Top Ten Bogus Reasons For Not Working Out
- Brenda Tollefson
- Apr 13, 2015
- 7 min read
There are a million reasons people say they aren't more active. I'd like to address some of these excuses here, because the fact of the matter is that it all boils down to priorities! and once you've eliminated all your excuses, you can begin to reorganize your priorities.
1. I don't know where to begin.
Although I don't actually hear this one very often, I think it's really the biggest reason people aren't more active. There is a plethora of knowledge online and if you are just a beginner it can be extremely overwhelming. I recommend joining a gym and, if you can afford to, schedule a few sessions with a trainer. I've been working out for many years, but even as an experienced athlete I found it beneficial to have a trainer. They'll intruct you on proper form, a variety of exercises, and even help with diet recommendations. If you can't afford training sessions ask a friend who knows more about diet and exercise to help you get started.
2. I just don't have time.
I hear this one more than any other excuse. once again, it all boils down to priorities. You don't have to hit the gym every day to keep yourself active and fit. The reality is that if you hit the gym everyday, but you're completely sedentary outside of the gym you're not really doing yourself any favors. Yes, something is better than nothing, but it's really more important to keep your body moving all day long. Which brings us to number 3...
3. My job requires me to sit all day long.
Well lucky you, we live in a time where people are beginning to realize what a huge problem sitting all day is for a lot of americans. There's actually more than one solution to this problem. First you can simply buy a large yoga ball to replace your office chair. This will keep your core muscles more engaged all day long. The other option is to replace your desk with a standing desk, which more and more employers are agreeing to pay for. You can also get a standing desk converter to put on top of any standard desk. I've even done sewing at a standing desk, so these are not just for computer based jobs.
4. I can't afford a gym membership or all the expensive equipment.
I totally understand this one. Gym memberships aren't really as expensive as people think they are. Many gyms offer a trial membership or a monthly membership ranging from $10-$20 a month. If you think $20 a month is too expensive, think about where you can trim $5 out of your weekly budget and go from there. Still too expensive??? Try following a fitness blog. www.dailyhiit.com is one of my favorites. It may be a little intense for a beginner, but they offer great advice and I love their pre-planned workouts, monthly calendars, the community, the blog, it's all great. Find a blog that you can relate to and that helps with your own fitness goals and follow it! Start small, do what you can and begin challenging yourself more everyday. Start by simply walking or riding bike. I started my fitness journy with a Yoga magazine I came acoss at my grandmas house when I was in Highschool.
5. I hate working out, it's just too much work.
I get this too. Really, I do. You go to work everyday, come home and you have to cook, clean, help the kids with school work, and the list goes on! you feel like all you do is work, so why would you want to add another chore to the list, right? Therein lies your problem. You think exercise has to be hard work, and why wouldn't you? Everything you've ever read or done just supports that theory, right. Guess what? You couldn't be more wrong! You just have to find what you're passionate about. When I get tired of my daily workouts I like to shake things up by going rock climbing at a local rock gym. Kayaking is a great workout for your back and shoulders and even better if you ride your bike out to the lake or river. You can buy an inflatable kayak with a paddle for around $70. Inflatable ones are great because you can fit it in your backpack and the paddle comes apart for travel as well. Once again, this might sound expensive, but once you buy it, you can bust that bad boy out anytime you want. The point is, find an activity you enjoy and dive in! once you remember why you used to love it, you're not likely to quit. (and bonus, you'll essentially be teaching your kids that passion for life, outdoors, and fitness as well).
6. I'm too old, or too out of shape.
This is the most bogus excuse I hear. If you're afraid that you're too old or too out of shape to make a lifestyle change and become more active, then you're fooling yourself! No one is judging you the way you think they are. There is a very heavy set woman who joined my gym not too long ago. A friend and I had been watching this woman for a couple weeks before it occurred to me that we may have been making her feel self conscious. I don't make a habit of watching people at the gym, but I knew she was new to working out and I couldn't believe the strides that she had made in such a short amount of time. Her dedication was also very impressive. Most days this woman was there putting in more effort than me or my friend. Watching her was truly motivating. There's no such thing and being too old or too out of shape to take control of your life. Taking that step gerally inspires everyone around you, even if you think they're in better shape than you are.
7. I need someone to motivate me.
A lot of people have a hard time getting themselves to workout. Voice your desire to make a change and ask your friends, family, and coworkers if they want to be your fitness buddy. If you still can't find someone to workout with, hit the internet. You can join a bike riding club, stroller moms group, hiking club, etc. find a group of people who are already active. They're usually more than willing to welcome new members. joining a social club like that has the added bonus of motivating you to expand your horizons. Most people who are into these kinds of clubs will know and share information about more active things for you to get into.
8. KIDS. Need I say more?
Yet another bogus excuse. My 6 year old ran his first 5K last summer. That's right he ran the whole thing, didn't walk at all. He trained for it with my husband and I while we pushed our 1 year old in the stroller. Kids have a unique ability to recover from physical exertion and will undoubtedly lap you every time! They're built to be physically active and their muscles will recover faster than yours. So be prepared to be pushed!
9. I have medical problems that don't allow me to be active.
This is a real concern for many people. When we were training for my son's first 5K we discovered that he has asthma that's triggered by his allergies. I didn't immediately rush him to the doctor, but after a few days when he was still very wheezy and having trouble breathing I knew there was a big problem. When I took him into the doctor many of my questions were based on the idea that we were going to continue training and the doctor told us that would actually help his body build up a resistance and he may be able to overcome his asthma all together with proper training and use of an inhaler when necessary. I understand that asthma is only one medical concern that people may have. A lot of people have injuries from torn rotators and torn tendons and things of that nature. The best advice on those types of injuries was given to me by a chiropractor at my gym. He said that a muscle or tendon will never heal itself 100% if you don't do physical therapy. You don't have to go to a specialist to find exercises that will help you heal those muscles, you can find help online, talk to your doctor, or talk to a trainer at your gym. I'm not sure about all gyms, but at Golds Gym (where I go) the trainers are required to do what's called a "4 hour" where they clean out their workspace and walk around the gym to help members. If you want to talk to a trainer, just call your gym and see if you can set up a time to ask them a few questions or just schedule an individual session to focus on what exercises you can do to aid in recovery. In my experience, most trainers genuinely want to help people get into shape and prevent injury. They may even be willing to set up a quick meeting after their shift is over on their own free time.
10. I'm already thin.
This is a total fail when it comes to excuses. There IS such a thing as "skinny fat". If you're thin, but you get winded chasing your kids around or climbing a flight of stairs, this is you! Being thin doesn't give you license to be out of shape. Your kids still need you and skinny people who live sedentary lives have just as many health concerns as overweight people. That's all there is to it!
With that said; get up get out there and get active. Find what you love and get moving! Some of my favorite non-gym, free activities include playing tug-of-war with the dog, Nerf wars with my kids (yes, I give my kids guns and then we chase each other around the house shooting until we're too exhausted to move), we head down to the creek by our house and climb trees, hit up the splash-pad 2 blocks away, we have a free skatepark on the other side of town (great core and leg workout), bike riding, kayaking, hiking, running, tennis etc. The possibilities are endless! And more importantly, getting active will strengthen your bond with your kids and your spouse, and you will learn to laugh more and enjoy life more.
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