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Common Excuses for Not Getting in Shape
NW FITNESS MAGAZINE
Common Excuses for Not Getting in Shape
By: Tiare Vincent
When was the last time you told yourself you would go to the gym, and then that turned into “I’ll go to the gym tomorrow” then eventually you forgot your gym existed? Much too often people see the gym as something to fear or dread, whether they are too tired from so many hours working or in school, or the kids schedules overtake their lives? Or maybe money might be tight this month and it will have to wait for a better time? Maybe you feel that you are so far off the edge of getting back in shape that its better to just throw out the scales and mirrors and pretend its not an issue. All of these are excuses. Getting your body in shape takes time and effort but like everything else that you want in life, you must try in order to succeed. Excuses only keep you from getting what you want.
1.
“Working out is boring…”
Working out may become boring if you do things that do not interest you. A gym is not the only place to work out. Figure out what you love to do and incorporate it into a workout. If you do sign up at a gym, there are usually a variety of included classes to choose from like Kickboxing, Pilates, Zumba, Yoga, Strength-Training and Cycle or Bootcamp classes. Other options would include co-ed sports teams, hiking, running, walking, swimming, kayaking, surfing, snowboarding…I’m sure out of everything, you can find one passion to throw yourself into. Try not to think of working out as pain, and think of it as a way to experience new adventures. Sometimes a great way to make a workout more fun is to find a work out partner. This way it motivates you but makes the time fly by being with a friend. Even if you would rather go solo on the cardio machines…go at times when your favorite television shows are on, create a fun playlist for your iPod, or bring a magazine you’ve wanted to read. There are always ways to make working out more enjoyable and it starts with the ability to open your mind and not see it as “work”.
2.
“Working out is boring…”
Working out may become boring if you do things that do not interest you. A gym is not the only place to work out. Figure out what you love to do and incorporate it into a workout. If you do sign up at a gym, there are usually a variety of included classes to choose from like Kickboxing, Pilates, Zumba, Yoga, Strength-Training and Cycle or Bootcamp classes. Other options would include co-ed sports teams, hiking, running, walking, swimming, kayaking, surfing, snowboarding…I’m sure out of everything, you can find one passion to throw yourself into. Try not to think of working out as pain, and think of it as a way to experience new adventures. Sometimes a great way to make a workout more fun is to find a work out partner. This way it motivates you but makes the time fly by being with a friend. Even if you would rather go solo on the cardio machines…go at times when your favorite television shows are on, create a fun playlist for your iPod, or bring a magazine you’ve wanted to read. There are always ways to make working out more enjoyable and it starts with the ability to open your mind and not see it as “work”.
3.
“I’m too busy”
This one is probably the most common excuse that should be diminished from your vocabulary quickly. You can make time for anything that is important to you in your 24-hour day, and just 15-30 minutes of physical activity is better than nothing at all. A great idea for the busy individual is to carry a planner. Plan your weeks ahead of time and you will start to treat your fitness as a priority. If you belong to a gym, they have most of their classes scheduled weekly, and it’s always a good idea to decide what you are interested in and plan it like a meeting. Plan for your lunch break to go on a walk with other healthy co-workers and try to start slowly by creating daily timeslots for fitness. This is one of the easiest ways for a busy person to make it a task that must be met. Think about how you spend your days…if you spend a lot of time in the week on Facebook or watching television then I assure you, you have time to workout. You should never be too busy to want to take care of yourself.
4.
“I’m too hungover”
Being hungover is something we do when we are rebelling teens or living wildly in our twenties. You go out, get hammered, and complain the entire next day wasting it away dehydrated and in bed eating unhealthy food with no concept of self-control. Drinking can be fun but don’t let it prevent you from moving forward with your life. Alcohol is poison to the body and holds a lot of calories that will keep you from your fitness goals. Remember that you can have a fun fulfilling life without letting yourself get out of control by adding alcohol to your life. Moderation is key.
5.
“I am too fat to go to the gym…”
In the beginning of everyone’s fitness journey starts with a small amount of insecurity…sometimes a lot of insecurity. Remember to tell yourself this: Everyone cares about himself or herself so much that they probably don’t even notice you. We are all self-involved and we all care about what others think of us. Sometimes you have to realize that you are your own biggest critic and that the things you notice, others do not. Don’t worry about the people around you because they aren’t watching you…put your headphones on and get moving! Everyone has to start somewhere.
6.
“I always gain it back”
You probably always gain the weight beck because you stopped. If you continued small amounts of working out and keeping a healthy diet, it would stay off. You need to see fitness as a change of lifestyle and be in it for the long haul. DO not try fad diets or diet pills because often, when you get off of these unnatural products, the weight will come back and possibly even make you gain more then when you started. The best way to keep the weight off long-term is to stick with a fitness plan and practice clean eating: which is no white sugar or flour, no processed food, no enhanced artificial ingredients. Try to only consume what would give your body nutrients and energy and the weight will stay off, as well as drinking LOTS OF WATER!
7.
“I never see improvement”
Slow and steady wins the race my friend. Repetition and determination will help you reach your goals. It’s not about how fast you lose the weight but about how hard you try and have it adapt as apart of your lifestyle. In time it will come off and you will see improvement, just do not give up if you don’t see change quickly. Change takes time but in the end it will be worth it. Things that happen too quickly are usually too good to be true and even the smallest bit of progress still is progress. You may not realize how much your body needs this even if you cannot see it.
8.
“I can’t stay motivated”
Motivation is the key to success. If you are feeling unmotivated to workout, I suggest you make a vision board of your dream body and dream life. Really sit there and visualize what you want and what your goal is. Sometimes its good to have a healthy fitness-idol that you can aspire to be more like. Put this all on paper and make a list that describes the person you want to become. Hang this up and look at it everyday. Every time you feel lazy about a workout, look at it. Maybe take a picture of yourself at your heaviest as a reminder of why you need to change. See a vision of who you want to become, listen to music that gets you excited. Tell people your goals, and make an effort to motivate yourself to be better than the person you were yesterday.
9.
“I’m too tired”
Have you ever heard that saying, “Someone busier than you is running right now?” Well its true. There are thousands of people who have busy lives and are exhausted who find a way to get moving. Even though it may seem dreadful at first, working out can actually give you more energy! You may not think that is true now because you’re not used to it but it does in fact give you more energy, which will create a deeper night’s rest, which then gives more energy. When you are moving, your blood flow will improve, and the blood flow carries more oxygen, which brings nutrients to your muscles, which produce more energy. Energy makes energy
10.
“I have kids!”
It’s understandable that children take up a lot of energy and attention but this is still an excuse and you should try to adjust your healthy lifestyle with your children. When the kids are watching TV, or a movie or playing, you can fit in some weight training or squats beside them. Maybe you could put them in the stroller and go for a walk or run, you could take them for a hike or to the park. Having kids can get busy, but you can create more activities for everyone to enjoy together that also improves health.
Remember that today is a new day. Yesterday is history and you have an opportunity to make a change rather than an excuse. You have the ability to get what you want with small steps in the right direction. If you start today, maybe in a year you will have the body you have always dreamed of because you started today. NO EXCUSES.