We’ve all made excuses to avoid working out. Even the most motivated of us have fallen prey to a lazy day. But it’s important that we don’t let these excuses become the norm and keep us from leading healthy lives. The following are some excuses used to avoid exercise partnered with ways to overcome the urge to skip a workout.
1. “I don’t have enough time.”
This is definitely the most common excuse. Although you may indeed be busy, it’s important to make exercise a priority. Schedule workout time in with all of your other activities before the beginning of each week. If your schedule is really crammed, try a quick but intense workout regimen, like Tabata or HIIT. You can find a lot of these exercises online for free!
2. “I live too far away from the gym.”
Is this a gym you have a membership to? If so, then just suck it up and go. Just kidding! But seriously, if you’re paying a monthly fee and not attending, then you’re wasting money AND neglecting your health. Consider going straight after work so you’re not tempted to skip once you get home. Once your membership is up, look for a closer gym!
3 “I don’t like working out alone.”
This issue has an easy fix — find a workout buddy. Ask a friend, relative or your significant other to be your workout buddy. Compare schedules and find time when you’re both available to go to the gym. If you can’t find anyone, then consider group classes. Although you may be going to class by yourself, there will be plenty of other people working out alongside you to keep you motivated.
4. “It’s raining.”
If you enjoy walking/running outdoors, rain can definitely pose a problem. But that doesn’t mean you can weasel your way out of your daily workout! If your community has a gym or you have a gym membership elsewhere, then grab your umbrella and drive yourself over to use the treadmill. If you don’t have access to a gym, then consider switching up your workout routine for the day and try some exercises you can do indoors. Planks, squats, pushups and sit-ups are all easy to do without equipment.
5. “I’ll start next week.”
And for how many weeks have you been pushing off your workout already? Let’s be honest, saying “I’ll start next week,” is just as good as saying “I’ll never start.” If you’re thinking of exercising, then get up and go NOW!
6. “I have nothing to wear.”
You’re sure to have some kind of stretchy clothing that would work well for exercising; you don’t have to wear the latest gym trends to do a workout. But if it’s a matter of confidence, then perhaps investing in some flattering gym clothes would be worth the expense.
7. “I’d rather sit at home and binge-watch Netflix while drinking a milkshake.”
Yeah, me too. It’s definitely hard to come home from a long day and not veg out on the couch until bedtime, but that won’t get you any closer to your fitness goals. If getting fit was easy, everyone would be doing it. Set yourself apart by setting attainable goals and taking actions on them!
