Does Exercise Have to be Boring and Bitter?

Have you ever wondered, “why is working out is so boring, and well … bluh?” If you have, maybe it’s not your fault. Maybe you’ve been trying exercises that are in fact, so boring. Maybe you need a re-engineered version of exercise that extracts the boredom, removes the bitterness, and leaves you feeling amazing.

“Good For You” Doesn’t Have to Be Bitter.

Do you remember trying Brussels sprouts as a kid? Boiled. Bitter. And bluh. But apparently really good for you, or at least that’s what I was told. Have you tried them recently? They taste amazing, especially grilled or air fried and served with a drizzle of olive oil and a dowsing of Parmesan cheese.  

So, what happened? Did our taste buds really change that much?  

Did We Acquire a Taste for Brussels Sprouts?

No, actually Brussels sprouts changed. In the 1990s Dutch scientist Hans van Doorn identified the chemical cause of the bitter taste and began measuring glucosinolates levels in the most commonly sold sprouts. Through testing, sorting, and cross-pollinating with hundreds of archived varieties, they were able to engineer the bitterness out and now, 30 years later, the milder, better tasting Brussels sprouts business is booming.  

But let’s think back to the original. Really good for you. Tastes pretty terrible. And leaves a bitter taste in your mouth.  

Sounds a lot like exercise. 

It’s Good for You, But It Tastes Terrible. 

What would convince you to try, buy, and even try again “original” Brussels sprouts in the ‘80s? Maybe the promise of health benefits? They are a great source of vitamin K, vitamin C, and folate, rich in antioxidants, may help maintain a healthy blood sugar, may reduce inflammation, could improve bone health, reduce risk of diabetes, lower your risk of heart disease, and improve your skin, improve gut health, and prevent cancer. But they taste terrible. 

 Maybe if the bitterness was…brief? Boil them, so they are easier to eat. Timely, sure, but now they’re bitter and soggy? Yeah, no thanks. 

Could you be convinced by…cheapness? “Here, these taste terrible, but they’re the lowest priced greens in town!” Just a big pile of cheap, bitter Brussels sprouts. 

Or maybe a mantra will make the difference. “This is good for me. It’s miserable, but…this is good for me. This is good for me.”  

Or you can – thank goodness – fast forward to the 2020s and the new and improved Brussels sprouts. 

Why Brussels Sprouts and Exercise? 

For those who have read this far and don’t understand why I am still talking about Brussels sprouts, let me connect the dots. If exercise is really good for you, but tastes pretty terrible, and leaves a bitter taste in your mouth, you won’t do it. At least not for long. But, if you can discover a re-engineered version of exercise, an experience that is so engaging and encouraging and enticing and inclusive and electric, you might get hooked.  

Exercise, Re-engineered. 

We’ve all experienced exercise that, well, leaves a bad taste in our mouths. Why is exercise so boring? Well, because a lot of options are boring, not to mention punishing, solitary, and even intimidating. No need to identify the chemical causes of the bitterness, because it’s something we’ve all choked down. Instead, at MOSSA, we researched the elements that make exercise feel a lot less like a chore, and made it into an experience that’s actually enjoyable. (Trust us, it takes some fresh ingredients!) 

The (Not) Secret Ingredients to Make Exercise Not Terrible. 

Exercise today – great group exercise, specifically – finally feels more like an experience and less like a chore. Research on the power of music, of social connection, and of working out with a group, is overwhelmingly convincing that when people work out together, with a motivating instructor, in sync and in time with amazing music, the act of exercising can be more about the experience and less about the act of doing the exercises.  

According to the Chip and Dan Heath, authors of The Power of Moments, “When we asses our experiences, we don’t average minute-by-minute sensations. Rather, we tend to remember flagship moments: the peaks, the pits, and the transitions.” In fact, they go as far as saying that people will even forget the length of time spent in an experience, a phenomenon called “duration neglect.” People instead focus on the highs, the lows, and how they feel at the end. 

Not All Workouts are the Same. 

Bottom line, a well-designed, thoughtfully crafted, fine-tuned and tested group fitness experience can be instrumental in helping you feel surprisingly successful, create a healthy habit, and thankfully, change negative perceptions of exercise. We love when people try a MOSSA workout – all about motivating music and inclusive coaching, tried and tested movements, and movements for real life – and say at the end, not “Why is working out so boring?” but “Wait, that was…a workout?! That was great. I can’t wait to try it again.”

Wait … Those are Brussels Sprouts?!? 

A few years ago, my wife was planning a dinner side dish. “How about Brussel sprouts?” she asked. “No, I don’t like them,” I said. My suggestion: “How about those miniature artichokes that you made a couple of weeks ago.” “Um, you mean Brussels sprouts, Jeffrey?” Wait, those were…Brussels sprouts? Those were great. Can’t wait to try them again. 

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MOSSA’s mission is to inspire people to move. We create and deliver innovative and inclusive workouts for health clubs and YMCAs worldwide and for the home user through MOSSA On Demand.