The 9 Most Dreaded Exercises You Can Skip

Burpees

This devilish maneuver requires squatting, jumping back into a plank, pushing up, jumping out of the plank, and jumping into the air.

Running

Why is it called the "dreadmill." Many gym-goers loathe running yet think it's necessary. We want things to be difficult, but not so hard that people stop exercising.

Planks

They're wonderful for core stability, but once you've acquired plank strength and endurance, maintaining the position for a long time can seem like a chore, especially during an intellectually stimulating exercise.

Pull-Ups

Pull-ups are bodyweight, therefore you can't merely lower the weight to master them. It's not usually possible to add reps quickly: Going from 4 to 5 pull-ups is bigger than adding a lat pulldown plate.

Bulgarian Split Squat

One foot is lifted behind the exerciser during the Bulgarian split squat, the lowering and rising phase of a lunge.

Lunge

Taking a lengthy lunge forward or backward "can feel like they're on a tightrope," adds Tumminello. 

Thrusters

Thrusters, like burpees, are heart-pounding combination moves that require little space. Thus, high-intensity interval training sessions end with this fast-paced squat-plus-shoulder press.

Front Squats

Nobbe believes the front squat, like the thruster, can strain wrists. Keeping a barbell in a front rack posture demands movement, otherwise the bar may push on your throat, which some exercisers dislike.

Barbell Deadlifts

A typical barbell deadlift requires coordination between the hips, knees, ankles, shoulders, and back, which can be painful.