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| Fitness |
 Exercise Excuses - Tips
on How to Overcome the BlocksBy Lynn Bode owner of Workouts For You 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. 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 at it 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? Did you set unrealistic goals for yourself? 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. Keep in mind also that many gym memberships can be paid in equal monthly installments, some as little as $35 per month. 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. 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 by walking or running the stairs. Grab soup cans to immolate dumbbells for strength training exercises. I Don’t Know What Exercises To Do... There are literally dozens of ways to learn what exercises will help you. There are literally thousands of books available in the bookstores and library. Another great way to ensure your workouts are most effective is to hire a personal trainer. They can guide you every step of the way so that you don’t waste any time doing exercises the wrong way. I Just Can’t Get Motivated... Don’t view exercise as a lifetime evil. Set small, short-term goals to help you get started. Begin 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. Post it somewhere that you will see it regularly. 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. Find things that you really like to do. I’m Too Tired... This excuse can create a vicious cycle, because the more sedentary you are, the more tired you become. Of course, the more tired you are, the less appealing exercise sounds. So, try to nip this in the butt quickly. Exercise can actually make you feel more revived than a nap. Regular physical activity increases your energy level. 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, owner of Workouts For You, offers affordable online personal training programs for weight loss, strength training, & nutritional planning. Get a free fitness evaluation at www.workoutsforyou.com or contact info@workoutsforyou.com |