Excuses, Excuses.....
You know the drill….every Sunday evening you decide that this will be the week. Exercise begins Monday, but when Monday rolls around you have a million excuses to not do it. Some are legit, but most are just instances of effectively talking yourself out of exercising. We have all been there, ladies! Here is a list of the top excuses and how to beat them!
- I’m too busy: Laura Vanderkam, author of 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think, says that even if you work 50 hours per week and sleep 8 hours per night, that leaves you with 62 hours per week for other things. Just schedule it in like it’s your job! Try exercising in short bursts, such as taking the stairs, jumping rope for 5-10 minutes at a time while at work or waiting for dinner to cook. The good news is that three 10-minute sessions are almost as good as one 30-minute session. Finally, purchase a pedometer and try increasing your steps to reach a goal of 10,000 each day.
- I’m too tired: Truth is, working out actually increases your energy. In fact, it releases feel-good hormones (endorphins) into your body, and you will feel better!
- I can’t because of the kids: Believe it or not, if you aren’t exercising, your kids won’t either. They are learning good and bad habits from us! Use your family as your buddy system. Go for bike rides, play ball with your kids, take them for a walk and, when the weather is bad, play on the Wii or walk the mall.
- I always end up quitting: Set small goals, such as exercising 10 minutes a day three times a week. Once that goal is achieved, you will feel like doing more. Try the buddy system; it makes you more accountable. Finally, if you exercise one day, then give yourself a pat on the back, but if you miss a day, just keep moving forward and try again tomorrow. Any movement is better than no movement.
Check in with your doctor before beginning an exercise program. It is much harder to start an exercise program than to stay in one, but in the words of Nike…”Just do it!”
Melanie Yunger is a local wife, mom and nurse practitioner who loves to play Dance Dance Revolution with her kids during the winter.