Top 5 Excuses for Not Exercising and How to Change the Attitude
Regular physical exercise and keeping fit helps with weight management, reduces health risk, strengthens bones and muscles, helps in managing chronic health conditions and disabilities, and improves physical ability. Even though the benefits of physical exercise and keeping fit are well documented and supported by scientific evidence, only 5% of American adults engage in physical activity or sports every day.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 30 minutes of exercise every day is enough to reap the potential benefits. Still, quite often, people make excuses that they can overcome easily.
I’m Too Tired After Work
Muscle fatigue is a common symptom that most people experience during physical activities, resulting from the depletion of muscle tissue’s main energy source, adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Even though exercise-induced fatigue makes you feel tired, you will eventually feel more energized because of increased blow flow to the heart, brain, muscles, and tissues.
After a day at work, most people do not see the need to exhaust their muscles further unless they understand the paradox. After work, you can overcome the “I’m too tired” excuse by opting for moderate-intensity exercises, such as walking, biking, and yoga. In addition, since exercising after a long day at work can be exhausting, consider engaging in physical activity when you are most energetic, particularly in the morning.
I Don’t Have the Time
Fixing a physical activity session into a busy schedule can sometimes be challenging because of the modern 24/7 lifestyle. Nonetheless, lack of time shouldn’t be an excuse not to keep fit since you can always create ten minutes for a simple physical activity.
You find it easy to squeeze in short walks in your tight schedule by prioritizing physical activity. The best way to overcome this excuse is to engage in physical activities that require minimal time, like climbing stairs, jogging, or walking. In addition, prioritizing exercise will help create time by forgoing other daily activities, such as watching television. In addition, consider virtual fitness classes to enjoy flexible timing.
It’s Too Cold; It’s Too Hot
People often use seasons, especially winter, as an excuse to take a break from their exercise routine. In addition to reduced physical activity, natural hormonal changes during the cold-weather season are responsible for winter weight gain. Even though studies correlate muscle injuries with cold temperatures, you can still stay fit during the winter.
The solution to avoiding physical activity during winter or summer is engaging in indoor and outdoor physical activities, such as sledding, shoveling snow, jogging or running, and cross-country skiing. Weather-specific activities will help avoid weight gain and muscle injuries during extreme cold.
I Can’t Afford a Gym
The cost of a gym membership should never be an excuse to keep fit or exercise because you can keep fit without spending. At-home workouts can help you keep fit, but still, most people prefer going to the gym because of motivation and expert training.
The gym membership cost varies, and you can always find one that suits your budget. Nonetheless, most people still fail to use their gym subscriptions because of other excuses. If high gym membership cost is the reason for not exercising, consider affordable solutions, such as walking, joking, cycling, or creating a simple home gym.
I Have a Lack of Motivation
Starting to work out and then stopping is associated with increased body fat and reduced-calorie requirements. Even though the effects are well-documented, most people need a source of motivation to stick to their exercise routine. The emphasis on the health benefits of physical exercise has resulted in many motivation videos that help people stay motivated. Therefore, consider watching the motivation videos if you don’t want to stop.
You can also overcome a lack of motivation by joining a social group that appreciates your efforts and reminds you to exercise regularly. Working with a personal trainer or coach will help keep you motivated to achieve your fitness goals.
Most people understand the benefits of physical activity but still fail to meet the exercise threshold recommended by the CDC because of various excuses. Failing to treat the physical activity as a priority creates room for excuses that you can easily overcome. Keeping fit and exercising regularly will improve the quality of your life.
