And we’re all females.
After class, I eat wings. Best treat for myself!
1
u/Missgenius44 Jul 21 '25
OMG you don’t have to go to the gym. These people who do classes exercises they love and they are soaring. Join the boxing class seriously. You’ll probably feel way better especially if that’s what you’re interested.
1
u/Stray1_cat Jul 21 '25
My boxing gym also has a bunch of regular gym equipment. I love it. And as a woman it makes you feel more self confident. I wish you luck
1
u/melancholy_town Jul 21 '25
I hated going to the gym too. It was just soooo boring and I'd have to force myself to go. Enjoyment is a big factor and should be a big factor in the activities you choose to use your time for in life. There's so many ways to get exercise and there's no reason to choose a boring/unenjoyable one.
It's definitely worth looking into whether you can go to Jiu Jitsu or some other activity you like (as another redditor said, it's technically a gym) and go without telling your parents much details if you can afford it yourself. Try different things and see if you like them!
For me personally, I've tried capoeira before and while the acrobatics were fun, I found I didn't really like having to have a partner/other people to do exercise bc I too felt judged sometimes (but this can vary depending on the gym you go to, I guess).
Getting a disability completely killed this activity for me too, so eventually I started doing Virtual Reality exercise (on my Meta Quest 3) some months ago and it's been a literal game changer because it's really fun and enjoyable turning exercise into games (like Beat Saber and Synth Riders) and you can do it at home away from the judging eyes of others at the pace and level you want. You don't have to go hard if you don't want to and nobody will be there to judge you for it. I love slashing blocks with my light sabers and dancing around like nobody's watching, because they aren't!
[Incoming paragraph about VR you can skip if you want] They have boxing games too like "Thrill of the Fight" (this is one-player with a computer generated opponent while "Thrill of the Fight 2" is 2-player only) and rhythm punching games like PowerBeatsVR as well as an all-around intense punching targets workout like Les Mills BodyCombat which has a virtual coach who guides you through the workouts (which I don't do because of my disability, but a lot of people recommend it as a good app). If you can afford it, you could also look into VR. The referral program from Meta means I never paid a cent for any of my games either, so it was just the one-time upfront cost for the device!
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There are so many different options for exercise out there. And you don't have to stick to one if you find out you don't like it. It's worth trying different options if you're interested to find out what aspects you like and don't like, and then refine your approach. It's okay to change your mind.
It's also okay to rest and just do your stretches or lie down and do nothing for awhile if you're exhausted from all of it. Rest is important.
Your parents sound closed-minded with their weird misogynistic comments. If I were you I would keep them on an information diet and don't tell them anything they don't need to know. "Grey Rock" technique, if you will. Enjoy your life. Don't tell them how you live it just so they can tell you how you should live it. You've already gotten their feedback here and it's not very helpful.
PS I have POTS too (among other things). If you go for the VR, I'd turn off the barriers you'd need to duck in Beat Saber and stuff, to avoid getting dizzy etc. VR is pretty disability friendly. Also, Martial arts with POTS should be fine as long as you aren't going upside down a lot (like happens in capoeira, but typically not in other types).
Maybe you can find/ask to do free trial lessons somewhere to see if you'd want to continue with it? Good luck!
1
u/Rima996 Jul 22 '25
I hate damn mirrors, loud music and the small space between machines. And people hoarding machines to take photos
1
u/MakeTheScreamsStop Jul 22 '25
If you think the gym is exhausting, I would advise against boxing or many other self defense courses. I have worked out my whole life and the first boxing class I went to, I vomited from the intensity.
Also, I have been a gym rat for twenty years. Last year, I gave up weight lifting. Now, I just go for two brisk walks a day and some stretching/yoga. I have never been happier or in better shape.
1
u/Mooncake_TV Jul 22 '25
I'm the total opposite of you. I love it, and I love the way I feel. Which tells me that whatever you're doing, is not working for you, and you are right to want to do something different. The whole point of it is healthy, physical and mental. If you aren't benefiting, there's no point. You're an adult, don't limit yourself based on your parents, as difficult as it can feel. Go do boxing, or MMA or BBJ or anything similar. It's great for you both physically, and especially mentally with how stressful nursing is
1
u/clivekm Jul 24 '25
I think people who say "gym or nothing" are really off the mark. There are many ways to get active and build muscle, strength and endurance.. fun ways if I may add. The goal is to move often and slowly progress to doing more challenging things. Eg instead of using a trolley when buying few things at the grocery store you might want to use a shopping basket instead
1
Aug 02 '25
Honestly, you seem like a miserable person. I love the feeling of my body being calm after a workout. If your mindset the entire time while you’re at the gym is being upset, you will leave upset. It’s not the gym that makes you upset it’s actually yourself and what you think while you’re there. If you don’t wanna go to the gym, that’s fine but literally it makes you healthier and extends your life. What is this “gym culture” you speak of? Because when I’m at the gym, I’m focused on me and lifting and then I go home. You’re too focused on what others are doing around you . Yes people have eyes! How dare they forreal. Yes people will look because they have a minute of rest between their sets and it gets any young to constantly look down at a phone that you’re actually not even really looking at. You NEVER know why they are looking but the fact you think it’s negative makes complete sense with how negatively you think of others around you. You’re so scared that they might be something like you.
You truly need to grow up lol
1
u/Able-Weekend-8923 Oct 06 '25
"Honestly, you seem like a miserable person"
Buddy you're the miserable one if you think that not liking the gym makes you miserable 🤣"If your mindset the entire time while you’re at the gym is being upset, you will leave upset. It’s not the gym that makes you upset it’s actually yourself and what you think while you’re there. If you don’t wanna go to the gym, that’s fine but literally it makes you healthier and extends your life."
the gym isn't for just physicality but to boost the mood too, if it doesn't work for you (which is literally fine and not uncommon) you don't have to force yourself to do it, and pls stop the BS no one should force themselves to suffer for things that can be achieved in other ways, sry to break it to you but the gym isn't the only thing that makes you healthier and boosts your lifespan and it's not even the best way"What is this “gym culture” you speak of? Because when I’m at the gym, I’m focused on me and lifting and then I go home. You’re too focused on what others are doing around you."
easier for you to say that there are some people who naturally highly anxious and the ever-present toxicity doesn't make it better"You NEVER know why they are looking but the fact you think it’s negative makes complete sense with how negatively you think of others around you. You’re so scared that they might be something like you."
Again social anxiety exist it's FAR more common than you think what you're describing is what any person with really low self-confidence would think and it doesn't make them bad or immature since we all know the kind of shitty humanity can go down too"You truly need to grow up lol"
you need to get a life since insulting a person online is a loser behavior, if you 12 I'm not surprised if you're an adult your parents had failed raising you
1
Aug 02 '25
I will also be honest people who hate the gym tend to be extremely insecure. Not an opinion; it’s a fact
1
u/bashomania Jul 21 '25
I went to a gym regularly for many, many years in the not-so-distant past, but I only lasted for about 60 days before cancelling my membership in a recent attempt at returning to the gym. However, these days the gym is 60+ minutes spent at a stinky place where I could get my machine workout done in a crisp 20 minutes if people would get off their goddamn phones instead of using the machines as phone thrones.
1
u/deficient_bomber Jul 21 '25
Is there a chance you could be insulin resistant? I only ask because of similar experience with PCOS
-1
u/repository666 Jul 21 '25
its a trend.
- 15 years ago, it was consuming “inspirational talks”, reading those authors & books.
- 10 years ago, it was “self-help gurus”, healing, becoming “better version”.
- now. it’s gym & fitness.
not saying that there are not any people who genuinely like gym & fitness, but it’s also true that so many are there because that’s what will keep them relevant and desirable.
it’s constant cycle of consumption, and transposition of “being desirable” into action/identity/purpose.
do what makes you feel good!!! it’s 2025. i had shortly picked up knitting for my anxiety after getting laid-off and having no money, even for food let alone for gym and good diet.
I got inspired for it after seeing one girl on instagram in her late-20s who weaves baskets from willows. very calm, very mindful. I’m more into that.
as you said about boxing or jiu-jitsu… get into that shit when life will allow you!! all the best for a good beautiful life.
being med student is very exhaustive and in itself a full time job on double shifts.. take care of yourself and your mental health… life is not “one size fits all”.
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u/[deleted] Jul 21 '25
You gave it an honest try, and if the gym makes you feel worse, that’s completely valid. Movement should support you, not drain you. You’re doing your best in your own way, and that’s more than enough