Should You Do Workouts You Hate? The Truth About Motivation & Results

Be Honest—Do You Actually Enjoy Your Workouts?

If you’ve ever forced yourself through a workout you hated because you thought it was the only way to get results, you’re not alone.

A lot of women—especially over 40—believe they have to do certain workouts, even when they dread every second. Running, HIIT, barre, Pilates… if you’ve ever thought, “I need to do this because it burns the most calories”—you’re not crazy. But you might be setting yourself up for failure.

So let’s break it down: Should you do workouts you don’t like? Or is there a better way to reach your goals?

The #1 Reason People Think They Have to Do Certain Workouts

A common belief in fitness is that more pain = more progress.

That’s why so many women force themselves through workouts they hate, thinking:

✅ “Running is the best way to lose weight.”
✅ “HIIT burns the most calories, so I need to suffer through it.”
✅ “If I want to tone, I have to do Pilates, even though I hate it.”

But here’s the reality check: You don’t need to do workouts you hate just because they’re trendy or seem ‘effective.’

If you force yourself to do something miserable, how long will you actually stick with it?
And more importantly—is that workout even helping you reach your goal?

Should You Force Yourself to Do Workouts You Hate?

The real answer? It depends.

Not all workouts are created equal. Some will give you the best results, even if they aren’t your absolute favorite. But others? If they’re making you miserable and they don’t align with your goals, why bother?

Here’s a simple 3-Category Framework to help you decide what’s worth keeping:

1️⃣ Workouts You LOVE (Keep Doing These!)

These are the workouts that make movement natural for you. They may not be the most ‘efficient’ for fat loss or muscle-building, but they keep you consistent.

✔ Dancing, hiking, swimming, group classes
✔ Anything that makes exercise feel fun
✔ If you love it, it’s keeping you moving—so don’t stop!

2️⃣ Workouts You DON’T LOVE (But Give the Best Results)

These workouts may not be your favorite, but they’re crucial for your goals.

Strength training falls into this category for a lot of women.
You don’t have to love every rep—but you should respect the results it gives.

If you want to lose fat, build muscle, and reshape your body, skipping strength training is NOT an option.

3️⃣ Workouts You HATE (And Don’t Align With Your Goals)

If a workout is both miserable and ineffective, it’s time to let it go.

Hate running and only do it for fat loss? You don’t have to run.
Dread HIIT but feel like you ‘should’ do it? Not necessary.
Avoid lifting because you think it’ll make you bulky? You’re missing out.

Bottom line: You don’t have to love every workout, but you also don’t need to suffer through something that isn’t serving you.

The Real Reason You Might ‘Hate’ a Workout

Before you ditch a workout completely, ask yourself:

❌ Do I hate it because it makes me feel weak or inexperienced?
❌ Am I avoiding it because I don’t understand why it’s necessary?
❌ Am I doing it wrong (bad form, wrong weight, poor pacing)?

Sometimes, it’s not the workout—it’s how we’re approaching it.

Example: The first time you lift heavy, it might feel uncomfortable. But in 3 months? You could feel strong as heck and wonder how you ever lived without it.

If a workout is giving you results, give it 4-6 weeks before deciding it’s not for you. But if it’s miserable AND unnecessary? Ditch it.

How to Make ‘Not-So-Fun’ Workouts More Enjoyable

You may never love every workout, but you can make them more bearable (and even fun!).

✅ Pair it with something you love → Listen to an audiobook, podcast, or hype music.
✅ Make it social → Train with a friend or join a community.
✅ Focus on progress, not just the workout → Seeing yourself get stronger is way more motivating.
✅ Switch up the format → Hate slow strength training? Try circuits, supersets, or functional strength moves.

Sometimes, you don’t need a more fun workout—you just need a smarter way to approach the ones that work.

Final Takeaway: Do You Need to Love Your Workouts?

No, you don’t have to love it.
Yes, you DO need to do what works.

The key is balance:
✔ Do the workouts you love for consistency.
✔ Do the workouts that get results, even if they’re not your favorite.
✔ Let go of the ones that make you miserable AND don’t serve your goals.

Watch the Full Breakdown Here 

And if you’re ready for a structured plan that takes the guesswork out of what actually works, check out the EM2WL Training App—it’s designed to help you reset your metabolism, build muscle, and burn fat without wasting time on workouts that don’t work.

Let’s train smart, not suffer!