My theory on people who are able to exercise consistently (in non-sport ways) and even perhaps enjoy it is that they have non-narrative mindsets. Psyche strongly shaped by current state rather than memories/history.

They also tend to eschew theorizing past and future. They view past as data and future as blank canvas for planning. They don’t see the two as strong,y connected by a theorizable narrative logic.

I can only exercise consistently in particular narrative phases. Otherwise even minor things can derail me.

I definitely strongly identify with non-narrative.

An aphorism I live by is "I'm always just a single decision away from an entirely different life."

Also think it's about psychological flexibility. I never get trapped by typical internal narratives like "I always fail at xyz (i.e. fitness routines)."

Cheap Compute --> God Machines --> Eternal Life. Working on this at /mercury

I also think whether you really love exercise (vs you kinda like it or able to stick to a routine) is in part predetermined.

And ofc it's a lot easier to repeatedly keep doing something you love.

I love all types of physical activity. If I go more than 2 days without being physically active I feel absolutely shit.

I have a hyperactive mind with hundreds of threads running at the same time, and making my body work really hard feels like the best type of meditation.

Also I have extremely high energy levels, my partner often says that I have so much I'm like a nuclear power plant, so for people with naturally lower energy levels it also must be a lot harder to keep exercising.