Excuse Buster

It's not hard for most of us to come up with excuses for not working out and eating right. I bet you already came up with a few while you were reading that last sentence. Excuses are all of our favorite tools for alleviating our own guilt about, once again, not fulfilling the promises we have made to ourselves. The only problem with excuses is, while you many not have guilt, you also won't have progress. Progress toward our fitness goals is far harder to come by than a few flimsy excuses. Don't think your excuses are flimsy, we'll see. Read below to find out if your excuses really hold water.

I'm Too Fat for the Gym

Yes, I know. There are a lot of really beautiful and ridiculously in shape people hanging around the gym, and it's embarrassing to let them see you so out of shape. But the reason those people look so good is BECAUSE they're at the gym. I'm sure that, before they started working out every day, they didn't look so great either. If you're really that ashamed to let the Adonises at the gym see you, you still have no excuse to avoid working out. That's because there are literally thousands of workout DVDs on the market that can show you how to get an incredible workout right in your own living room. You can even rent these DVDs first if your fear is spending your money on a subpar product. Darn...another excuse ruined!

I Just Don't Have the Time to Get in Shape

Nice try, but I'm not letting you off the hook with this one either. No time...really? Are you sure? You don't play on the internet, page through trite magazines, watch reality TV, and chat on the phone when you could be working out? We all find ways to waste time. It's just a matter of deciding that your health and fitness are important enough to make time for. Somehow, we manage to make time to pick up our kids from school, put in overtime at work, and get the car fixed. That's because we know and accept that these things are important, and there will be consequences if we don't do them. Don't you think there will be consequences if you don't take care of your body? Obesity and lack of exercise can lead to diabetes, heart disease, joint pain, and dozens of other miserable health problems. Why shouldn't protecting your body be a priority too?

If you really can't stand the idea of having your workout cut into your leisure time, find a way to multi-task. I download my favorite movies and reality TV shows onto my MP3 player, then watch them while I'm on the stair climber. You can also invite a friend to be your workout buddy. That way the two of you will be spending quality time face to face rather than gabbing on the phone. That kind of bonding is a lot more diet friendly than the lunch the two of you normally have at your favorite dining spot, The International Kitchen of Cheesecake and Lard.

I Just Can't Afford It Right Now

Think getting in shape just isn't in your budget? Well guess what, you can't afford not to get in shape. The consequences of not taking care of your body could be far costlier than a new gym membership could ever be. Ever tried to buy someone a triple bypass for the holidays? And nobody is saying the only way to get in shape is by springing for a membership to a fancy health club. Hiking, swimming, jogging, and biking cost practically nothing, and they're all equally, if not more effective than, your gym's treadmill. For your resistance workout, you can buy a decent pair of dumbbells for under twenty bucks. Push-ups, squats, sit-ups, and lunges, are free. I think we can consider the "no money" excuse officially squashed.

I Too Darn Tired

Yes, life is exhausting, and the last thing anyone wants to do after a hard day at the office is go the gym and work even harder. I get it, and I've been there. The answer to this excuse is that exercising consistently has been shown to raise energy levels over time. Exercise also releases tension far more effectively than sitting in front of the television will. Working out will also help you sleep better at night, meaning you'll actually feel more alert and energized throughout the day. Finally, losing weight means that you'll be carrying around less fat everywhere you go, making daily activities easier and more comfortable. So, while it may never be easy to make yourself go to the gym instead of home for a glass of wine and a nap, you'll soon discover that making that tough decision will give a greater sense of energy and well being than the nap and wine ever could.

I Don't Know What I'm Doing

The body is a complicated piece of equipment. Add to that the hundreds of confusing contraptions at the gym, and most of us would just prefer to stay home rather than bother. I used to be terrified of the weight room for this very reason. No one wants to make an idiot of his or herself. Where do you start first? Luckily, even this excuse isn't really valid. These days there are thousands of books on the topics of diet, health, fitness, and working out. There are also dozens of monthly magazines that, not only feature basic guidelines, but often feature entire workout plans, illustrated with beautiful color photos. While it's not the cheapest option, one or two sessions with a personal trainer can also do you a world of good when it comes to building your first basic workout. I learned some of my favorite weight training moves from a home workout video, and then I simply repeated those moves at the gym. If you're really lucky, you may even have a friend whole show you his or her routine. This could even be a fun way of bonding with your spouse or significant other. He can teach you what he knows, or the two of you can learn together, cheering each other on along the way.

I know giving up your excuses won't be easy. I was quite attached to mine. Still I was more attached to the idea of finally reaching my fitness goals. We all have to remember that we're ultimately in control, and we can use to fall for our own tricks or to overcome them. We're only given one body, and it's up to us what we'd like to make of it.