Nature of Exertion

Me: You look bummed, what’s up?
Coworker: I threw out my back a few weeks ago, and I can’t exercise.  Now I’m fat and unhappy.
Me: I’ve never found exercise to really change my mood.  I just listen to books on tape or play video games most of the time.
Coworker: That’s now how it’s supposed to be done.  The point of exercise is to go into a zone of personal pain for 30 to 60 minutes.  The whole time will suck and your body will hate you.  When you’re done, the pain is gone and your body thanks you for not doing that to it all the time.  From that comes the feeling of joy.

I guess I’m doing it wrong.