You've told
yourself dozens of times that tomorrow you are going to start
exercising. Yet, tomorrow has come and gone, and you still haven't
starting moving. So, what's holding you back? What excuse seems fitting
today?
It's time to
face your excuses head-on so that you can overcome them and choose to
live a healthier lifestyle. Here are some of the most common excuses for
skipping exercise along with ways to combat them.
I
Don't Have Time: This if by far one of the
most common excuses used. But, it still doesn't hold water. People that
use this excuse are actually saying that exercise is not enough of a
priority to make it on their weekly to-do list. If you fall into this
category, then it's time to review your daily priority list. Certainly
there is something less important that you are doing for 20 minutes
every day that can be replaced with exercise. After all, exercise is one
of the most important things you can do for yourself and your family to
ensure that you live a long, full, disease-free life.
I've
Tried And Failed In The Past: It's true that
it can be difficult to get motivated to try something after you've
failed before, but isn't your health worth another try? If you've been
unsuccessful at exercising in the past, then re-evaluate what went
wrong. Did you try to do too much, too quickly? It's very common for new
exercisers to be overzealous when starting their workouts and end up
either burning out or getting injured early on. Did you set unrealistic
goals for yourself? Try to stick with small goals that are truly
achievable. For example, that you will workout three times per week for
the next month.
I
Can't Afford A Gym Membership: You don't have
to spend a single minute in a gym in order to lose weight or get fitter.
Just walking outside is a great place to start. Also, home fitness
equipment has become very affordable and accessible. For as little as
$30 you can buy some great home equipment that will really challenge
your body. A resistance band and an exercise ball allow you to work
every muscle group and even get a cardiovascular workout.
I'm
Too Fat (or out-of-shape): Unless your
physician has forbidden exercise, then it's very unlikely that this
excuse has any validity. If you are extremely out-of-shape, then you
simply need to start with baby steps. Walking is always a great place to
start. You may have to start with just five minutes. That's okay. You
can gradually add more time each week. If walking is not an option, then
you could try some pool exercises. At the very least, you can start by
getting active while sitting. There are many beneficial strength
training exercises you can do while sitting.
I
Don't Have Any Exercise Equipment: Nice try,
but it doesn't require special equipment to get your heart pumping.
Don't underestimate what you can do with things that are already in your
house. For example, if you have a flight of stairs in your house then
you've got an awesome way to get your heart rate up through walking
or running the stairs. Grab soup cans or milk jugs filled with sand to
immolate dumbbells for strength training exercises. Try push-ups and tricep dips and you'll quickly realize how hard your body has to work
when just using it's own weight.
I
Don't Know What Exercises To Do: There are
literally dozens of ways to learn what exercises will help you. A great
way to ensure your workouts are most effective is to hire a personal
trainer or an online personal trainer. They can guide you every step of
the way so that you don't waste any time doing exercises the wrong way.
Also, there are books, online websites, television shows and videos that
offer loads of advice and tips.
I'm
Too Old To Get Started: It may sound clich?,
but you are never too old to get started. Everyone can benefit from
exercising. Even if you are a senior citizen you can reap many rewards
from starting an exercise program. Okay, so maybe you won't be a
marathon runner or a bodybuilder, but you'll be able to walk the stairs
easier, play with your grandchildren, improve your balance, improve your
strength and more.
I
Just Can't Get Motivated: Don't view exercise
as a lifetime evil. Set small, short-term goals to help you get started.
Start with a promise to just take the stairs instead of the elevator,
for example. Then you might move onto scheduling 10 minutes of activity
a couple of times per week. Also,
make a list of
all the positive benefits exercising has on your life. Your list might
include giving you more energy, reducing your health ailments and more.
The list should be pretty long. Post it somewhere that you will see it
regularly and it can serve as a reminder to you as to why you need to
workout.
I Hate
Exercising: You probably think you hate it because you've been stuck
doing activities that you don't enjoy. Many people still have the old
"no pain, no gain" mentality and think that in order for exercise to be
worthwhile you have to be miserable doing it. This just isn't true.
Consider things that you really like to do. Do you prefer competitive
situations? Then consider joining a recreational sports team. Do you
enjoy spending time alone? Maybe Yoga or evening walks are for you?
I'm
Too Tired: This excuse can create a vicious
circle because the more sedentary you are then the more tired you
become. Of course, the more tired you are then the less appealing
exercise sounds. So, try to nip this in the bud quickly. Exercise can
actually make you feel more revived then a nap. Regular physical
activity increases your energy level. Plus, exercisers tend to sleep fall
asleep faster and sleep better, which allows you to truly feel rested
every day.
When you find
yourself making an excuse not to exercise, read through some of the
above tips again. And, remind yourself of all the many benefits of
working out: lower body fat, decreased risk of many diseases, reduced
instances of depression, improved bone density, reduced risk of injuries
and many more.
Lynn Bode, author
and certified personal trainer, offers her services online through
WorkoutsForYou.com.
Workouts For You provides
affordable online exercise programs to help even
the busiest of people lose weight, tone-up, build muscles, increase
stamina and more via the Internet. Let us
guide you one-on-one through your fitness journey. Visit: http://www.workoutsforyou.com for
a free sample workout.