When it comes to dealing with exercise and fitness programs – there is no such thing as a good excuse to not have one. Sorry folks, even at my most tired – when I am burning the candle at both ends and exhausted – I don’t have a good excuse to not work out. In fact, when I’m worn out from stress or work or both – exercising is the best relief for my symptoms.
So, let’s take a moment and tackle your excuses – please forgive me if I deflate them rather quickly. These are all excuses that I have had at one point in time or another and by deflating them for myself – I’ve removed them as obstacles on my path to better fitness.
I’m Fat
This is an excuse, sorry. If you start exercising regularly, chances are strong that you will begin to lose excess weight. You will shape and tone your body. You will turn fat into muscle. In fact, you may not lose pounds, but you will lose inches. Exercise is a vital part to any lifestyle of diet and fat burning.
I’m Exhausted
Do you have any idea how many of us really are tired all the time? Ask any mom. She’s the last one to bed, she’s the first one up. She has to take care of herself. She has to take care of the kids. She has to take care of the environment and the house. It’s a busy job – throw in work and other commitments and Moms are the busiest people I know. We’re always tired. It would be nice if we could nip in and take that two-hour nap with the kids, but often as not that’s the only quiet time we get in a day. When you exercise regularly, you aren’t more tired after the workout – in fact – I’m a lot more energized after a workout. I’m ready to tackle the world – not only have I gotten rid of a lot of stress – I’ve flooded my body with endorphins, adrenalin and increased blood flow to my extremities. I’m often super charged after a workout routine.
I’m out of shape
Piffle. My daughter, who is five, told me once that she didn’t like dance class anymore. I asked her why. She said it was because she didn’t know how to do the moves the teacher was teaching that week. I paused for a moment and then said “You do realize that’s why they call it dance class – right? Because you are learning what you don’t know?”
The same applies to exercise. So what if you are out of shape – the point of exercising regularly and building a strong fitness program is to get into shape. It’s to define your shape. It’s to build your endurance and your physical fitness. If you were in shape, chances are you would already be exercising or engaged in fitness activities.
I don’t have the right clothes
You need a t-shirt, shorts and a pair of tennis shoes or sneakers. These are not expensive items and most people have something like them in their closets. You do not have to dress up like Kathy Smith or Cindy Crawford in order to workout. In fact, you are better off doing your initial exercise routines in clothes that are comfortable to you. Throw on some sneakers and go for a walk. Put on some shorts if you’re going to be really burning up some sweat .
So if you don’t have the right clothes – discover the right clothes for you!
What excuses have you overcome in your quest to make a healthier, fitter lifestyle?