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Overcoming exercise excuses
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
exercises 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 with 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 cliché, 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,
exercises 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 is a certified personal trainer specializing in
Internet-
based fitness programs. She founded Workouts For You, which
provides
affordable online exercise programs that are custom designed
for each
individual. Visit: http://www.workoutsforyou.com for a free
sample
workout and to sign-up for their monthly fitness newsletter.
Fitness
professionals improve your business, visit:
http://www.trainerforce.com
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