No Excuses!

When I was 23 it was no problem to fit exercise into my schedule.  It was so easy, I often fit in 2 workouts a day.  Wow!  I am jealous of  23 year old me!  Now it is many years later and I am married and a mom of four.  Forget about two workouts a day!  Fitting in one workout a day is challenging, and fitness is my profession.   Nonetheless, staying in shape is important for many reasons so I find a way to make sure it gets done.

I could write a whole page of reasons why you should exercise on a regular basis.  The fact is, you probably already know that a regular exercise program will keep your weight under control, increase your energy, improve your cardiovascular health, decrease your risk of stroke and diabetes, and increase muscle strength – and that’s just a few reasons.  So you know all these great reasons to exercise and, no denying it, you know that you REALLY need to make a commitment to start exercising.  Somehow though, the reasons why you can’t fit exercise into your routine have become so overwhelming that the stress caused by this internal struggle is raising your blood pressure – reminding you that you need to start exercising!

Here’s the bottom line.  I have been in the fitness industry for over 15 years and have heard every imaginable excuse out there.  Considering the overload of excuses I have heard, I have yet to hear a good, valid reason why someone cannot fit in exercise.  This may sound harsh; however, the outcome of not exercising is much harsher.  There comes a time when you must just say, “That’s it!  I AM going to fit this in.”  The reality is that many of the reasons we have for not exercising, are nothing more than excuses. 

Let’s start with kids.  Yes, I know that children’s activities take up a LOT of time.  Honestly though, there is no reason why we must all sit and watch our children during their weekly practices.  If your child is at practice, take that time and use it for exercise - even if it means wearing sneakers and walking or running around the field or through the neighborhood.  Seriously, why is everyone so concerned about making sure their children stay active to the point that it eclipses their own need to exercise?  The most effective thing you can do to make sure your children stay active throughout their life is provide a good example!

Housework have you overwhelmed?  Guess what?  There will be more laundry again tomorrow and the floors are just going to get dirty.  Take a break for 30 minutes and find time to take care of you.  Perhaps your work responsibilities have you eating lunch at your desk and bringing work home.  Again, take a break and get out and exercise.  You will be much more productive.  Even most chronic health conditions do not impede people from participating in an exercise program.  Under the guidance of your doctor and a fitness professional, regular exercise will actually help you feel better.

In my experience, excuses for not exercising are simply roadblocks people set up for themselves.  If there is a roadblock, then it is easy to say “Oh I couldn’t exercise because _______.”   Then all of a sudden, it is magically no longer your fault that you could not exercise, but the fault of reasons beyond your control.  Thus, allowing you to feel absolved of your responsibility to take control of your health.  I challenge you to evaluate your reasons for not regularly exercising.  View your excuses as challenges that you must overcome.  Don’t let your excuses be roadblocks in your journey to a healthier, happier you!