Admit it. We’ve all done it: making up excuses for why we skipped the gym. It’s a common habit and chances are, a lot of people are making the same excuses you are. Whether it’s because you already ate healthy that day, or you just “don’t have time” to make it to the gym, there are ways to overcome these excuses to get your butt back in shape.
The Active Times recently published a post on eight of the lamest excuses for not exercising, and believe it or not, Access Acceleration Fitness Director Craig Favara, CPT has heard all of the excuses in the book, “except ‘it’s raining,’” he said.
Excuse number one: “I ate healthy today.” While you may try and trick yourself into justifying skipping boot camp because you had a salad for lunch, just remember: eating healthy is only half the battle. “While eating healthy is a key component for a balanced lifestyle, resistance training is a great way to reshape the body. It will help with increasing lean body mass, which will, in turn, raise your body’s ability to burn more calories at rest,” said Craig.
Excuse number two: “I’ll get back to the gym tomorrow.” Most people have very busy schedules, so it’s understandable to skip a day because you just don’t have time after work between family and personal life. But Craig said it could take as little as 20 minutes to get a good metabolic workout.
“The conception that a good work out takes two hours a day is ludicrous. Working smarter, not harder is the way to go. It needs to become a priority and part of your weekly routine or you will begin to get into a rut,” he said.
Excuse number three: “I’m too tired.” Actually, when you’re feeling tired and sluggish, exercising is one of the best ways to boost your energy levels. Exercise can increase energy levels substantially, even for individuals suffering from chronic medical conditions such as cancer and heart disease.
Excuse number four: “Work/school/life was too stressful today.” When you’re feeling stressed out, you should take advantage of gym time more than ever, as working out is a great way to relieve stress. “When exercising, your body bumps up the production of your brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters called endorphins, [or] the exercise high. Regular exercise will also help improve self-confidence, fight against anxiety and aid with sleep deprivation,” said Craig.
Excuse number five: “Happy Hour sounds so much better.” “I am a firm believer in balance and reward. If you are going to enjoy the spoils of life make sure it’s in moderation; stay disciplined with the routine and try to eat clean and avoid alcohol the majority of the time. This method will still allow you to make large gains, prevent mental burnout, enjoy social events and prevent you from feeling guilty when you reach for the margarita,” said Craig.
Excuse number six: “It’s raining.” Craig said he hasn’t heard this one yet, but if you think about it, how many people want to go out in the wet, cold weather when they’re already curled up on the couch? “The conditions are never going to be perfect. [But] discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments. Getting yourself to go to the gym can be a challenge at times, but I have never heard anyone finish an amazing workout and say ‘I really regret that’,” he said.
Excuse number seven: “I just don’t feel like it.” This could mean you’re getting bored with your routine. Acceleration trainers try and teach their clients to switch up their program every 6-8 weeks so they can re-evaluate where their imbalances are and what they need to work on. “Assess what is important to you and what you are trying to achieve. Goals are a great way to stay motivated and when you reach your results it’s an extremely motivating feeling. My advice is to set small incremental goals rather than large ones. This will increase your chances of success!” said Craig.
Try a class or a personal training session. Access Acceleration offers boot camp classes Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings and Thursday evenings. Sign up for a class and you’re guaranteed to have your butt kicked and leave feeling amazing. For more information, check out a list of our programs.
Excuse number eight: “My workout buddy bailed.” While working out with a friend is a great way to stay motivated, life is crazy and sometimes matching up schedules is virtually impossible. If you are someone that is motivated by others or are not sure how to lead a gym routine, Craig suggests trying a Bootcamp class or something you have never tried before. “Take this time to try out different avenues and who knows, you might come out of a session learning some new exercise knowledge and you could share it with your partner on days you meet back up,” he said.
If you’ve used a unique excuse to get out of a gym session don’t worry, you’re not alone. The important thing is that you don’t make a habit out of it. Like Craig said, he’s never heard someone say “I regret that” after a tough work out. Make the best out of it, it’s supposed to be fun!