Tuesday, January 17, 2017

What’s Your Excuse For Not Exercising?



Excuses Suck!


I think people make excuses when they’re afraid of the unknown and really afraid to be uncomfortable.  It’s normal to want to avoid discomfort but what if avoiding discomfort was affecting your health?  If you’re making excuses to avoid working out and eating healthy your excuses are causing you a lot of harm.  Let’s look at some common excuses and I’ll provide some solutions for you!


EXCUSE #1

 

I don’t have the time to exercise:  This is a VERY common excuse.  A busy schedule can make it really tough and unappealing to fit in time to exercise but if you did find the time you’d be doing yourself a world of good.  Studies have shown that working out relieves stress, depression and anxiety among other things.    
 
Another thing to consider is this: if you don’t exercise, you’re almost guaranteed to begin experiencing the illness and disease that comes from an inactive lifestyle.  You think a workout is time consuming?  If you begin to experience illness due to an inactive lifestyle, you’ll have to make an appointment with the doctor, drive to your appointment, wait to be seen, possibly schedule additional tests at the hospital, and wait for your prescriptions to be filled at the pharmacy.  If you develop a chronic illness, you’re going to have to do this on a regular basis – that adds up to A LOT of time!  If you become ill you’re going to have to adjust your lifestyle to accommodate your illness.  Why not just adjust your time now while your healthy to accommodate a healthy lifestyle that will help prevent you from developing chronic illness?   

Exercise takes a lot less time out of your day than illness.  Even with just 30 minutes a day you’ll be making significant changes in your health.


Some tips to fit in regular workouts:

 

·         Set your alarm half an hour earlier and get in a quick workout before work.  People who workout first thing in the morning tend to do better at sticking to their program because there’s nothing that’s going to get in your way of that workout – you get up, you workout, you get on with your day!

·         Do a quick workout during your lunch break.  Ask friends from the office to join you so you can keep each other accountable.

·         Make it a new rule that you stop at the gym or do an at home workout right after work before dinner.  If it’s an at home workout make sure your partner/family know that it’s your time and if they need you they’ll have to workout with you.



EXCUSE #2

 

 
I don’t like to exercise:  Another pretty common excuse.  But ask yourself this: Do you like having no energy?  Do you like having achy joints?  Do you like being overweight?  Do you like having to take medications to deal with illness?  Give it some serious thought and think about what you dislike more – a sweat session or a life of discomfort and no energy.


Some tips to get over your dislike of exercise:

 

·         Find something you enjoy doing!  Working out doesn’t mean you have to hit the gym and do stuff that bores you.  Any activity can be your workout.  Do you like playing sports?  Biking?  Skiing?  Find something that excites you so you look forward to your workouts.

·         Find a buddy.  Even if you don’t like your workout having your friend with you will make it more fun.  It’s a great way for the two of you to bond.

·         Crank up the tunes!!  The right music can power you through any workout!  Studies have shown that when people listened to music they love during their workouts their effort level was higher.  

 

EXCUSE #3

 

I don’t have the energy to exercise:  Did you know that exercise will actually give you energy?  Sounds weird but it’s true!  If you’re feeling low on energy get up and start moving around.  So many of my clients tell me how tired they are before a class starts.  After the class I ask them how they’re feeling and they always tell me they feel SO much better.  


Some tips to get you moving when your energy is low:

 

·         Just move.  Commit to do just the warm up.  If you still have no energy after your warm-up call it a day.  It’s almost guaranteed that once you start moving and start releasing some endorphins you’re going to want to stay and do the whole workout.

·        
Mind over matter.  Don’t let yourself even think about your low energy level.  Just put your workout gear on and get on with your workout.

·         Make a commitment.  Whether it’s to a friend who you’re going to workout with or a personal trainer/coach or your family and friends, if you know you have someone who’s expecting you to do your workout you’ll get it done.


EXCUSE #4

 

The timing isn’t good.  I’ll start working out when…

·         I find the right gym to join
·         I lose a bit of weight by dieting
·         The kids go back to school
·         The kids get older
·         I have more time
·         Work gets less busy
·         The weather warms up a little
·         The weather cools down a little
·         Someday…Sorry!  Someday is not an actual day.

Rather than spending your time coming up with reasons why now is not the right time to start a fitness program, just start!


Give up your excuses!

 

Here’s what I’m asking you to do:  Simply decide to stop making excuses.  Decide that now is the time and you’re going to do it no matter what.  Everybody has excuses for not exercising.  Everybody also has very important reasons why they need to be healthy.  Choose health! 

If gym schedules just don’t fit your schedule let me know and I’ll hook you up with an amazing at home program with built in accountability!  You’ll belong to a group of people who are working on fitting in fitness and they’ll be your support and your motivation – I of course will be a part of this group ;)  So really…..what’s stopping you?


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