EXCUSES–EXCUSES–EXCUSES
In the Sublime Reflection Fitness group on facebook, we’ve been talking about excuses we use for not eating healthy and exercising.
We ALL have them.
- I don’t have time.
- I’m too fat to exercise.
- I can’t get up early.
- I can’t afford to go to a gym.
- I’m too tired.
- I’m too old.
- I don’t like to exercise alone.
- Exercise is boring.
- It’s too expensive to eat healthy.
- I already messed up today, so I’ll start over tomorrow.
- I hate vegetables.
- I’ve tried before and couldn’t stick with it.
Blah, blah, blah.
Sometimes we use them out of pure laziness. Sometimes we use them because we are afraid to fail.
Let’s see if we can tackle a few of the most popular ones.
I don’t have time.
If you have to, start with 5 or 10 minutes a day. Surely you can fit that into your schedule. I have ten kids, work full-time, spend at least 25 hours a week on my blog, and another 10 hours writing, and I have time. You and I both know that you make time for whatever is important to you. Turn off the TV or computer and go for a walk. Or if you must watch television get up and exercise while you do it.
I can’t afford to go to a gym.
Go for a walk or run outside. Run up and down your stairs. Do strength training exercises at home that use only your body weight or buy a $5 resistance band. There are tons of free exercise videos on YouTube. Bodybuilding.com has a big database of exercises categorized by body part. You can filter your search to include only exercises that use body weight as resistance. I’m sure most of you have a smart phone. Check out apps such as Nike Training Club and C25K. They are free and provide great motivation to stick with your goals.
I’m too tired.
This is a big one for moms, especially moms with little kids. I know what it’s like to be so tired from taking care of everyone else that you can’t even fathom dragging yourself out the door to exercise. But do me a favor. Put on your tennis shoes and get out the door. Tell yourself that all you have to do is 5 minutes. I’ll bet more often than not, you’ll end up doing a full workout. But if all you can do is 5 minutes, that’s just fine. I know it seems counter-intuitive, but exercise actually makes you feel more capable, energized, and refreshed to take on the world, or at least those little children who are your world. They deserve a mom (or dad — love you guys) that makes herself a priority.
Exercise is boring.
Find an activity that you find exciting. If you don’t like to run, don’t run. There’s nothing that says you have to. Try a new sport, play tag on the playground with your kids, play a fun video game like Just Dance. Use the time to indulge in something you’ve been wanting to do like listen to an audio book, or blast your favorite tunes. I prop my tablet up on the treadmill and watch old TV series’ on Netflix. If you get bored exercising alone, find a buddy. It not only makes it more fun, but it’s great accountability too. Don’t do the same activity for weeks on end. Change it up to keep your interest high.
I already messed up today, so I’ll start over tomorrow.
No one is perfect. Perhaps it’s time to change your definition of “messing up.” You’re not on a diet. You’re making a lifestyle change and making healthier choices. That doesn’t mean you can never have a cookie again. It just means you don’t eat a dozen. Never forget YOU are in control. If you love pizza, eat a piece. If you want chocolate cake, eat a couple bites. The first two bites are the best anyway! The important thing is to be mindful about what you are eating. I think it helps to take one meal at a time. If you choose to eat something unhealthy, get back on course with your next meal or snack. It doesn’t make sense to blow the whole day. Remember that each bite is a choice and make your next one a good one, and don’t get stuck thinking your actions have to be all or nothing.
Healthy food is too expensive.
You hear this all the time, but most people don’t hesitate to spend $6 or $7 on a super-sized value meal. I think the problem here is that most people try to add buying healthy food on top of all the unhealthy stuff they regularly buy. Instead, plan to stay within your grocery budget by buying healthy food first. I hardly ever shop anywhere but the perimeter of the grocery store where I can get fruits, veggies, meat, and dairy. I also buy a lot of things in bulk from Costco. They have some great healthy options, like organic produce, coconut oil, quinoa, black rice, ground turkey, almond butter and more! Winco, a local grocery chain, has a huge bulk food section which has spices, all sorts of flours (coconut, almond, brown rice), lots of different whole grains, brown rice pasta, and raw nuts and seeds. You save a lot of money when you’re not paying for the costly fancy packaging. Lastly, remember to eat the correct portion sizes. The healthy food you buy will last longer and be affordable.
What are your excuses?
Did any of those excuses resonate with you? I want you to toss all of your excuses aside. Don’t let them control you and your health. You can do this and you are WORTH IT!
Please leave a comment with your top 3 excuses. BE HONEST with yourself!! By naming them out loud, when you find yourself thinking them, it will trigger something in your mind and you’ll remember it’s just an excuse. And to be fair, I’ll tell you mine.
My excuses:
- It’s going to take me too long to lose all this weight.
- I’m too busy doing things for everyone else and feel guilty taking time for myself.
- If I can’t do it perfectly, I don’t want to do it at all. [This is a biggie for me!]
Image courtesy of Stuart Miles | freedigitalphoto.net
