Brett's Blog: Just Do It: Top 5 Excuses for Not Exercising
May 28, 2008 | by Brett Blumenthal | 45 Comments
by Brett Blumenthal
Nike makes a great point. Those three simple words – Just Do It – really sums up a lot of things in life. Even when we know something is good for us or that we should be getting our butt in gear, it can be extremely hard to motivate. We, as a species, have become masters of creating excuses…whether it be ‘the dog ate my homework’ or ‘I had a hard week and therefore deserve to eat a whole bag of Chips Ahoy’, we find ways of procrastinating and getting out of so many seemingly basic ‘have tos’, ’shoulds’ and ‘need tos’.
Unfortunately, the more often we make excuses, the easier it is to perpetuate. Creatures of habit, we get used to things…whether they are good for us or bad for us. A procrastinator myself, I thought it would be good to talk about excuses that are commonly used to get out of exercising. The five excuses below are pretty common, but I’m sure there are tons more out there to poke holes through…
#5. I Don’t Feel Well: Ok, if you are in the hospital, are excessively nauseous or have a fever, you probably shouldn’t be running a marathon. That said, a cold, allergies, a headache, menstrual pains or just ‘not feeling great’ shouldn’t stop you from breaking a sweat. Is a matter of fact, exercise can sometimes cure some of the most common ailments, including: hangovers and colds. Sweating, a form of detox, allows you to release toxins that are guilty of making you feel under the weather. So next time you have a sniffle, get out there and sweat your sniffles away…
#4. I’m too Tired: This used to be my excuse. When I got home after work, the idea of putting on my workout clothes and heading to the gym was a very painful concept. So painful, I sometimes would rationalize that I didn’t need to exercise. Granted, missing a day or two can be okay, but sometimes I rationalized that I didn’t need to go for several days in a row. Not good. The reality is, that exercise can get you over ‘being tired’. Exercise is helpful with improving and maintaining stable energy levels throughout the day, regular sleep patterns and overall mood. Exercise also improves regularity (yes, I do mean your digestive tract) and reduces incontinence, which can contribute to a feeling of sluggishness and being tired.
#3. It’s too Early or It’s Too Late: This isn’t too far off from #4. And actually, if one of these is an excuse, the other shouldn’t be…unless you are a professional sleeper. When I realized I hated coming home to exercise, and could think of a million other things I’d rather do, I decided that I needed to buck up and get up in the morning to get in the workout. Yes, it was painful for two or three days, but now, I wouldn’t go back if you paid me. If you are a morning person, get up and get your exercise groove on in the AM. If you are a night owl, exercise at night (Although it is healthier to exercise in the morning, it is better to get the exercise in at night than to not get it in at all). Be sure, however, to leave a couple of hours in between your workout and going to bed so that you give your body enough ‘downtime’ to transition to sleep time.
#2. I’m Traveling: Granted, it can be more challenging to exercise when you are traveling…especially for business…but that doesn’t mean you can’t exercise. Some tips:
- If you are staying at a hotel, try to stay at one that has a fitness center or gym.
- If the hotel doesn’t have a gym, walk, jog or run outside. Make sure you bring appropriate clothing for the weather. And don’t forget your sneakers!!! Seriously, forgetting your workout clothes should not be another excuse.
- Tuck some fitness DVDs into your suitcase. Play them on your laptop and exercise in your room.
#1. I don’t Have Enough Time: This is the absolute worst excuse of them all. Why? Because you have to make time. If you don’t prioritize exercise, you will never have enough time for it. Once you get used to making time, you’ll realize that you always have the time to fit in a workout. Whether it be squeezing in a brisk walk at lunch, scheduling ‘you time’ in your calendar or developing a daily routine that you can stick to, your time is yours. So use it wisely.
In short, the trick is to discover the excuses you buy and which excuses don’t fly so that you can Just Do It. What are some of the worst excuses you have used?
i agree with it 100% no excuses must know how to use time management
sheesh I’m all for these tips but I am really worried about being encouraged to exercise when I have a cold. Can you say heart strain? Be careful people…
Rebecca M., you *are* on display!
I hold a full time job and go to grad school in the evening. I still have time to go to gym in between or after I am done with classes. I am not an addict, but I know what it means being healthy.
I totally agree with what Brett said, doing a little is way better than not doing at all. You don’t have to look like Arnold…just feel good for your self.
people please eat healthy and exercise……there is no escape.
I think negative and nonconstructive comments towards replies are incredibly immature. Why even take the time to attack people? Instead of spending time being an online blowhard, you could be out exercising or being useful to your fellow man. Get a life.
Everyone has lazy times. It is great to have a workout partner or loved one to kick your butt in gear. It’s much easier than struggling against self-doubts and bad self-esteem alone. Get a workout buddy and follow Brett’s advice.
yall are all idiots. in the end its all about choices and being responsible. stop judging people and telling then what they should do. worry about your own person.
Lots of hostility and judgement from the self-appointed fit towards those who confess they struggle with weight and finding time and ambition to exercise…especially from men towards women. There’s a pretty broad range between not in perfect shape and morbid obesity. Not such a wide range between keeping in shape and being smugly obsessed with one’s physical prowess, evidently.
okay, these people who are saying they have no time, what are you doing on the computer? complaining? I bet most of you have been on your computer for hours! So if your still on, get off stretch alittle, get some fresh air…for once. Just trust me, you’ll feel ten times better than now.
Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body but rather to skid in sideways totally worn out shouting “holy $h!t what a ride!” But seriously – you are right – you gotta make the time!
Hey Brandy how about having less kids?
You are just making excuses. In 6 years when you get obese and your hubby no longer wants to get intimate with you you’ll wish you had.
i hate exersising because i weigh 400 pounds
@G.I. Yo
What’s the point of having a hot body if you’re skipping out on your social life to go to the gym?
If working out was easy, everyone would do it. Therefore everyone would have an attractive body and noone would stand out. Maybe if it was easy and everyone did it, society might start to view overweight people as attractive since it wouldnt be the norm….who knows. Anyways, I hate working out. On top of the fact that I do it every morning for the Army, I also do it every evening on my own. Its called will power. Its choosing what you eat wisely, its not sitting down when you get home from work and just going straight to the gym, its skipping a group party to get that 5th day of the week in the gym in. There are sacrifices.
I am a 42 year old mom with a professional career, husband, etc. When my kids were smaller I spent hours walking while pushing them in a stroller. I never considered this to be exercise and never scheduled this in..I kept weight down and felt great. Now that they are older and need to be driven places, I try to stand and watch their events and walk while I wait. I recently discovered a love for golf and fit in a size four golf skirt. Everyone should get up and move!!
I used to say I don’t have time.
You first need to find the type of exorcise that fits with your lifestyle. Then you need to make it a priority.
I jog for about 30min. 6 days a week. Its become something like brushing teeth to me. when I get home from work, I slap on my sneakers and hit the pavement. I would much rather take a nap or read a book but that doesn’t prioritize over my health and appearance.
For the single mothers with children, look into the children’s programs at your local YMCA, while the kids are with a trained instructor getting their own exorcise (which is just as important!) you can be doing your own work out. Make it your time to yourself and you might even enjoy it.
@Reed…you obviously never had a real hangover or you wouldn’t say such stupid things like “hitting the streets” as a cure… you’re an imposer, one of the oh-so-super-healthy-and-fit idiots who still pretend to enjoy live and think that they have a hangover after the second Coors light. gimme a break!
I am a law student in South Africa. I am currently employed at a law firm from 08:00 to 16:30. I however leave work at 16:15 to be at class by 16:30. I then have class till 21:10 three times a week and the other two days till 19:45. I live close to the gym and to varsity. so ont the three days i have late class i hit the gym early mornings and the other two days after class i rush home, grab a apple and in the gym from 20:05 till 21:00 (closing time). There is really no excuse for not training. Once you are in sync with your training schedule, nothing should come in between this relationship.
Rich-
pointing fingers, and thoughtless judging-is another one of America’s downfalls. We should work on ourselves, and focus less on ways other people need to change.
wow i am appalled that there are people who, after reading this article, can still have the guts to say “no , sorry, i don’t have time” there is always time. do calve raises as you cook, abs while you watch t.v, stretch in the shower… speaking of t.v, instead of watching a mind-insulting show, why not take that time to do a work out? sheesh, no wonder there are so many obese people in this country. who by the way, can’t seem to stop crying about how unhappy they are with their looks and bad health, and who CONTINUE to find excuses for it. Rather than saying, “yes, i am a fat lazy unhealthy person, and no one is to blame but myself. And if i really wanted to, i could find time to exercise. ” Take a little more pride in yourselves people!
Just a thought – if someone is having a hangover or is sick, there’s a good chance dehydration is involved. Getting sweaty could be a bad idea at that point!
Otherwise, great article. For all the naysayers.. yes, it is difficult, that is the point. Try.