Really?! Sorry, that’s not gonna cut it!

As a fitness trainer, I’ve heard every excuse in the book.  And although I can empathize with reasons for someone not starting or sticking to an exercise program, most of the time, the excuses don’t hold any water. If it’s important enough to you to look and feel your best and live life to the fullest, you just have to make it happen.

For example, yesterday it was pouring down rain. And for anyone who lives in an area where you have unpredictable weather patterns, you can’t use the weather as an excuse for not exercising or else your workouts will be super inconsistent which leads to poor results. I always say there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear.  If you’ve invested in some good outdoor workout attire, you can manage any weather and be completely comfortable.  And once you get out there, it’s actually not bad.

And then of course, people will use their kids as an excuse for not exercising. “I can’t workout, I’ve got the kids.”  Sorry, that doesn’t work.  If you’ve got young children, there’s tons of tools to keep you in great shape such as back packs for walking and hiking, bike carriers and seats for cycling, baby joggers for running…Take the kids to the park and let them play while you workout. Or get involved by playing tag, basketball, Frisbee, or soccer with the kids. Or if you’ve got older kids, get them involved.  They might ride a bike while you run or head out for a family cycle, hike or walk and make sure everyone gets some exercise.  Then of course, there are gyms that provide child-care or maybe swap babysitting with a friend so you can both get your workouts in.  You’ve just got to be creative but bottom-line, you’ve got to make it happen.

Here’s a videoclip of Jackson cycling yesterday in the rain.  He had an absolute blast.  I had him in gloves and a rain jacket so he stayed warm and I had the correct gear on to stay warm too.  He was out there for 40 minutes riding in the rain hitting every single mud puddle and having a great time while I ran beside him.  It was a quality morning!

 

And what about the people who say they can’t afford a gym membership or personal trainer. Well, the good news is that staying in shape doesn’t have to cost any money.  How much does it cost to walk around your neighborhood?  There are plenty of exercises and activities that you can do anywhere for no money whatsoever!  So again, you just have to figure it out.  Here’s a funny video-clip of a guy who overcomes the financial obstacle to working out….

 

Seriously though, what about the people who say they don’t have the time.  Here’s the thing to remember, the very person who suffers a heart attack and is out of commission for months, can’t work, can’t take care of their family and their life is never the same, often wishes they would have taken the few hours a week to take better care of themselves.  You just have to prioritize what’s important to you!

So if you’re not exercising right now and you’re making excuses, sit back and ask yourself if there isn’t a different way to think about it or approach your situation.  My guess is that you can make it happen!

Yours in health and fitness,

Sherri McMillan

 

ps. Our Summer Solstice 3 & 6 mile Run/Walk, Live Concert and Costume Contest is Saturday evening June 25th. Join us for a fabulous community event! http://nwpersonaltraining.com/subs/events/event_details.php?event_id=140