The number of excuses people make to avoid exercising has grown over the years. Although some of these excuses are creative, most are part of a general group of excuses people use every day to avoid taking steps to improve their health and well-being.
How many people do you know who promised themselves that they would get fit this week, yet it has been two weeks and they still haven't kicked off their regimen? What was their excuse this time? Perhaps this has happened so many times that you've stopped counting. You have probably been through this before. What's stopping you?
These are some of the most common excuses people use to not exercise, and how you can get around them if they are stopping you from taking part in a healthier lifestyle.
There is no time to exercise today is probably the most commonly used excuse. It is nonsense to think that you need to exercise for one to two hours a day. To be effective, an exercise routine should not last more than 20 to 30 minutes a day. If you cannot find 30 minutes a day to exercise, how can you find 2 hours or more a day to watch TV?
There is also the excuse; I can't afford to pay for a gym membership or home equipment. There's no need to join a gym in order to get into shape and lose weight. You can walk or run around your neighborhood or in the park for free and still get all the benefits of a cardio workout at the gym. Exercises such as crunches, pushups, and so on can also be done at home for free. You can also buy fitness equipment at home that gives you a good resistance workout for under $50.00, such as resistance tubing bands and an exercise ball.
Many people use the excuse that they don't know how to exercise or what exercises to do, but there are several ways to learn how to exercise right and what exercises to do. You can get started in the right direction by hiring a skilled, certified personal trainer. For those who can't afford a trainer, there are workout videos and books that you can buy to help you. Your local library even has plenty of exercise books that you can check out for free.
Another common excuse is that I'm too old or out of shape to begin exercising. You can use this excuse only if your doctor tells you that you should not exercise because of a medical condition. A senior citizen or someone who is out of shape might have to start slowly. Starting out with just 5 minutes of exercise a day and gradually increasing is better than not exercising at all.
Finally, and by far my favorite excuse, I hate exercise. I always laugh at this one. Many people who think they hate exercise do so because they are stuck with the idea that exercise involves boring exercises with heavyweights or jogging far enough to complete the Boston marathon. Some people still think that pain is the price you must pay for improving your health and fitness. Who wouldn't want to avoid pain in order to become healthier? Get your body moving and active by exercising. Playing softball in a league, hiking on a trail, or riding a bicycle are all good exercises. Exercise can be fun if you find activities that you enjoy doing.
Okay, no more excuses. Now is the right time. Spending even 30 minutes a day to get active, exercise, and improve your health will be the best thing you can do for yourself and your family. Consider how much more you can enjoy doing the things you like to do when you are in better shape, and even better, how much more you can enjoy your children as they grow up, and your grandchildren as they grow up.
You cant count the benefits of exercising. They are just too numerous. They help control weight, help weight loss, improve your attitude, and generally make you feel better. The experts are now telling us that just thirty minutes a day of moving will improve your health.
Even though I must accept the opinions of so many experts, I still have difficulty setting aside time in my busy schedule. The following ideas may help you get started if you encounter the same problem:
1.Do not park your car near the store entrance at the mall or the grocery store. You should park your car as far away from the store as possible.
2.When the weather permits, go outside and clean the yard. Picking up leaves and trash will burn calories just by bending and stretching.
3.Take the dog for a walk. You will keep yourself active while your dog enjoys this.
4.Walk during your lunch break at work. Several employees are willing to walk with me sometimes. Although I've exercised during daylight hours, this makes the time go faster.
You can find many more reasons and ideas to motivate you in the right direction. I find that walking in the sunshine improves my mood, and I will take the time to go walking when the sun is out. Make yourself a priority.
