By Fitness Editor Paula Jager CSCS, Owner of Crossfit Jaguar
Several years ago, my life was transformed by traditional diet and consistent and regular physical exercise. I’ve witnessed the same in more clients than I can count since then which is why I can’t fathom why anyone would choose the path of inactivity and poor nutrition.
It is most certainly a route to dis-ease and decrepitness. Having been in the fitness business for almost 2 decades, I have heard every excuse in the book. I’d like to hear from you. If physical exercise is not a part of your life–WHY isn’t it? Here are the top excuses I have heard over the years.
10. I just had a baby. Children are wonderful, they change your life but that doesn’t mean you don’t find time to exercise and eat right. You want to be around for them, setting a shining example and raising them to be the best they can be, right? The nutrition is the easy part–the part of which you have control. It should be the same as yours except for the portions/ratios because they are growing. They shouldn’t have processed snack crackers, french fries from Micky D’s and neither should you. Get your exercise in while your spouse watches the children; if that is not an option, while they are napping or if they are older exercise together. Many gyms have childcare and mommy classes, neighborhood women get together arranging child care and alternating workout days.
9. I can’t afford a gym membership. You don’t have to join a gym to exercise. There are several more affordable options such as your local community centers, walking or running, working out at home, in the park, workout videos and using your own bodyweight.
8. It’s my hormones–I’m going through menopause. That is a normal part of a women’s life–not a disease. I’m 53 and we have several fit females in their 50’s and 60’s at my box. Age is just a number especially when you are moving regularly and feeling great as a result.
7. I have health challenges. In the majority of cases, this is due to eating poorly and inactivity. You can’t sit around and cry the blues as this won’t accomplish anything. I can’t tell you how many people (primarily women) with thyroid/autoimmune issues just blatantly refuse to get off the gluten. That is not always the only cause but it sure isn’t helping matters and is a vital first step. High blood pressure or diabetic? Get rid of the refined carbohydrates and get off the couch. Orthopedic concerns? These are valid, however, there are many ways around them through substituting or modifying exercises. Cancer, chemo treatment etc yes, this is very real and very difficult and something I hope to never experience, but exercising and doing what you can will give you the best chance to overcome and improve quality of life through the process.
6. I don’t know how to exercise. This is a popular excuse but one that won’t fly with the wealth of information at your fingertips. Work with a qualified personal trainer to help you establish a program and learn proper form and technique. Or if #9 is a problem use one of the many free fitness and weight loss programs available online.
5. I want to but I have to take care of the kids and family. Who says you have to neglect your family to exercise? Making the time to workout will not only give you the energy you need for a busy schedule, but it shows your kids and spouse what it means to be healthy. Find a health club with a daycare center, do videos at home or if they are old enough have them participate with you.
4. I don’t see change in my body–it makes me bulky. Weight training/exercising doesn’t make you bulky – cupcakes do. You didn’t put that weight on overnight and it won’t come off quickly either. It could take up to 12 weeks before you start seeing major changes. Make sure you’ve set realistic goals and your nutrition is the first place to troubleshoot.
3. Exercise hurts, I don’t like it. If you haven’t worked out for a decade, ease into it, start light with the weights and volume and progress in small increments. Take a rest day when you need it. Find something you like, it can be group fitness with a social aspect, training solo or a recreational sport or activity. It does not have to take place in the gym.
2. I can’t make the commitment–I keep quitting. Quitters never win although doing too much too soon, setting unrealistic goals, not knowing what you are doing and soreness can definitely be a deterrent. Start slowly with small, short term goals and plan ahead by putting it on your calendar making exercise a priority. Work with a trainer, mix it up, change your workouts and avoid skipping them. Make it a priority.
1. I just don’t have time. Who does these days? While I do not have children I work about 70 hours a week. Fight it though I may, I am sometimes a slave to the 24/7 pace of today’s’ technology driven world. What I have found is that the act of physical fitness 4 days a week enables me to continue at this pace with boundless energy and at a “mature” age. We make the time for things that are important to us. Schedule it in and stick to it. Adapt and be flexible if the routine sometimes needs to be changed. Cut out the unimportant — surfing the net, watching television etc.
Any of these excuses sound familiar? If so, don’t ask others why they do, ask yourself why you don’t. Sound off in the comments section if your reason wasn’t listed or you have additional ideas to share. I want to hear from you.
About the Author
Paula Jager CSCS and Level 1 CrossFit and CF Nutrition Certified is the owner of CrossFit Jaguar. Her exercise and nutrition programs yield life changing results.
You can connect with her on Facebook by clicking here.
I’m also lazy and also hate exercise – hate the clothes and shoes, the sweating, the soreness, feeling awkward and uncoordinated, the whole thing. I love nothing more than to be curled up on the couch with a good book or TV show. I do enjoy the small energy boost from a workout, but it’s just not enough to keep me motivated to keep doing it. And motivation is key – I know all the logical and emotional reasons why I should exercise, but just knowing these things doesn’t translate into action.
The “what to do about it” in this article basically adds up to “just do it”. The motivation has to come from within. Just as you can’t make someone want to quit drinking (which is the only way it will work), you can’t make someone want to exercise from sheer force of will. And I haven’t found anything yet that makes me want to exercise more than I want to hang out at home
This kind of drugstore diagnosis can be so damaging to those who have debilitating chronic health issues and probably, like me, grieve the loss of regular exercise in their lives and continue to try everything to improve their health. And all I had to do was stop eating GLUTEN??!
Just recently initial studies have evidenced the genuine impact of Post Exertional Malaise on CFS sufferers. Yes, CFS sufferers who for decades have been listening to their GP’s/friends/relatives/GOOGLE!/health ‘experts’ telling them they don’t exercise enough, and then feeling the shame and disappointment when they inevitably crash…
These sweeping and dismissive comments are discouraging and hurtful. CFS sufferers in particular endure enough thoughtless, ill-founded, and sceptical comments from those around them, and are frequently required to justify their condition. How about some encouragement for a change?
I wandered over here thanks to a Google result about the forthcoming death of the Monsanto Protection Act (yippee!), and found myself drawn to this post, as I tend to exercise for a bit and then lose interest. I don’t know if this is what anyone wants to hear, but I am 50 years old and have effortlessly lost a lot of weight (30 pounds, in stages over the past 2.5 years) while stuffing myself and not exercising a lick, simply by avoiding foods I’m sensitive to (ALL dairy, soy, corn, eggs) and switching from a vegetarian diet to a mostly vegan one (I have been lacto-ovo for 28 years). When I DO exercise (and it’s nothing elaborate, just brisk walks and the odd bit of yoga or chi gong), I lose even more weight. I think that for me it’s just a matter of committing long enough to create a habit…
Why?
Because I am L-A-Z-Y!
Laaayyy-zeeeee.
lay-zee lay-zee lay-zee
I know all the right reasons,
all the right answers.
I just turned 50
and am 40 pounds overweight.
And I hate to exercise.
But, the sun just came out…
maybe I’ll go for a short walk and get some vitamin d….
I love honesty–cheers!
Another excuse, if you want to call it that, is simply getting tired of doing a lot of exercise and never letting yourself have dessert. I’ve exercised for thirty years, have eaten healthy food (as best as possible, given all the problems with our food supply) for most of my life, and I still gained weight, especially after menopause. Now my husband and I are members of a full-diet CSA and I’m getting raw milk, grass fed meats and butter, organic eggs and vegetables, and grains (heritage wheat, non-GMO corn, and oats) grown at another farm down the road. I still practice a lot of self-denial, but I enjoy the occasional dessert. Some women keep reducing their food intake as they age to stay slim, but the tiny bits of food they eat can’t supply their nutritional needs. I’d be happy to lose 20 pounds, but at age 66 I’m not going to starve myself or drive my body really hard to do it.
Great efforts on procuring your grass fed meat and organic vegetables. I wouldn’t want to starve myself either–I love food too much. Having a dessert or treat on occasion is part of a healthy nutritional lifestyle. I love my homemade ice cream (from raw cream) and do not deny myself. I just don’t eat it everyday but more as a treat 2-3 x a month. And we definitely need to eat enough calories to support our activities.
I live an active life with my children, but I do not take time away from them to pursue any particular exercise program. We walk most places we go around town – big family, transportation issues – play outside at home or the park several times a week, ride bikes, swim, canoe, garden, cook from scratch, hang our laundry outside, care for our lawn, etc. I believe that this is a much healthier attitude and lifestyle for the children to grow up in. To teach them that Momma needs her time away from Daddy or them, well, to me that is selfish. I did not marry my husband to spend his at-home time away from him. I did not have children to pawn them off on others. My fulltime career is wife, mother, grandmother, homemaker,and even elderly parent caregiver – and I embrace it fully! Part of our homeschool lessons are on life management – and living a frugal, active life rather than a convenient life is a big part of it.
We all need time to ourselves–that is not selfish that is healthy. No matter how much one loves their children, parents and spouse an hour 3x a week spent on something they enjoy makes them a better parent, daughter and wife.
I appreciate your perspective, Paula, and I am not condemning your lifestyle or anyone else’s with my comment. I read your articles each week. I would not dare to recommend any aspect of my life for a 53yo woman who has what appears to be a successful business, a marriage without children, and presumably lives in a moderate sized city.
I am a 48 yo woman with 12 children whose career is first and foremost – by choice -making a home for my husband, which at this point involves raising the 8 remaining children at home and helping to care for his widowed 75 yo mother and my 89 yo parents. But yes, for me and my life, 3+ hours a week would be selfish.There is no local gym, assuming I would have the financial resources to afford a membership. In order to access one I would need to drive about 40 minutes into a bigger city. I have no vehicle during the day, and in order to use my husband’s in the evening I would have to ask him to unload all of his tools. about a 20 minute process each way – something that we do each weekend but not on a daily basis. I have no television, stereo,or computer; I make use of the church computer or one of my grown children’s as often as I can, but I cannot see exercising in the church office:-)
I incorporate many types of “exercise” into my daily routine and into that of all my children. My husband and I have no health issues nor do my children, who have been raised on real foods and lots of fresh air. I feel that in the long run I am doing the best that I can for my health and theirs, and I am training them in many areas of life that are important to us. They are equipped to go out and choose any lifestyle, and the older four have done just that with our complete blessing – choosing to combine how they were raised with the good things their spouses bring into the mix. Four grandchildren with three more on the way – all under age 3 – who live near us and see us almost daily are just icing on the cake!!
One of the healthiest things about me, tho, has to be my contentment. I do not envy or resent what others have. We do not live a stressful life, always running hither and yon – by choice.My husband and I have made our own choices, and we are still pleased with them 30 years later. I was a straight-A pre-med student at Baylor University with parents and family who encouraged me to “make something of myself”; I am not some dumbed down female without a brain. Furthermore, my husband in no way asked me to give those things up; he always encouraged my studies. Actually, I asked HIS permission to NOT pursue them any further. All I ever wanted to tell people, when they asked what I wanted to be, was a wife and a mother. Guess I got what I wanted:-)
Wow Pat–12 children?? I had no idea and I believe you when you tell me you get plenty of functional exercise. I have 2 cats, a husband and a young staff at my gym that seem like children at time. We’re all different in what we choose and enjoy–you sound very content and are making several healthy choices for your family!
“I just had a baby” is a different excuse than “I have kids”, which is the excuse you actually addressed. Parents (particularly mothers) of newborns are often SO D*** EXHAUSTED that all they can think about is sleep. And–that makes it really hard to exercise instead of taking a nap when your child is sleeping. I agree that it must be a priority and setting a good example for your kids is super important… but still.
Agree! If you are breastfeeding, you’ve got to get your rest or you can lose your supply or get mastitis.
I love the line, “While I do not have children…” Exactly. You don’t have children, babies or otherwise. You have NO IDEA what it is like. I worked 60+ hours a week before kids. I know the difference between the two situations and it is a million times harder to fit in a workout when you responsible for the lives of children. That’s more than 70 hours a week – that’s 24/7.
” I can’t tell you how many people (primarily women) with thyroid/autoimmune issues just blatantly refuse to get off the gluten.” Been there. Tried that. Both traditional gluten free diet (with all the GF substitutes for 2 years) and gained 30 lbs and the low-carb/grain free diet (gained/lost no weight but energy levels crashed through the bottom of the floor, for 18 months).
Frankly I’m tired of gluten being blamed for everything and the skeptical expressions of so-called experts when I’ve tried GF and feel better having a slice (or two) of homemade wheat or rye bread at breakfast and maybe lunch.
Just because it works for someone else doesn’t mean it works for me. I exercise when I can but if I don’t have the energy, I respect my body enough not to push it. A lovely bout of adrenal fatigue taught me that lesson. Its time we stop comparing ourselves to others and do the best we can for our own health.
If someone is gluten intolerant or has Celiac disease they may not only need to avoid gluten, but grains and the gluten free substitutes. They are just empty starch calories that will pile the weight on. And yes, everyone has different challenges that they are working with and different things work for different people.
I couldn’t agree more about avoiding other grains while avoiding gluten. The food industry has really capitalized on the “gluten-free fad” that really isn’t a fad and has nothing to do with weight loss. Most of the substitutes and other grains (like white rice) are just as bad as consuming gluten, making weight loss impossible.
Wow…to the responses! hit a nerve I think.
I was wondering what type of exercise you would recommend for L-5
osteoarthritis? Live with pain everyday in lower back. It seems to get worse with exercise but would love any helpful hints? Thanks!
I highly recommend T-Tapp. The woman who developed it started her quest because of her own back issues and injury. It is very good for gently stretching, aligning and strengthening you. They have a variety of programs for all levels of fitness and abilities.
You can search for “T-Tapp” to locate the website. On the website you will find a page with sample exercise videos. I have purchased a few of the routines and find them to be a great investment. They are even attainable for someone like me with adrenal fatigue issues. “MORE” is my personal favorite.
Best to you.
Hi – also wanted to say that I’m depleted from the years of running as well. Running competitively is extraordinarily tough on women runners and leaves them in terrible condition due to worn-out adrenals (bone loss, amenorrhea, serotonin deficiencies). I had to heal from all of that.
It certainly is. Thank you for admitting that. I have had several female clients over the years with adrenal/thyroid/autoimmune issues that refuse to keep running their bodies into the ground–no pun intended.