We have all heard them, and let’s face it; most of us have used them: the excuses of why we don’t have time, confidence, or ability to exercise. Well, it’s time to hand in that crutch called illogical reasoning. If you think about it, the people out there doing 3 triathlons a year or running 2 marathons every 6 months are some of the busiest business people and parents we know. Scott Fisher, contributing writer for Fitness over Forty provides solutions to some of these excuses so common among adults:
1. You cannot afford a gym membership
Who ever said you had to be inside a big gym or fitness club to exercise? Run or walk around the block, ride your bike, or hey kill two birds with one stone and ride your bike when running errands instead of driving - not only are you saving your health, but the environment too!
2. You feel embarrassed going to the gym because of your skill level or physical appearance.
Again, there are plenty of alternatives to the gym: fitness videos, especially cardio, aerobics, yoga, and pilates videos come in all levels of intensity. If you can afford one, a home gym machine is a good alternative also. Try finding a lightly used one in the classifieds section of your local paper or on Craigslist.com.
3. You are afraid of injuring yourself or spurring a critical medical issue.
These are substantial concerns, but no reason to avoid working out. There are precautions you can take to ensure that you choose the best exercise routine for your body. Most importantly, consult your doctor. No matter what your medical issue is they should be able to provide you with solutions that will allow you to remain active.
4. The most popular: you do not have the time.
The trick to this one is to make fitness over forty a priority. Feel fatigued in the morning or after you get home from work? Think back to your high school health class days – what did your teachers (and Scott Fisher) always say? “Exercise can increase your energy levels and help you perform better the rest of the day.”
So get out there and get moving! You’ll feel better than ever once you start making fitness a priority.
HOW TO EXERCISE
There are three stages of intensity when working out:
- Stage 1: not sweating and breathing normal
- Stage 2: sweating but breathing normal
- Stage 3: sweating and panting
To get the most fitness benefit out of your exercise plan, you should be at Stage 2 when doing cardio aerobic activities. This is where you are sweating (feel sweat on the back of your neck, not just your forehead) but breathing normally (you should be able to talk in complete short sentences).
Find a buddy to help keep you motivated and to be sure to mix up your exercise routine to avoid monotony… before you know it, you’ll be halfway to your goal of increased physical fitness.