Susan Gazerro Fitness

Why People Don’t Like To Exercise

By Susan Gazerro

Those who are committed to exercise and have made it a priority in their life often wonder, with all the benefits exercise offers, why do people not like it? After all, the benefits of exercise have been proven time and again. I will say as I’ve said many times before, it’s about being healthy. Weight loss is a fringe benefit.

However, the reality is that 80% of Americans are not getting the recommended daily exercise they should. More alarming is that 25% aren’t getting any exercise at all.

Moving your body is essential. My opinion is that people think of exercise as a chore and not something fun. It’s an effort for a lot of people.

I wish people would believe that the benefits of exercise on a regular basis are numerous and far outweigh the negatives. By performing some form of exercise regularly for just a short time each day, you will increase your energy, improve your mood, reduce stress, and yes, lose weight! You will also improve your immune system function, which will lead to less common illnesses, as well as lowering your risk for more serious illnesses such as heart disease and cancer. as it helps you to focus, and not being stressed helps you deal with all other aspects in your life.

Many people lack the motivation to start an exercise routine. Does any of this sound familiar: you may view exercise as something that is too much work, too boring, or something that is just not for you? Perhaps you have tried exercising in the past and were met with failure, or you quit because you did not enjoy it?

If your goal is weight loss, which most of the time is the reason people exercise, and if you do not see the weight coming off fast enough, you give up. This is why I say that it is not about weight loss. It is about being healthy. Do this for your health. If you do it for weight loss, it becomes a chore.

Many people think that in order to exercise regularly, they have to join an expensive gym or invest in expensive fitness equipment for their home. This couldn’t be further from the truth. All you need is your body and your brain to tell your body to move! Walking, hiking, running, or riding a bicycle outside, are free ways to exercise and can also be a lot of fun. If you have a workout buddy or friend, it becomes even more fun, as it becomes a social event and not a workout task.

Smaller, less expensive pieces of equipment such as an exercise ball and small dumbbells can be used for a variety of exercises to strengthen and tone many parts of the body. There are many videos online that are free, from which you can get a great workout.

The most common reason people give for not exercising is that they simply do not have the time for it. I love this excuse. My answer to this is you have time for everything and everyone else, but not for you and your health. Especially for women, when you make this time for yourself and start feeling better, you become a better wife, a better mom, a better friend, etc. - because you are happier! You may see exercise as something that takes away from time with your spouse and children, or as something that cannot be done given the hours you work. Wrong! Add just 30 minutes in the morning and kick start your day with something that benefits your health. Once you do this, you will not understand how you weren’t doing it all along. The world becomes a better place.

While finding the time is a legitimate challenge for many people, doing so may actually help you with your other time-consuming activities by increasing your energy and lowering your stress levels.

Changing your mindset and gradually finding a way to work exercise into your daily routine, will make you feel better in the long run.

If you do not have a solid 30 minutes to exercise in the morning, find three 10 minute segments in which you can exercise. Find ways to add a little extra time into your day and build exercise into that period.

Here are some tips to help you get started, but I can preach on and on. YOU have to WANT this. A lot of overweight or unhealthy people will say they are happy. Are they really? All you have to do is wake up and say, “today is the day I am going to start doing this for me.” I promise you will feel better both mentally and physically.

• Set short-term, attainable goals for yourself so you will quickly see results and success.

• Find workouts that suit your interests and lifestyle. Perhaps a daily trip to the gym is not for you. You may enjoy walking or trying out a group fitness class or exercise video.

• If you are easily bored, change your workout frequently and vary the exercises you do to help avoid redundancy which can lead to boredom.

• Work with a personal trainer who can help design a program that best meets your needs and will give you results. A trainer can also help develop a routine that fits into your schedule.

• If you have kids and no sitter, include them. Take a bike ride, walk with them, play tag, have them sit and count the number of jumping jacks, squats, and pushups you do. It will amaze you how you want to do more because they are holding you accountable.

•Schedule a time each day for exercise. Write it in your planner and stick to it.

Still, people will find reasons to not exercise. Being healthy may cost money and time, but being sick and in a hospital costs even more money and maybe even your health. Stay healthy!

“Healthy is an outfit that looks different on everybody.”