We all come up with reasons why we cannot fit regular exercise into our schedules. These reasons are called excuses.
Understandably, there are occasions when your schedule makes finding time to exercise very difficult. But when the excuses are a daily occurrence, you must find solutions, unless you want to choose an unhealthy lifestyle. The choice is yours.
Exercise Excuse No. 1: 'I Don't Have Time.'
"How much television do you watch?" asks Walter Thompson, PhD, professor of kinesiology and health at Georgia State University.
During your shows, use resistance bands for strength training, or walk in place. You could also record your shows and watch them later, skipping the ads; use that time to exercise.
If you don't have a long stretch of time, you could break up your workout into shorter sessions. Some activity is better than none. "We find time for things we value," says James Hill, PhD, co-founder of the National Weight Control Registry.
Exercise Excuse No. 2: 'I'm Too Tired.'
Working out actually gives you more energy. Your body makes feel-good hormones (endorphins), "and you're getting the circulation going," says Marisa Brunett, a certified athletic trainer in Orlando, Fla.
It may help to work out in the morning before your day gets away from you, says kinesiologist Lynette Craft, PhD. She's an assistant professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University.
Not a morning person? No problem. Do it whenever you feel best, says Brunett, who likes to work out in the middle or at the end of the day.
Exercise Excuse No. 3: 'I Don't Get a Break From the Kids.'
"Take the kids with you," Hill says. While they're playing, you can walk around the playground, or jump rope nearby. During their games or sports practices, walk briskly around the field.
Go biking with your kids, put up a badminton net in your yard, sign up as a family for "fun runs," or just walk around the neighborhood with your children. When the weather's bad, try active video games like "Dance Dance Revolution," "Wii Sport," and "Wii Fit."
"When mom or dad is more fit, has more energy, the whole family benefits,” says psychologist Christina Recascino, PhD.
Find an activity you love. Try inline skating, dancing, or gardening. Join a sports league. Or go dancing. "There's an exercise for everyone," Recascino says. "It doesn't have to be onerous or unpleasant."
If it makes exercise more enjoyable for you, it's OK to watch TV or read while you're on the exercise bike or treadmill, as long as your workout is still challenging.
Get some friends to go with you, or join a group. And every once in a while, try something totally new. “Mix it up so you don't get bored,” Brunett says.
Set goals that are small and realistic. Then you're more likely to feel like a success, not a failure, Brunett says.
It also helps to keep a log and post it somewhere public -- even on Facebook. Craft calls it a "wall of encouragement." Friends and family can then say, "Hey, you did 15 minutes yesterday. Great job," she says. A log also helps you see if you're starting to fall off the wagon (or the treadmill).
Having an exercise buddy keeps you accountable as well, says Boston psychologist Eric Endlich, PhD. You may be more likely to show up for your workout if you know someone is expecting you to be there.