Let's face it, when it comes to starting an exercise plan, few of us actually enjoy it. Who wants to get all tired and sweaty when it's so much easier to sit on the couch and languish? This causes most of us to make excuses and find ways to keep busy so that we have a reason to avoid exercising. However, there are ways that you can get past this stage and make that effort towards getting healthier. And you know what? Once you start exercising regularly you'll most likely find that you feel better when you're done. That's right, eventually you will like exercising.
So, let's start off at ground zero. You need to exercise, but you don't want to. First, make a list of all the reasons that you need to start exercising. Now, next to this column, make a list of the reasons that you don't want to exercise. Let's take a look at that second column and start blowing these excuses away.
Biggest excuse - you don't have enough time.
Well, there are several ways to look at this. Most of us need to exercise at least thirty minutes a day. While it's better to get it done all at once, there's no rule that says you have to do thirty minutes in one sitting. Can you find three 10 minute blocks in your day where you usually do nothing? Turn that time into exercise time! It may not be easy if you're at work, but there are ways that you can start exercising even on the job.
Second biggest excuse - I'm embarrassed to go to the gym in my current state.
Yes, walking into the gym and being the biggest person there is not fun. However, chances are, those people looked just like you at one time or another. You don't need to feel ashamed of your body. If you find that you're not welcome at one gym, try another. If all else fails, get some exercise equipment for you home or start a walking plan around your neighborhood. Keep at it until you feel comfortable enough to walk into the gym.
Third biggest excuse - The gym is too far away.
This is one of the few excuses that actually makes a lot of sense. We're all pretty busy and driving that extra twenty minutes out of our way doesn't fit into our schedules. If you cannot find a gym that is within a short distance of your home or work, try to get some exercise equipment of your own, or find ways to exercise that don't require actual equipment, such as walking or running.
Fourth biggest excuse - I'm too out of shape and it's too hard.
Well, with this mentality, you're never going to get anywhere. Instead of leaping into a marathon training regime, you're going to need to start small. Build up your exercise in five minute blocks, adding more moves until you are able to do them all at once. This helps you gradually get into better shape and it's not so hard to get started.
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Originally posted 2008-12-07 13:48:35. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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10 comments ↓
Hey, I really enjoyed reading this. I’m interested in learning more. I’d also like to share with you this book I finished that might offer you some new insights. It’s called Harmonic Wealth and it’s all about finding harmony in your life in all areas – financial, relational, mental, physical, and spiritual. It has some really good tips about how to engage all five pillars (or areas) of your life, and to learn more about how they complement each other. Rather than dealing with each issue individually, maybe take a look at the bigger picture.
Here’s the link to the book I recommend: harmonicwealth.com/read
@James
Thanks for stopping by… I will review the book in an upcoming book review, it looks interesting.
The time factor is a big obstacle for lots of people! What lights a fire under my backside is the idea that everybody is given the same 24 hours, and the really fit (AND busy) folks still manage to make time to exercise…
And that’s another motivator for me: You have to MAKE time to exercise, not try to find the time!
number 2 is one I heard FREQUENTLY from my clients.
Id let me say it.
then we’d embrace it and often figure out an at home workout with a specific date for when we, together, would go to a gym and take a walk through.
99 percent of the time the gym setting was NOT what they had envisioned (read: far more mellow)
[...] gave us some good ways to combat common excuses that keep us on the [...]
driving a distance to get to the gym is SO true! I used to be so diligent w/my exercise program for years – all because my complex had a fitness center. then i moved and had to join a gym. YUCK. it’s a meat market! also with evening/morning traffic it can take me up to 15 minutes to get to the gym and it’s literally 5 miles away. i am actually looking into buying a treadmill. i used to run 5 miles a day 6 days a week back in the day. it was the best shape i was in!
[...] coach is beckoning. People who exercise in the morning generally find that they are less likely to skip their workouts once they get into a routine. You’ve got your whole day ahead of you, and you won’t be in the [...]
Very good points! I’ve also found that even when you have a home gym, complete with weights and an elliptical, as I did when I first started my fat loss journey, that if you’re not ready mentally, you’ll still make excuses. I live in southern CA and I would skip on exercising because it was, get this, “too cold” in the garage to workout …
too many people make excuses – lack of time: do a 10 minute bodyweight workout as soon as you wake up
no equipment: do it at home using bodyweight
not motivated: find a picture of who you want to look like and stick it on your fridge
just make it happen!
Hi,
Great post. i couldn’t agree more. the 4 are the biggest obstacle and we make even more excuses not to exercise. maybe we should hire someone to come to our house, force us to go to gym and drive us there. sounds good?
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