What is your excuse?

A few weeks ago, I asked a question on facebook and twitter.  If you don't work out, what is your excuse for not doing it?  I am not judging, I really was just curious.  Most of us know that we should be exercising and most of us are not doing it regularly.  So, I wanted to know why.  If you don't ask, you'll never know the answers right?  I got a wide variety of answers, but there were a few that were more popular:

1)  no time

2)  lack of motivation

3)  too lazy, depressed

4) injuries

5)  get enough exercise at work

6)  no place to workout


After seeing the answers I think the most popular one was no time.  Second was motivation, laziness.

So how do we get past these reasons/excuses?  Time is a hard one, everyone wants to spend time with their families, have a little downtime and get things done around the house after work.  However, if you don't make time for your exercise, you may not have those things. 

 No time - can you give me 10 minutes?  How about a 10 Minute Trainer workout - or another good one - I like to call it "commercial cardio".  If you are watching TV at night, get up during the commercials and walk in place, do pushups, situps, just get moving and doing something.  Put on some music while you are cleaning house and really dance around.  Grab the kids and dance with them.  Watch what they do, move like they do. They are uninhibited.  Have fun with it.  Play a little basketball with them, a game of horse.  Toss the ball around outside. Do what you can when you can. A workout doesn't have to be done all at once to be effective.
Get several mini workouts in throughout the day.  Take the stairs instead of the elevator, park at the back of the parking lot and walk.  Just move more throughout the day.  It will help!

Motivation - this one is hard.  If you don't feel like doing it, you probably aren't going to do it.  BUT, if you do get moving, you will feel better.  I think exercise is addictive.  Once you get going as you start feeling better, looking better and sleeping better, you are going to be wanting to workout.  So, my advice is to just do it!  Get a workout partner, you will be more apt to workout when someone else is depending on you!   I've heard that you should tell yourself that you will do 15 mins of the workout and then you can quit if you want.  Most people don't quit, you get that second wind and keep going.  How about putting a photo of you when you feel you look your best up on the fridge or in the area you workout?  Or make a dream board.  These are great to get you motivated.  I keep mine in the living room on the fireplace mantle.  It has all the things I want to accomplish this year on it.  One of them is Dara Torres.  She has an amazing body and is my age and I know that it is possible to achieve it!  Look at it often and remember why you want to workout!  Another great option is to have a goal purchase in mind. I  recommend setting mini-goals and then when you reach it - treat yourself.  It could be a new outfit, a night out with your spouse or friends or just a day to relax and pamper yourself.

Too lazy, depressed - this one goes along with motivation.  You will have more energy when you are exercising.  Trust me.  You will not be more tired.  You may be a little sore at the beginning, but that will go away.  The endorphins that you release after exercising will make you feel better, be happier.  There is nothing better than feeling that you have accomplished something.  If you are sitting around, but then beating yourself up for not exercising, then you just stay in that mode.  Try it one day at a time.  See how you feel, I think you'll continue.

Injuries - This is one that I think you should check with your doctor to see what you can do.  Sometimes you can alter your workouts so that you are not using the injured area.  I do think you should move as much as possible, but your doctor knows best!

Get enough exercise at work - this may be true, but working out is a different type of exercise and your body adapts so quickly to the things you do on a daily basis and it may not be enough.  If you are doing something different everyday, it may be enough, but usually a short workout will really shake things up.

No place to workout - Most of the dvd's don't require a lot of space, so if you can clear one room and have a tv in there, you are good to go!  Also, the gym is available, go outside and walk or jog.  I know that clutter can be overwhelming, so it could be a good workout to start clearing it out.  Make a box for things to keep, things to donate and things to throw away.  Do a little bit every day.  If you need a break, take a walk around the block to clear your head and get away from it for a bit.  Then you will be fresh and ready to go again!

As you can see, there are ways around each and every reason, but you have to really want to make the effort to do it.  If you are in my area, join us for Fit Club on Mondays!  Be sure to let me know you are coming, sometimes I have to cancel if I am out of town! 

There are so many benefits to exercising:

Feel better
Look better
Sleep better
have a better attitude
improve your mood
get healthier
have more energy
lose weight and inches
fit into your clothes better
improve your sex life
be a role model for your kids - teach them how to lead a healthier lifestyle
and have fun (yes, exercise can be fun!)



Discussion:  What is your reason for not exercising and what do you do to combat it?

I am going to be doing a GREAT givaway for the fans (for lack of a better word) of my Feeling Fit With Dana facebook page when we hit 500 "likes".  Please suggest this page to your friends and family!  Let's get fit together!