When my client first walked into the gym, she said the words I’ve heard a lot over the years: “I hate exercise.”
Like, full-body shudder hate. PE-class trauma hate. “Rather get a root canal” kind of hate.
And honestly? I get it. If your only experience with fitness has been boring workouts or instructors yelling like you’re in a military boot camp, of course you’re not gonna be thrilled about it.
But I knew we could change that. And spoiler alert: we did. Here’s how we took her from “I hate exercise” to a full-blown gym lover who now says things like, “Deadlifts are my therapy.” (Music to my ears.)
1. We found a workout she actually enjoyed
Here’s a radical idea: You don’t have to hate exercise if you don’t hate your workouts.
She thought fitness = the treadmill of doom. But we tried a bunch of different things—lifting, rowing, group classes, sandbag slams (stress relief and cardio? yes please)—until she found her groove.
Turns out she didn’t hate movement. She hated feeling bored, awkward, or like she was failing.
Now, thankfully for me, this client happened to fall in love with CrossFit. That’s not true for everyone—and that’s okay! You might prefer rock climbing, hot yoga, dance classes, or something else entirely. The key is to do more of what you actually look forward to.
2. We identified her why
Weight loss wasn’t doing it for her. (Let’s be real—it’s not that motivating when the scale’s being rude.)
So we got deeper. She wanted to feel strong enough to carry her toddler without back pain, to walk into meetings like the boss she is, and to not feel exhausted every afternoon.
Once she connected with that “why,” workouts started to feel like self-care instead of punishment.
3. We celebrated every little win
First squat below parallel? We high-fived.
Drank water instead of Dr. Pepper? High-five.
Got to the gym even though she was in a mood? HIGH. FIVE.
When you’re starting from “I hate exercise,” small wins are a big deal. They build confidence, momentum, and maybe even a little excitement to keep showing up.
Sure, you could just give yourself a little mental pat on the back. But I recommend writing your wins down. Keeping a journal of your victories creates a body of evidence that you can do hard things—and it’s super motivating when you’re feeling down on yourself (in or out of the gym).
👉 Here’s a tracker I like for celebrating those little victories.
4. We figured out what kind of accountability worked for her
My client didn’t want a drill sergeant. She needed a coach who could give her a nudge without being annoying—and a community that would notice if she ghosted.
Some people thrive with a workout buddy. Others like check-ins from a coach, a supportive group chat, or even a sticker chart (yes, really).
Accountability looks different for everyone, but it makes a massive difference—especially when your natural instinct is to say “no thanks” to the gym.
5. We focused on the process, not the outcome
Instead of chasing six-pack abs or a goal weight, we tracked simple habits:
➡️ Show up 3x/week
➡️ Move your body for 30 minutes
➡️ Eat something green every day
Progress happened, of course. But because we weren’t obsessing over it, she actually enjoyed the ride—and that’s what made it sustainable.
Final thoughts: You don’t have to hate exercise forever
If you’re someone who still says, “I hate exercise,” here’s my hot take: You probably just haven’t found the right fit yet.
Movement shouldn’t feel like a chore, and you shouldn’t have to force yourself to do something you dread.
The right workout, the right people, and the right mindset can change everything. And if you need help figuring that out? I’m here. Shoot me a message and let’s find a way to make fitness something you actually look forward to (even if it’s not with us at Two Six—though we do think we’re pretty great).