Why You Don't Exercise - Part 1

You know you "should". You even know that it will make you stronger, extend your life, give you more energy and help you burn off those love handles. Maybe you're too busy. Maybe you find exercise boring. Whatever is behind it, you are not alone. Statistics in the US indicate that 60% of adults don't get enough exercise and more than 25% of adults don't get any at all. It's little wonder heart disease and obesity is rampant.

Let's look at some of the more common reasons for not exercising and hopefully we can give you some ideas on how to circumvent them.

I HATE Exercising

Maybe you really do hate to exercise. Enjoying yourself while working up a sweat may be the last thing you have on your list of "things I love." Honestly, exercise - almost any type - is hard at the beginning. The good news is that with consistency and practice, your body will respond well and you might even enjoy it (just a little). The key here is to find something that suits you and your personality. If you like to be around people, check out some group fitness classes or join a sports team. If you like to have fun, Wii games are a great way to exercise and have fun at the same time. Don't like the gym? Okay, there are lots of TV shows and DVDs available with any number of styles and levels of fitness that you can do in the privacy of your own home.

I Get Started But Can't Stay With It

Have you tried exercising but found you quit after a short period of time? There are a few reasons this happens to people. If you're going from zero to working out seven days a week, you are definitely doing too much too soon. It is little wonder you're exhausted and feeling burned out after less than a month. If you don't know what you're doing in the gym, or you aren't sure how to get started, you may become overwhelmed with the entire prospect. Maybe you quit because you were bored. Walking nowhere on a treadmill can leave you hoping you don't have to do that for the rest of your life. Muscle soreness sets in very quickly after initial workouts and the discomfort can be disillusioning. If you can't move your arms after a bicep workout, going back to the gym will move way down the list of fun things to do.

Try These Ideas

If you are tempted to quit before you make any serious headway, we suggest you try one of these solutions. Hire a trainer. An experienced trainer can make your workouts interesting, fun, and just challenging enough. If you bore quickly, switch your workouts up regularly. Try interval training, circuit, high intensity, swimming...keep it interesting. To avoid plateaus, change your workouts. Changes also keep your workouts challenging and interesting. Don't skip workouts. Every time you skip a workout you set yourself back. Get a friend to come along - someone to help you stay accountable to your own good health.

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