Live it up...

How many are you guilty of?

Nearly everyone knows exercise is good for them. However, knowing and doing are two different matters. One of the things that keep people from exercising are excuses they make up to rationalize why they don't exercise. Here are some of the top ten excuses heard over the years and the solutions to them.


Excuse No. 1: I'm too old.
No one is too old to exercise. . A good way to grow old fast is to sit and do nothing all day long! If you are an older person and have been sedentary for a long time, get your doctor's clearance first before exercising. Start slowly, be patient, and as the months go by, watch the strength and stamina of your youth return.


Excuse No. 2: I'll lose weight first.
One of the reasons many people give this excuse is because they are embarrassed over showing their bodies to other people. However, this attitude will keep you stuck in an overweight rut. Since one of the ways to lose weight and keep it off permanently is to exercise, this excuse will lessen your chances of ever being successful. You have 2 options: exercise in the privacy of your own home - or ditch the "mahiyain" attitude!


Excuse No. 3: I'm already thin.
Thinness is not fitness! Being a thin and sedentary person has more health risks than a smoker who exercises or an overweight individual who exercises regularly, according to recent research studies. Naturally slim people need to exercise just as much as any other person.


Excuse No. 4: I don't have the time.
You can make time if you really want to. It's a matter of priority. With some determination, time to exercise can be found in even the busiest of schedules. Incorporate exercise in your work, at home, and any time in between.


Excuse No. 5: It's too expensive.
Fitness doesn't have to be expensive. It doesn't mean you have to join a luxurious fitness center or buy costly fitness equipment. You have two legs -- use them. Walking is the least expensive form of exercise and the easiest one to do anywhere. There are many exercise programs you can move along with. You can also join exercise groups and basketball sessions in your community.


Excuse No. 6: I'm too tired.
Well, of course, you're tired! You don't exercise. Exercising gives you more energy to enjoy life to it's fullest. The more sedentary you are, the more sluggish you will feel. Build your stamina gradually. You will feel your energy level increasing by the day.


Excuse No. 7: It's too hot.
Granted, our tropical weather is hot but you can get around this excuse by exercising outdoors during the early morning or late afternoon when the temperature is at it's lowest. If you take the necessary safety precautions, walking in the evening can be very pleasant. And the feel-good chemicals you'll get out of the activity will be worth it!


Excuse No. 8: Exercise bores me.
There are so many different forms of exercise. Find the one that you enjoy and stick to it. Are you a loner? Then walking, running, swimming or cycling will appeal to you. Like company and enjoy music? Aerobics classes, ballroom dancing, jazz or modern dance will do the trick for you. The competitive type? Look for a sport like tennis, badminton, squash, and basketball. There is an exercise program for every personality type.


Excuse No. 9: I'll just have a liposuction, "tummy tuck", etc.
There is no cosmetic or plastic surgery technique available anywhere in the world today that will give you the vitality, stamina, strength, endurance, and flexibility that exercise can. Cosmetic surgery is helpful in improving your outward appearance but it will never replace the sense of physical well being that comes from having a fit body.


Excuse No. 10: I have an injury.
Some modification can be done to your exercise program so that you can work around your injury. Besides, all the more reason that you need to exercise to strengthen the affected muscles so the injury doesn't re-occur.


More exotic excuses:

"I can't exercise because I'm out of shape"
"My hair might get messed up"
"Exercise would make me look "masculado"
"Dyahe, its mostly guys in that gym"
"My wife would be angry with me if I lost weight"
"If I exercise I might not have enough energy left over for sex"
"The TV at the gym is always on something I don't want to watch"
"Working out makes my girlfriend/boyfriend jealous"


Stop making excuses; start exercising.
You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to stop making excuses about why you can't exercise. You only have one body for this lifetime. If you give it the exercise it needs plus the proper rest and nutrition, you will keep it in tip-top condition to enjoy life to it's fullest till the day you go to meet your Maker. ^____^


- adapted from Tina Juan's fitness articles