You are your own worst enemy when it comes to motivating yourself to exercise. You might not be aware of it, but you are sabotaging yourself by making up excuses for not exercising. Here are some of the most common excuses that people give themselves to not work out.
“My schedule’s full already.”
This is the most common excuse that people spout these days. Yes, your schedule might seem full, but if something is a priority, then you will force yourself to make time for it. Schedule your exercise time like you would your other tasks.
“I’m too old for exercise.”
No one is too old nor too frail to exercise. Exercise can help fight muscle loss, and help improve your balance so you are less likely to fall. If you cannot do it alone, look for a trainer who has experience working with older people.
“Exercise is so boring.”
If you feel bored while exercising, then look for a physical activity that you do enjoy. Do you hate jogging? Then don’t. Ride your bike, dance, get into martial arts, or do whatever you like. Once you find a physical activity that you enjoy doing, continue making small changes to keep it interesting.
“I have kids.”
You need to work around your kids’ schedules, but yes, it is still possible to work out. It may be difficult, but many parents wake up an hour or so before their kids so they have enough time to work out. You can also work out with your kids. Go on neighborhood walks every day or play with them on the playground. You can also go hiking with the entire family during the weekends.
“I have chronic back pain.”
Not exercising is the worst thing that you can do for your back. Regular core exercises will strengthen the muscles along your back, so they can support it and decrease the pain. Also, exercising will help improve your posture, thereby reducing the strain on your back even more.
“I’m too fat to exercise.”
No, you’re not. Packing a couple of extra pounds is not an excuse to not exercise, but rather a reason to do so. It is a given that you should not dive headfirst into high-impact training, but you can start with light exercises and gradually increase the difficulty.
As you can see, there is no valid reason for not exercising. Now that you have no excuse, it is time to get off the couch and get straight to moving.
