Exercise Excuses & How to Beat them

You know you should be exercising. We've all heard that physically active people are healthier. They're less likely to develop heart disease, diabetes, and some cancer, they sleep better, and they feel happier and more energetic. Of course, a fit body looks better, too. But when it comes time to actually get out there and start moving, many of us have a long list of excuses not to exercise -- too little time, too little energy, or we simply don't like to work out. How can you get past the excuses and get moving? Here are six top exercises excuses cited by fitness experts -- along with tactics for overcoming them.

Exercise Excuse No. 1: "I Don't Have Time."
How much television do you watch? During your shows, use resistance bands, or walk in place. Or use Tivo so you can skip the commercials and see a one-hour show later in just 40 minutes.

If it's work that's sapping all your spare time, try exercising on the job. Close your office door and jump rope for 10 minutes, or walk in place.

Your exercise doesn't have to be a formal workout either. Try making small lifestyle changes that help you move more: take the stairs instead of the escalator, don't drive when you can walk, and get a pedometer and try to increase the number of steps you take throughout the day.

The U.S. Surgeon General recommends at least 150 minutes of aerobic activity per week, which may sound daunting, but actually works out to a little over 20 minutes each day. The good news is that three 10-minute exercise sessions work just about as well as one 30-minute one, and can be much easier to fit into your schedule.

People who exercise regularly "make it a habit," They haven't bought any more time during the day than anyone else, what they've done is prioritize it.

Exercise Excuse No. 2: "I'm Too Tired."
It may sound counterintuitive, but working out actually gives you more energy, once you get moving, your fatigue will likely disappear.

You're getting the endorphins [feel-good hormones in your body] to release, and you're getting the circulation going -- as opposed to coming home and crashing on the couch.

It may help to work out in the morning, before you get wiped out by a demanding workday. But if you're just not a morning person, don't worry. Just do it whenever you feel best.

Exercise Excuse No. 3: "I Don't Get a Break From the Kids."
The answer is to multitask. Take the kids with you, while they're swinging, you can walk around the playground or the backyard, or jump rope. Walk the kids to school instead of driving them. During their soccer games or practices, walk briskly around the field.

Use your family time for active pursuit. Go biking with your kids, put up a badminton net in the yard, sign up as a family for "fun runs," or just walk around the neighborhood with your children. When the weather's bad, try active video games like Dance Dance Revolution, Wii Sport, and Wii Fit.

Exercise Excuse No. 4: "Exercise Is Boring."
Exercise should be like sex, you should want it before you do it, it should feel good while you're doing it, and you should feel good about it when it's over.

So how do you get there? First, find an activity you love. Think outside the box: try inline skating, dancing, or gardening. Join a sports league. Or, if you love music, try ballroom dancing. There's an exercise for everyone, it doesn't have to be onerous or unpleasant.

If it makes exercise more enjoyable for you, it's OK to watch TV or read while you're on the exercise bike or treadmill -- just don't forget to pedal or run.

Working out with a group also helps many people. Not everybody's cut out to put on their iPod and go on a six-mile run by themselves.

And, every once in a while, try something totally new. Mix it up so you don't get bored.

Exercise Excuse No. 5: "I Just Don't Like to Move."
There are people who really enjoy not moving, they prefer to knit, read books, or watch TV. If it's sweating you don't like, you can get a good workout without perspiring excessively. You can work out indoors, where it's air conditioned. You can swim so you won't notice any perspiration. Or, try a low-sweat activity like yoga.

If exercise hurts your joints, try starting by exercising in watert. The stronger your muscles get, the more they can support your joints, and the less you'll hurt.
If you don't like to move because you feel too fat, start with an activity that's less public, like using an exercise video at home. Walk with nonjudgmental friends in your neighborhood while wearing clothes that provide enough coverage that you feel comfortable.

Exercise Excuse No. 6: "I Always End up Quitting."
Set small, attainable goals. Then you're more likely to feel like a success, not a failure. If you exercise for five minutes a day for a week, you'll feel good -- and more likely to want to try 10 minutes a day the next week.

It also helps to keep a log and post it somewhere public -- even on Facebook. A log also helps you see if you're starting to fall off the wagon (or the treadmill).

Having an exercise buddy keeps you accountable as well. When you back out of a scheduled workout, you're letting down your buddy as well as yourself.

And look toward the future. It's harder to start exercising than to stick with it once you've got your momentum going, I bet you after two weeks of this, you'll feel really good!!!! ---web md