Why is "working out" a bad word?

[safeweightloss]

Just wonder if any off you have had the experience working with people regarding weight loss, when they totally freak out if you use the word "work out"? I know I have a lot over the years, but you learn, adjust and build rapport with people and if I feel a client have a major "resistance" to the word "work out" I replace that "horrific" word with activity. My experience is that introducing an other word for the same purpose gives the same result. If you have the same issues, try it out and hopefully you will have some positive experience. Cheers!

 

[Steve]

In my ten or so years of doing this I haven't encountered anyone with an adversity to the phrase "working out."

I focus more on education and fixing misconceptions.

 

[KaraCooks]

I also have never heard anyone specifically object to that word. Some people object to the idea of exercise in general but not to the phrase "working out".

 

[Addiecakes]

It's funny -- I was thinking about something similar to this this morning ... and I think that it has to do with the fact that people who live inactive lifestyles typically think of exercise or "working out" as hard work ... or unnecessarily difficult (and not as "normal). And sure, it takes effort, and sometimes it is hard. But the truth is that a "normal" lifestyle should be one that promotes healthy living through balanced diets and regular exercise.

I've always been the type of person who considered a "normal" lifestyle as one that didn't include exercising and eating right. It seems like backwards thinking to me at this point, but that's been a very recent revelation.

Anyway, I think that the reason people may have a distaste for the term "working out" is because it makes them think that it is extra work, when in actuality it is just maintenance of your physical health.

I hope that makes sense. I don't feel like I explained my thoughts the way I wanted to, lol

 

[harshathlete]

It's funny -- I was thinking about something similar to this this morning ... and I think that it has to do with the fact that people who live inactive lifestyles typically think of exercise or "working out" as hard work ... or unnecessarily difficult (and not as "normal).

Their perceptions are further cemented when they watch shows like Biggest Loser or any other shows where the trainers push the newcomers ( often overweight ) right from day one to insane limits! This would discourage any newcomer from the idea of working out.

How would you like to start with a 30 minute run on the treadmill when you have never ever run before. And how about we follow that up with some weights for another 30 minutes , right from day 1 ( or day 2 ) ? This is what they show the trainers doing to their clients.

I think when you push someone too hard too quickly, they will resist the change and the trainer might accomplish exactly the opposite of what they intend to do.

I still remember the first time I decided to go for a run outdoors. Although I had been running about 2-3 miles on the treadmill, I was completely wiped out in the first 5 minutes ( I think it was more like first 2 mins ). It took me a few weeks to get the hang of it and then even more time to get to the point where I could run a mile without stopping.

Had a trainer pushed me to run the same mile the very first day, I probably would have not shown up for the next session

Harsh

 

[safeweightloss]

I have to apologize because there is a language issue here I'm from Norway and the word's exercise and work out translate to the same word. And for those of you that wonted to learn some Norwegian today, the word is "trening". Sorry for the inconvenience, but in essence it was an honest post.

 

[KaraCooks]

Ah .. that kind of makes more sense. Language barriers and all that.

I would say that Addie has pretty much nailed it for me.

I will also say that as someone who was very overweight, exercise of any kind was NOT fun. It wasn't even something I thought of as "bearable". When you're that overweight, it's very very difficult to get moving. You get out of breath easily and quickly, you get hot easily, you sweat unpleasantly, fat jiggles and bounces in a way that's uncomfortable at best and painful at worst. You can't touch your toes, not because you're not limber, but because your gut gets inthe way. Or your boobs. Or both. You can't lower yourself to the floor w/out major contortions and grunting and effort - and don't even think about getting up off the floor, much less doing it gracefully.

And then you add in the visions you get of fit and healthy trainers working out, exercise videos of people doing things that you can't do ... it's all just overwhelming.

It's very hard to visualize how you'll get from HERE (being fat and out of shape) to THERE (being slim and fit) w/out thinking it's going to be painful and embarrassing and ultimately unsuccessful.

 

[Harold14370]

I think when you push someone too hard too quickly, they will resist the change and the trainer might accomplish exactly the opposite of what they intend to do.

When I went to college, all incoming freshmen had to take a physical conditioning test. Those who failed were required to take "PC" (physical conditioning) class. Others could take various elective phys ed classes.

At that time, I was skinny but not athletic, and had to take PC. PC was run like a boot camp and they pushed us to the limit. At the end of the first session, I went outside and threw up.

I did get into pretty good shape by the end of that semester, but later returned to my couch potato habits. Over the years, I went from a skinny couch potato to a fat couch potato.

Is there a better way of doing a physical conditioning training class? I don't know, but the college PC class didn't do me much good in the long term. And, I did that semester of Physical Conditioning class without learning any of the basic principles that I am just now learning, such as by reading Steve's excellent sticky threads on this site.